### Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Mathematicians and Statisticians Summary
                        
            
                                                        
                                                                
                        
            
            
            
                            
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
            						
							
				                                                
                                            




            			mathematicians imageMathematicians and statisticians solve practical problems in fields such as business, government, engineering, and the sciences.							
						Quick Facts:     Mathematicians and Statisticians2023     Median Pay
            						$104,860     per year
										$50.41     per hourTypical Entry-Level Education
                                    Master's degreeWork Experience in a Related Occupation
                                    NoneOn-the-job Training
                                    NoneNumber of Jobs, 2022
                                    35,600Job Outlook, 2022-32
                                    30% (Much faster than average)Employment Change, 2022-32
                                    10,600What Mathematicians and Statisticians Do
                                                
                        
                        
Mathematicians and statisticians analyze data and apply computational techniques to solve problems.
            
                        Work Environment
                        
The top employers of mathematicians and statisticians are the federal government and scientific research and development companies. Mathematicians and statisticians may work on teams with engineers, scientists, and other specialists.
            
                                                How to Become a Mathematician or Statistician
                                                
                        
Mathematicians and statisticians typically need at least a master’s degree in mathematics or statistics. However, some positions are available to those with a bachelor’s degree.
            
                        Pay
                        												                            																				    														The median annual wage for mathematicians was $116,440 in May 2023.									                                														The median annual wage for statisticians was $104,110 in May 2023.									                                					
						
            
                        Job Outlook
                        						
												Overall employment							of mathematicians and statisticians is projected to grow							 30 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.
						About 3,500 openings for mathematicians and statisticians are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
            			
            			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
						State & Area Data
                       Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for mathematicians and statisticians.
            
            
						
                        Similar Occupations
                        
                                                    Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of mathematicians and statisticians with similar occupations.
            
            
                        More Information, Including Links to O*NET
                        
                                               
                        Learn more about mathematicians and statisticians by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
 What Mathematicians and Statisticians Do 
            

			MathematiciansMathematicians and statisticians work with formulas and data to help solve problems in industry, academia, and government.			
Mathematicians and statisticians analyze data and apply computational techniques to solve problems.
Duties
Mathematicians and statisticians typically do the following:
Decide what data are needed to answer specific questions or problems
Apply mathematical theories and techniques to solve practical problems in business, engineering, the sciences, and other fields
Design surveys, experiments, or opinion polls to collect data
Develop mathematical or statistical models to analyze data
Interpret data and communicate analyses to technical and nontechnical audiences
Use statistical software to analyze data and create visualizations to aid decision making in businessTo solve problems, mathematicians rely on statisticians to design surveys, questionnaires, experiments, and opinion polls for collecting the data they need. For most surveys and opinion polls, statisticians gather data from some people in a particular group. Statisticians determine the type and size of this sample for collecting data in the survey or poll.
Following data collection is analysis, which involves mathematicians and statisticians using specialized statistical software. In their analyses, mathematicians and statisticians identify trends and relationships within the data. They also conduct tests to determine the data’s validity and to account for possible errors. Some help write software code to analyze data more accurately and efficiently.
Mathematicians and statisticians present findings from their analyses and discuss the data’s limitations in order to ensure accurate interpretation. They may present written reports, tables, and charts to team members, clients, and other users.
Mathematicians and statisticians work in any field that benefits from data analysis, including education, government, healthcare, and research and development.
***Colleges and universities.*** Mathematicians and statisticians working in postsecondary schools may study theoretical or abstract concepts in these fields. They identify, research, and work to resolve unexplained issues in mathematics and explore mathematical or statistical theories to increase knowledge and understanding about the field.
***Government.*** Mathematicians and statisticians working in government develop surveys and collect and analyze data on a variety of topics, including employment, crop production, and energy use. At all levels of government, these data help to inform policy proposals and decisions that affect the public.
***Healthcare*.**Statisticians known as biostatisticians or biometricians work in pharmaceutical companies, public health agencies, or hospitals. They may design studies to test whether drugs successfully treat diseases or medical conditions. They may also help identify the sources of outbreaks of illnesses in humans and animals.
***Research and development*.** Mathematicians and statisticians design experiments for product testing and development. For example, they may help design experiments to see how car engines perform when exposed to extreme weather or analyze consumer data for use in developing marketing strategies.
Typically, mathematicians and statisticians work on teams with other specialists to solve problems. For example, they may work with chemists, materials scientists, and chemical engineers to analyze the effectiveness of a new drug or help data scientists develop statistical models.
 Work Environment
			mathematicians imageMathematicians and statisticians may work on teams with engineers and scientists.			

