Mathematicians

Overall employment of mathematicians is expected to grow by 4 percent, as fast as the average for all careers, through 2033, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. However, strong competition is expected for jobs since the mathematics field is so small (about 100 new jobs will be created between 2023 and 2033). There will be more jobs in applied mathematics (and related areas such as computer programming, cloud computing, operations research, and engineering design) than in theoretical research. Those who have a background in another field in addition to mathematics (such as computer science and software development, physics, engineering, operations research, financial analysis, or life sciences research) will have especially strong opportunities.

The Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics predicts that opportunities will be good in the following emerging fields: machine learning and artificial intelligence, personalized medicine, systems biology (computational biology and genomics), data-mining (including applications in astrophysics) and data privacy, ecology/epidemiology/environment, climatology, STEM ethics, quantum information science, materials science (including applications in aerospace, biology, electronics, and engineering), and computer animation and digital imaging.

Individuals with only a bachelor's degree in mathematics are not qualified for most mathematician jobs. However, those with a double major will have more opportunities. Holders of bachelor's or master's degrees in mathematics who also meet state certification requirements can find jobs as high school mathematics teachers or with the federal government. For mathematicians with a master's degree but no doctorate, jobs may be harder to find. Strong competition will exist for jobs in theoretical research. More openings should be available in applied areas, such as computer science and data processing.