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Mathematician: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 26, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$126,710median pay per year, or $60.92 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $69,240lowest 10% earn less
  2. $88,57025th percentile
  3. $126,710median
  4. $157,02075th percentile
  5. $195,190top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[2]

The median mathematician earned $126,710 a year in May 2025, well above the $50,980 median for all occupations[1][2]. It is a small field that is projected to grow 0.6% from 2025 to 2035[3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+0.6%[3]
Openings per year
100[5]
Typical entry education
Master's degree[6]

How much do mathematicians make?

The median wage for mathematicians was $126,710 a year, or $60.92 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. The average was $129,260 a year, or $62.15 an hour[7].

Pay varies a lot. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $69,240, and the lowest-paid 25% earned less than $88,570[4]. At the top, the highest-paid 25% earned more than $157,020, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $195,190[4]. BLS does not publish a starting salary. It publishes percentile wages, which are boundaries between groups of workers[8].

Level Annual Hourly
10th percentile[4][9] $69,240 $33.29
Median[1] $126,710 $60.92
90th percentile[4][9] $195,190 $93.84

For comparison, the median for all occupations was $50,980[2].

These figures cover wage and salary workers, part time and full time. They leave out the self-employed and do not include bonuses or benefits[10].

Pay by state and city

Among the 12 states with published data, Washington had the highest median at $162,280, followed by Virginia at $148,030 and Maryland at $131,810[11]. Michigan was lowest of the 12 at $65,510[11].

Jobs are few and concentrated. Virginia had the most, with 400, then California with 250 and Maryland with 160[12].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria area had the highest median, $164,470, ahead of New York-Newark-Jersey City at $113,590[13]. That Washington area also had the most jobs, about 200[14]. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue had a median of $185,520 with 70 jobs[14].

Show median pay in 12 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
Washington[11]$162,280100
Virginia$148,030400
Maryland$131,810160
Illinois$130,97060
New York$126,950150
California$126,710250
Rhode Island$109,260100
Massachusetts$104,19040
Nevada$102,89070
Indiana$88,05040
Colorado$86,02060
Michigan$65,51090

How to become a mathematician

BLS lists a master's degree as the typical education for entry. It lists no related work experience and no on-the-job training as typical[6].

The handbook profile covers a wider group, mathematicians and statisticians, so these training details describe both[18]. It notes that some positions are open to people with a bachelor's degree[19]. A doctoral degree can lead to work as a college or university professor[20].

In an O*NET survey of 20 workers, 45% said a doctoral degree is required and 25% said a master's degree[21]. That is a small survey, so treat it as a rough picture.

The facts do not say how many years training takes.

What mathematicians do

Mathematicians do research in basic math or apply math methods to problems in science, management and other fields[22]. O*NET lists tasks such as these[23]:

Sample job titles from O*NET include cryptographer, computational scientist and research scientist[24].

Where they work

The handbook says mathematicians and statisticians typically work in offices and may work in teams with engineers and scientists[25]. Most work full time. Deadlines can bring overtime, and some travel to seminars and conferences[26]. The federal government was the largest employer of this wider group, at 53%[27].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment of mathematicians to grow 0.6% from 2025 to 2035[3]. The projection counts self-employed workers and shows about 2,200 jobs at both ends, so the change is essentially flat[3]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5%[28].

About 100 openings a year are projected on average[5]. These include spots left by people who retire or change occupations, as well as new jobs[5]. OEWS counted about 2,030 wage and salary jobs in May 2025[29].

Is it a good fit?

The pay is high compared with all occupations, with a median of $126,710 against $50,980[1][2]. The entry bar is also high, since a master's degree is the typical requirement[6]. The field is small and growth is projected at 0.6%, below the 3.5% for all occupations[3][28]. Jobs cluster in a few states, led by Virginia[12]. The facts suggest it suits people who are comfortable with advanced study and with a small job market.

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[30].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a mathematician make an hour?
The median was $60.92 an hour in May 2025, and the average was $62.15[1][7].
What degree do you need to be a mathematician?
BLS lists a master's degree as the typical entry education[6]. In private industry, a master's or doctoral degree is typical[17].
Is mathematician a growing job?
Employment is projected to grow 0.6% from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations[3][28].
What is the highest paying state for mathematicians?
Washington, with a median of $162,280, among 12 states with published data[11].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Mathematicians in the US was $126,710 per year and $60.92 per hour. 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 Employment Projections: employment of Mathematicians is projected to grow 0.6% from 2025 to 2035, from about 2,200 to 2,200 jobs (a change of +0). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Mathematicians: 10th percentile $69,240, 25th percentile $88,570, 75th percentile $157,020, 90th percentile $195,190. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 100 openings for Mathematicians 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 Mathematicians: education needed for entry: Master's 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 Mathematicians was $129,260 per year and $62.15 per hour. 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 OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Mathematicians: 10th percentile $33.29, 25th percentile $42.58, 75th percentile $75.49, 90th percentile $93.84. 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 Mathematicians 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 Mathematicians jobs: Virginia 400; California 250; Maryland 160; New York 150; Rhode Island 100. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Mathematicians (areas with at least 100 jobs): Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $164,470; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $113,590; Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $109,260. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Mathematicians jobs: Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 200 (median $164,470); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 150 (median $113,590); Providence-Warwick, RI-MA 100 (median $109,260); Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 70 (median $185,520); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 60 (median $130,970); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 40 (median $104,190). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. 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. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Mathematicians and Statisticians" covers Mathematicians together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. O*NET 15-2021.00 survey of workers (20 respondents), education level they say is required: Doctoral Degree 45%, Master's Degree 25%, Bachelor's Degree 10%, Post-Doctoral Training 10%, Post-Master's Certificate 5%, First Professional Degree 5% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  22. O*NET description of Mathematicians. O*NET OnLine
  23. O*NET task list for Mathematicians. O*NET OnLine
  24. O*NET 15-2021.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Agent-Based Modeler, Computational Mathematician, Computational Scientist, Cryptographer, Cryptographic Vulnerability Analyst, Mathematician, Research Computing Specialist, Research Scientist. O*NET OnLine
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of mathematicians and statisticians in 2025: Federal government 53%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  29. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 2,030 people were employed as Mathematicians in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  30. 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.