	    
				
	
	
	
	
	
	
	    					 Mathematicians held about 2,300 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of mathematicians were as follows:
        Federal government
                54%Professional, scientific, and technical services
                19Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private
                16Statisticians held about 33,300 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of statisticians were as follows:
        Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences
                16%Federal government
                16Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private
                11Healthcare and social assistance
                7Computer systems design and related services
                6Mathematicians and statisticians typically work in offices. They also may work on teams with engineers, scientists, and other specialists.
Work Schedules
Most mathematicians and statisticians work full time. Deadlines and last-minute requests for data or analysis may require overtime. In addition, these workers may travel to attend seminars and conferences.
 How to Become a Mathematician or Statistician

			MathematiciansYears of study are required to become a mathematician or statistician.			
Mathematicians and statisticians typically need at least a master’s degree in mathematics or statistics. However, some positions are available to those with a bachelor’s degree.
Education
Students who are interested in becoming mathematicians or statisticians should take as many math courses as possible in high school.
For jobs with the federal government, candidates need at least a bachelor’s degree or significant coursework in mathematics. In private industry, mathematicians typically need either a master’s or a doctoral degree; statisticians typically need a master's degree, but some entry-level positions may accept candidates with a bachelor's degree.
Most colleges and universities have bachelor’s degree programs in mathematics. Courses usually include calculus, differential equations, and linear and abstract algebra. Mathematics students also commonly take courses in a related field, such as computer science, physics, or statistics.
Many universities offer master’s and doctoral degrees in theoretical or applied mathematics. Students who get a doctoral degree may work as professors of mathematics in a college or university.
Statisticians typically need a master’s degree, but some entry-level positions may accept candidates with a bachelor’s degree.
Students majoring in statistics also may take courses in another field, such as computer science, life sciences, or physical sciences. These courses may help prepare students to work in a variety of industries. For example, coursework in biology, chemistry, or health sciences is useful for testing pharmaceutical or agricultural products. Physics may be useful for statisticians working in manufacturing on quality improvement.
Advancement
Mathematicians and statisticians may advance to become senior mathematicians or statisticians or to work in other managerial roles. A master’s or doctoral degree may be required for some advancement opportunities.
Important Qualities
***Analytical skills.*** Mathematicians and statisticians use mathematical techniques and models to evaluate large amounts of data.
***Communication skills*.**Mathematicians and statisticians must be able to explain technical concepts and solutions in nontechnical ways.
***Logical-thinking skills.*** Mathematicians and statisticians must understand and be able to use computer programming languages to design and develop models and to analyze data.
***Math skills.*** Mathematicians and statisticians use statistics, calculus, and linear algebra to develop their models and analyses.
***Problem-solving skills*.** Mathematicians and statisticians must devise solutions to problems encountered in science, engineering, and other fields.
 Pay

			



	
 
                                                     
            
    
                        Mathematicians and StatisticiansMedian annual wages, May 2023Mathematicians$116,440  Mathematicians and statisticians$104,860  Statisticians$104,110  Mathematical science occupations$101,460  Total, all occupations$48,060Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
 

	
	



		
	
	
	
The median annual wage for mathematicians was $116,440 in May 2023. 


The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $62,260, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $183,500.The median annual wage for statisticians was $104,110 in May 2023. 


The lowest 10 percent earned less than $58,690, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $163,360.





