Mathematicians Career, Salary and Skills
Mathematicians have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $126,710 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 2,030. Wage data is published for 17 locations.
Occupation description
Conduct research in fundamental mathematics or in application of mathematical techniques to science, management, and other fields. Solve problems in various fields using mathematical methods.
O*NET code
15-2021.00
Job zone
5
Typical education
Doctoral Degree
Experience
Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$126,710
Hourly median
$60.92
Employment
2,030
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 5.00 | 6.00 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.12 | 5.00 |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.00 | 5.00 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 4.00 | 4.88 |
| Active Learning | 4.00 | 5.12 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.75 | 4.00 |
| Science | 3.62 | 4.50 |
| Writing | 3.62 | 4.62 |
| Active Listening | 3.38 | 4.00 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.25 | 3.88 |
Typical tasks
- Mentor others on mathematical techniques.
- Maintain knowledge in the field by reading professional journals, talking with other mathematicians, and attending professional conferences.
- Develop new principles and new relationships between existing mathematical principles to advance mathematical science.
- Disseminate research by writing reports, publishing papers, or presenting at professional conferences.
- Assemble sets of assumptions, and explore the consequences of each set.
- Perform computations and apply methods of numerical analysis to data.
- Address the relationships of quantities, magnitudes, and forms through the use of numbers and symbols.
- Conduct research to extend mathematical knowledge in traditional areas, such as algebra, geometry, probability, and logic.
Technology
- Adobe Photoshop
- Algae
- AMPL
- Analyse-it
- Analysis and Visualization of Time Sequences AVTS
- Apfloat
- Apple macOS
- Apple Shazam
- Aptech Systems GAUSS
- ARfit
- Atlassian JIRA
- Aztec
- Bash
- C
Mathematicians salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Mathematicians Salary in VAMedian $148,030 · Employment 400
- Mathematicians Salary in CAMedian $126,710 · Employment 250
- Mathematicians Salary in Washington, DCMedian $164,470 · Employment 200
- Mathematicians Salary in MDMedian $131,810 · Employment 160
- Mathematicians Salary in New York, NYMedian $113,590 · Employment 150
- Mathematicians Salary in NYMedian $126,950 · Employment 150
- Mathematicians Salary in WAMedian $162,280 · Employment 100
- Mathematicians Salary in Providence, RIMedian $109,260 · Employment 100
- Mathematicians Salary in MIMedian $65,510 · Employment 90
- Mathematicians Salary in Seattle, WAMedian $185,520 · Employment 70
- Mathematicians Salary in NVMedian $102,890 · Employment 70
- Mathematicians Salary in COMedian $86,020 · Employment 60
Related careers
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- Statistical AssistantsNational median $50,330
- Bioengineers and Biomedical EngineersNational median $109,370
- Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and GeographersNational median $101,920
- Financial Quantitative AnalystsNational median $81,100
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.