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Mathematics professor: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 28, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$79,940median pay per year, May 2025[1]
  1. $49,180lowest 10% earn less
  2. $61,69025th percentile
  3. $79,940median
  4. $105,00075th percentile
  5. $139,340top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[3]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[2]

A mathematics professor, which BLS calls a postsecondary mathematical science teacher, had a median pay of $79,940 a year in May 2025[1]. The median for all occupations was $50,980[2].

Job growth, 2025–35
+1.7%[4]
Openings per year
3,900[5]
Typical entry education
Doctoral or professional degree[6]

How much do mathematics professors make?

The median pay for Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary was $79,940 a year in May 2025[1]. Half earned more and half earned less[1]. The mean, or average, was $91,550[7]. The median for all occupations was $50,980[2].

The range is wide. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $49,180, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $139,340[3]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS does not publish a starting salary[8].

Measure Annual wage Source
10th percentile[3] $49,180
25th percentile[3] $61,690
Median[1] $79,940
75th percentile[3] $105,000
90th percentile[3] $139,340

BLS publishes only annual wages for this job, not hourly wages[9]. The figures cover wage and salary workers. They leave out the self-employed, bonuses that are not tied to production, and the cost of benefits such as health insurance[10].

Pay by state and city

California had the highest state median at $130,680[11]. Delaware came next at $101,510, then Michigan at $99,330[11]. Arkansas had the lowest listed median at $54,340[11].

The most jobs were in Texas (4,870), New York (4,080) and California (3,810)[12].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA had the highest median at $150,550[13]. Ann Arbor, MI followed at $137,720, and Fresno, CA at $135,890[13]. The New York-Newark-Jersey City area had the most jobs, 3,600, with a median of $98,130[14].

Show median pay in 47 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
California[11]$130,6803,810
Delaware$101,510130
Michigan$99,3301,420
Rhode Island$95,600260
Oregon$91,770820
New Hampshire$91,670150
New York$87,2304,080
Minnesota$85,570690
Washington$85,560820
Massachusetts$85,4901,880
Connecticut$85,020820
Vermont$84,860170
Maryland$83,360820
Utah$83,270370
Nevada$82,540250
Pennsylvania$82,1702,000
Colorado$81,930890
District of Columbia$81,880260
Ohio$81,3301,600
Maine$81,130170
New Jersey$80,6601,660
Montana$80,610120
Wisconsin$80,480780
Iowa$80,300450
Louisiana$79,940340
Nebraska$79,310270
Indiana$78,7801,100
South Carolina$77,580700
Illinois$77,0802,390
Texas$76,9904,870
Wyoming$76,910110
North Dakota$76,770120
Tennessee$76,240870
Virginia$75,8301,570
Missouri$74,640740
North Carolina$73,6201,870
Arizona$71,230680
West Virginia$69,370210
New Mexico$66,550400
Georgia$66,4401,100
Alabama$65,900850
Kentucky$65,820490
Oklahoma$64,660430
South Dakota$64,620130
Kansas$64,330460
Mississippi$61,760360
Florida$60,7002,660
Arkansas$54,340290

How to become a mathematics professor

BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree as the typical education for entry. It lists no work experience in a related occupation and no on-the-job training[6].

BLS describes the wider postsecondary teacher group, so the details below are about that group and not only math[15].

In an ONET survey of 43 workers in this occupation, 43% said a master's degree is required, 37% said a doctoral degree, 10% said post-doctoral training and 9% said a bachelor's degree[22]. ONET places the job in Job Zone Five, which means extensive preparation is needed[23].

What mathematics professors do

They teach courses on mathematical concepts, statistics and actuarial science. Some mainly teach, and others combine teaching with research[24]. O*NET lists these tasks, most important first[25]:

Where they work

Colleges, universities and professional schools (state) were the largest employer group of postsecondary teachers, at 41% in 2025[26]. Most work full time, and part-time work is common[27]. Courses are generally held during the day, with some evening and weekend classes[28].

Schedules are generally flexible. Full-time teachers need to be on campus to teach and hold office hours, and otherwise set their own schedules[29]. Breaks between terms are typical, and some teachers use summers to do research[30]. Balancing teaching with research and publishing can be stressful, especially for beginners seeking advancement[31].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 1.7% from 2025 to 2035, from about 57,100 to 58,100 jobs[4]. For all occupations the projection is 3.5%[32]. So growth is slower than average.

BLS expects about 3,900 openings a year[5]. These include jobs left by people who retire or change occupations, not only new jobs[5]. Each year, 3.5% of workers leave the labor force and 3% move to a different occupation[33]. Only 0.1% were self-employed in 2025[34].

The projection counts self-employed workers[4]. The May 2025 pay survey counted about 47,670 wage and salary jobs[35].

Is it a good fit?

The facts suggest this job suits people who are ready for a long stretch of study. A doctoral degree is the typical entry level[6], and doctoral programs usually take several years[16]. Pay is above the all-occupations median[1][2], though the range is wide[3]. Job growth is slower than average[4][32], so openings come mostly from people who leave or retire[5][33]. Pay and jobs vary a lot by state[11].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[36].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a mathematics professor make?
The median pay was $79,940 a year in May 2025, and the mean was $91,550[1][7]. BLS does not publish hourly wages for this job[9].
What degree do you need to be a mathematics professor?
BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry education[6]. Community colleges may hire people with a master's degree[18].
Is mathematics professor a growing job?
BLS projects 1.7% growth from 2025 to 2035, below the 3.5% for all occupations[4][32]. About 3,900 openings a year are expected[5].
What is the highest paying state for mathematics professors?
California had the highest median at $130,680 in May 2025[11].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary in the US was $79,940 per year. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary: 10th percentile $49,180, 25th percentile $61,690, 75th percentile $105,000, 90th percentile $139,340. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary is projected to grow 1.7% from 2025 to 2035, from about 57,100 to 58,100 jobs (a change of +1,000). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 3,900 openings for Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary: education needed for entry: Doctoral or professional degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary was $91,550 per year. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS publishes only annual wages for Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary, not hourly wages, because many work fewer than 2,080 hours a year but are paid yearly. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. Median annual wage for Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary jobs: Texas 4,870; New York 4,080; California 3,810; Florida 2,660; Illinois 2,390. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary (areas with at least 100 jobs): Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA $150,550; Ann Arbor, MI $137,720; Fresno, CA $135,890; San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $135,860; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $134,920; Madison, WI $132,100; Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $131,980; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $131,070. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 3,600 (median $98,130); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 1,810 (median $68,050); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 1,400 (median $131,070); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 1,360 (median $77,230); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 1,320 (median $86,510); Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 860 (median $80,570). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Postsecondary Teachers" covers Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  16. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Work Experience in a Related Occupation. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Work Experience in a Related Occupation. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. O*NET 25-1022.00 survey of workers (43 respondents), education level they say is required: Master's Degree 43%, Doctoral Degree 37%, Post-Doctoral Training 10%, Bachelor's Degree 9% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  23. O*NET 25-1022.00: Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed. Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job. O*NET OnLine
  24. O*NET description of Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary. O*NET OnLine
  25. O*NET task list for Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary. O*NET OnLine
  26. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of postsecondary teachers in 2025: Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state 41%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  33. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary: 3.5% of workers leave the labor force each year and 3% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  34. BLS Employment Projections: 0.1% of Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  35. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 47,670 people were employed as Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  36. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.