		
	    					 In May 2023, the median annual wages for mathematicians in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        Professional, scientific, and technical services
                $139,670Federal government
                126,460Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private
                62,260In May 2023, the median annual wages for statisticians in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        Computer systems design and related services
                $140,850Federal government
                123,030Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences
                122,390Healthcare and social assistance
                87,070Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private
                81,720Most mathematicians and statisticians work full time. Deadlines and last-minute requests for data or analysis may require overtime. In addition, these workers may travel to attend seminars and conferences.
 Job Outlook

   
        
    
          
        
    
                        Mathematicians and StatisticiansPercent change in employment, projected 2022-32Statisticians32%  Mathematicians and statisticians30%  Mathematical science occupations29%  Total, all occupations3%  Mathematicians2%Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
            
            
			 
	
	
	

			Overall employment				of mathematicians and statisticians is projected to grow				 30 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.
			
			About 3,500 openings for mathematicians and statisticians are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
			
			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
			Employment
	
			
Projected employment of mathematicians and statisticians varies by occupation (see table). Employment growth for statisticians is expected to result from more widespread use of statistical analysis to inform business, healthcare, and policy decisions. The amount of digitally stored data will increase over the projections decade as people and companies continue to conduct business online and use social media, smartphones, and other mobile devices. As a result, businesses will increasingly need statisticians to analyze the large amount of information and data collected. Statistical analyses will help companies improve their business processes, design and develop new products, and advertise products to potential customers.

			

                        Employment projections data for     mathematicians and statisticians, 2022-32
                Occupational Title
                        SOC Code
                        Employment, 2022
                        Projected Employment, 2032
                        Change, 2022-32
                        Employment by IndustryPercent
                        NumericSOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program**Mathematicians and statisticians**
			—
			35,600
			46,200
			30
			10,600
			—**Mathematicians**
			15-2021
			2,300
			2,300
			2
			100
			Get data**Statisticians**
			15-2041
			33,300
			43,900
			32
			10,500
			Get data
 State & Area Data **Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)** The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OES data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Mathematicians
					Statisticians **Projections Central** Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved. **CareerOneStop** CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.
 Similar Occupations This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of mathematicians and statisticians. Occupation
                Job Duties
                ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION
                2023     MEDIAN PAY**Actuaries**
            Actuaries use mathematics, statistics, and financial theory to analyze the economic costs of risk and uncertainty.
            Bachelor's degree
            $120,000**Computer Systems Analysts**
            Computer systems analysts study an organization’s current computer systems and design ways to improve efficiency.
            Bachelor's degree
            $103,800**Data Scientists**
            Data scientists use analytical tools and techniques to extract meaningful insights from data.
            Bachelor's degree
            $108,020**Financial Analysts**
            Financial analysts guide businesses and individuals in decisions about expending money to attain profit.
            Bachelor's degree
            $99,890**Market Research Analysts**
            Market research analysts study consumer preferences, business conditions, and other factors to assess potential sales of a product or service.
            Bachelor's degree
            $74,680**Operations Research Analysts**
            Operations research analysts use mathematics and logic to help solve complex issues.
            Bachelor's degree
            $83,640**Postsecondary Teachers**
            Postsecondary teachers instruct students in a variety of academic subjects beyond the high school level.
            See How to Become One
            $84,380**Survey Researchers**
            Survey researchers design and conduct surveys and analyze data.
            Master's degree
            $60,960**Economists**
            Economists conduct research, prepare reports, and evaluate issues related to monetary and fiscal policy. They also may collect and analyze statistical data.
            Master's degree
            $115,730**Computer Programmers**
            Computer programmers write, modify, and test code and scripts that allow computer software and applications to function properly.
            Bachelor's degree
            $99,700**Physicists and Astronomers**
            Physicists and astronomers study the interactions of matter and energy.
            Doctoral or professional degree
            $149,530
 Contacts for More Information
								
For more information about mathematicians, including training, especially for doctoral-level employment, visit
American Mathematical Society
For more information about statisticians, visit
American Statistical Association
This is Statistics
For specific information on careers in applied mathematics, visit
Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics
For information on federal government requirements for mathematician positions, visit
U.S. Office of Personnel Management
CareerOneStop
For career videos on mathematicians and statisticians, visit
Mathematicians
Statisticians

                                                
                                                        
                                                                                                    O*NET
                                        BiostatisticiansMathematiciansStatisticians
 Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.  Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Mathematicians and Statisticians, 
        	 at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/math/mathematicians-and-statisticians.htm (visited *May 21, 2024*).
 **Last Modified Date:**
                        Wednesday, April 17, 2024


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