Mathematicians: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)

Mathematicians fall under the Computer and Mathematical category in the U.S. occupational classification. Mathematicians earn a median salary of $121,680 per year, ranking in the top 6% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects -0.7% job growth through 2034, projected to lose jobs through 2034. Entry into this field typically requires a bachelor's degree, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.

What do mathematicians earn?

The median annual wage for mathematicians is $121,680. That puts mathematicians at #52 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. Pay at this level is well above the U.S. median household income, signaling sustained demand and meaningful credential requirements. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.

Is mathematicians a growing career?

The 10-year outlook for mathematicians is -0.7%, projected to lose jobs through 2034. Employment is projected to move from approximately 2K positions in 2024 to 2K in 2034, a net change of 0K. A declining outlook does not mean the field is disappearing; it means automation, demographics, or substitution effects are shrinking the pool of openings. Students entering a declining field should plan for adjacent skills that transfer to growing roles.

What do mathematicians do every day?

According to O*NET task surveys of working mathematicians, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.

1. 1.Mentor others on mathematical techniques.
2. 2.Assemble sets of assumptions, and explore the consequences of each set.
3. 3.Maintain knowledge in the field by reading professional journals, talking with other mathematicians, and attending professional conferences.
4. 4.Develop new principles and new relationships between existing mathematical principles to advance mathematical science.
5. 5.Disseminate research by writing reports, publishing papers, or presenting at professional conferences.
6. 6.Perform computations and apply methods of numerical analysis to data.
7. 7.Apply mathematical theories and techniques to the solution of practical problems in business, engineering, the sciences, or other fields.
8. 8.Address the relationships of quantities, magnitudes, and forms through the use of numbers and symbols.

Top skills for mathematicians

O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.

What education does my child need to become mathematician?

The standard path into mathematicians begins with a bachelor's degree in a related field, followed by entry-level experience or internships during college. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.

Related careers your child might also consider

• Computer and Information Research Scientists
  $140,910 median
• Database Architects
  $135,980 median
• Software Developers
  $133,080 median
• Computer Network Architects
  $130,390 median
• Actuaries
  $125,770 median
• Information Security Analysts
  $124,910 median

Common questions parents ask about mathematicians