Career Outcomes
Your Success Story Is Waiting. Students who travel down the mathematical career road find that they have a multitude of options awaiting them, depending on their interests. Math students fine tune both logical and creative skills, attributes that employers of all kinds value and seek out in potential employees.
The Life-Long Value of Studying Math
Some students who are good at math and enjoy solving math problems don’t seriously consider majoring in the subject because they are unsure of how a math major could be of use to them.
One common misconception is that a major in math is of no use unless you plan to teach math. But the truth is that there are a multitude of interesting and rewarding jobs for people with degrees in math.
By studying math you develop analytical skills, learn to pay attention to all the assumptions involved in a given problem or situation, and learn to break down a complicated problem into a series of steps. You develop the habit of critical thinking: testing your conclusions—and the conclusions of others—to make sure they’re based on adequate data and accurate reasoning.
Such skills and attitudes are highly valued by employers as well as graduate and professional schools (architecture, engineering, business, law, medicine, pharmacy, etc.). A degree in mathematics, especially if accompanied by a transcript showing good grades in math courses, signals to a prospective employer or admissions officer that you are capable of learning the kinds of analytical procedures that are required in a given job or profession, even if those procedures are not specifically mathematical.
Employers recognize that if you can do math, you can do any job that calls for precise analysis and careful deduction. Visit We Use Math to find useful information about career perspectives for math majors.
Career Pathways
People with math degrees are in demand in:
- Accounting firms
- Actuarial firms
- Airlines and other transportation companies
- Banks and other financial institutions
- Chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturers
- Computer manufacturers
- Consulting firms
- Educational institutions
- Engineering firms
- Government agencies
- Health services organizations
- Insurance agencies
- Investment banking
- Investment firms
- Real estate firms
- Research and development firms
- Securities firms
- Software development firms
- Technical publishing firms
- Telecommunications companies
- Textbook publishing companies
- Utility companies
Job titles commonly held by math graduates include:
- Accountant
- Actuary
- Auditor
- Biostatistician
- Budget Analyst
- Cartographer
- Compensation/Benefits Specialist
- Computer Applications Specialist
- Computer Programmer
- Computer Systems Analyst
- Credit Analyst
- Cryptographer
- Data Analyst
- Data Base Manager
- Data Processing Manager
- Economic Analyst
- Financial Analyst
- Financial Consultant
- Financial Manager
- Financial Services Sales Representative
- Information Systems Analyst
- Insurance Agent
- Insurance Underwriter
- Inventory Control Specialist
- Investment Manager
- Loan Counselor/Officer
- Market Research Analyst
- Meteorologist
- Operations Research Analyst
- Production Planner
- Professor
- Psychometrician
- Purchasing Manager
- Real Estate Appraiser
- Risk Manager
- Securities Analyst
- Statistician
- Surveyor
- Teacher
- Traffic Technician
- Urban Planner
Alumni Stories
Erika Weizhi Cao
Q: What made you interested in majoring in mathematics?
A: I have always been interested in majoring in math because I think math not only lays a solid foundation for all of the STEM subjects, but also appears everywhere in our life. The first time I realized this was during my piano class in elementary school. As I practiced, I began to see that it wasn’t just the tempo of the rhythms that was connected to math, but also the structure of the music itself. The design of the piano, with its intricately arranged 7 keys, is rooted in the diatonic scale, which is built on precise frequency intervals. Each of these 7 notes is a multiple of a base frequency, forming a harmonic relationship with each other, and the frequency doubles for each octave that goes up. I was fascinated by this discovery, and I began to enjoy spotting the “hidden” math in other areas, such as visual arts and architecture. From the application of Pythagorean theorem to the design of Parthenon in ancient Greece to Leonbattista Alberti’s use of scientific perspective in painting during the Renaissance, math is incorporated in every single aspect of human civilization, which is absolutely incredible. Majoring in math really helped me create a better understanding of the world through a unique lense, one that is composed of logic, numbers, and patterns.
Q: Favorite class?
A: MATH 3010 Intense Problem Solving and Exhibition with Dr. Chan!
Q: Favorite math-related activity?
A: Sudoku and card games!
Q: Favorite non-math activity?
A: Singing and cuddling with my dogs.
Q: Describe your research and how you applied what you learned in classrooms into your research.
A: One of the most valuable lessons math has taught me is the ability to critically digest problems and information. When solving a mathematical problem or writing a proof, everything must be logically connected, which has trained me to approach challenges systematically. I’ve learned how to examine logical flows, identify gaps, and efficiently extract useful information from limited resources to find solutions. Additionally, while most mathematical problems have one correct answer, the methods used to reach that answer can vary. What might be the fastest and most efficient approach for one problem may not work for another. Thus, I was trained to spot many possible solutions for each question and find the most optimal approach. This flexibility in problem-solving and analysis has not only been intellectually rewarding but has also broadened my thinking, helping me tackle real world challenges from multiple perspectives.
In my undergraduate research, I applied my mathematical knowledge when building a wind stimulus apparatus specifically designed for my fruit flies. The project required various calculations, from spatial arrangements and electrical currents in circuits to fitting windspeed curves to 4th degree polynomials, ensuring both theoretical and actual windspeed measurements were accurate. My knowledge in math prepared me to understand what is achievable in the engineering process and how to approach and execute the necessary calculations to achieve it.
Additionally, in my MATH 3630 Mathematical Modeling in Biology and Medicine class, I explored how mathematical equations, such as differential equations, can be applied to explain biological phenomena like bacterial chemotaxis and enzyme kinetics. Approaching these topics through a quantitative lens provided me with a deeper understanding of biological questions that I now encounter in graduate school. I believe that math will continue to play an essential role throughout my graduate studies, whether it’s in making experimental calculations, developing predictive models, or analyzing statistical results. I would always appreciate how my math major has equipped me well with the skills necessary for these applications, and I am excited to see how my mathematical background is going to lead me to the intersection of math, biology, and medicine to potentially contribute to innovative solutions to unanswered research questions.
Q: Future plans?
A: The plan for this year is to find a lab that allows me to solve a biological question through a quantitative approach. And my plan for the next couple of years is to work hard in my research, make contributions to the world of science, and graduate!