Mathematics

Types of Degrees Mathematics Majors Are Getting

The following table lists how many mathematics graduations there were in 2020-2021 for each degree level.

Education Level	Number of Grads
Master’s Degree	2,533
Doctor’s Degree	1,149
Graduate Certificate	82

What Mathematics Majors Need to Know

O*NET surveyed people in occupations related to math and asked them what knowledge areas, skills, and abilities were important for their jobs. The responses were rated on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being most important.

Knowledge Areas for Math Majors

Math majors often go into careers in which the following knowledge areas are important:

• Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
• English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
• Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
• Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Skills for Math Majors

A major in math prepares you for careers in which the following skill-sets are crucial:

• Mathematics - Using mathematics to solve problems.
• Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Abilities for Math Majors

A major in math will prepare for your careers in which the following abilities are important:

• Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
• Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
• Mathematical Reasoning - The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
• Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

What Can You Do With a Mathematics Major?

People with a math degree often go into the following careers:

Job Title	Job Growth Rate	Median Salary
Mathematical Science Occupations	9.1%	NA
Mathematical Science Professors	9.4%	$73,230
Mathematicians	29.0%	$101,900
Natural Sciences Managers	9.9%	$123,860
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education	7.5%	$60,320
Statisticians	33.9%	$87,780

Who Is Getting a Master’s Degree in Mathematics?

This major tends to be male dominated. About 63% of recent graduates are men.

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the countrywide level, the racial-ethnic distribution of math majors is as follows:

Race/Ethnicity	Number of Grads
Asian	186
Black or African American	77
Hispanic or Latino	194
White	1,237
International Students	715
Other Races/Ethnicities	124

Geographic Diversity

Math appeals to people across the globe. About 28.2% of those with this major are international students. The most popular countries for students from outside the country are:

• China
• South Korea
• India
• Saudi Arabia
• Vietnam

How Much Do Mathematics Majors Make?

Master’s Degree Starting Salary

Data from the U.S. Department of Education shows that mathematics students who graduated in 2017-2019 with a master’s degree made a median starting salary of $52,377 per year. During this timeframe, most salaries fell between $49,558 (25th percentile) and $57,582 (75th percentile).

It is possible that some of these people may have taken positions that were not related to math.

Salaries According to BLS

Average salaries range from $87,140 to $104,870 (25th to 75th percentile) for careers related to math. This range includes all degree levels, so you may expect those with a more advanced degree to make more while those with less advanced degrees will typically make less.

To put that into context, according to BLS data from the first quarter of 2020, the typical high school graduate makes between $30,000 and $57,900 a year (25th through 75th percentile). The average person with a bachelor’s degree (any field) makes between $45,600 and $99,000. Advanced degree holders make the most with salaries between $55,600 and $125,400.

Amount of Education Required for Careers Related to Mathematics

Some degrees associated with math may require an advanced degree, while others may not even require a bachelor’s in the field. In general, the more advanced your degree the more career options will open up to you. However, there is significant time and money that needs to be invested into your education so weigh the pros and cons.

How much schooling do you really need to compete in today’s job market? People currently working in careers related to math have obtained the following education levels.

Education Level	Percentage of Workers
Bachelor’s Degree	28.7%
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Baccalaureate degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees carrying the title of Master.	5.3%
Master’s Degree	35.9%
Post-Master’s Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Master’s degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees at the doctoral level.	1.1%
First Professional Degree - awarded for completion of a program that: requires at least 2 years of college work before entrance into the program, includes a total of at least 6 academic years of work to complete, and provides all remaining academic requirements to begin practice in a profession.	1.3%
Doctoral Degree	23.9%
Post-Doctoral Training	4.1%

Online Mathematics Programs

In the 2020-2021 academic year, 1,519 schools offered some type of mathematics program. The following table lists the number of programs by degree level, along with how many schools offered online courses in the field.

Degree Level	Colleges Offering Programs	Colleges Offering Online Classes
Certificate (Less Than 1 Year)	0	0
Certificate (1-2 years)	11	0
Certificate (2-4 Years)	1	0
Associate’s Degree	303	22
Bachelor’s Degree	33	7
Post-Baccalaureate	0	0
Master’s Degree	341	16
Post-Master’s	10	0
Doctor’s Degree (Research)	164	0
Doctor’s Degree (Professional Practice)	0	0
Doctor’s Degree (Other)	0	0

Is a Degree in Mathematics Worth It?

The median salary for a math grad is $92,600 per year. This is based on the weighted average of the most common careers associated with the major.

This is 132% more than the average salary for an individual holding a high school degree. This adds up to a gain of about $1,054,000 after 20 years!

Majors Related to Mathematics

You may also be interested in one of the following majors related to math.

Major	Number of Grads
Applied Mathematics	6,283
Statistics	4,594
Applied Statistics	388
Other Statistics	98

References

*The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• College Scorecard
• National Center for Education Statistics
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• Usual Weekly Earnings of Wage and Salary Workers First Quarter 2020

More about our data sources and methodologies.