15 Series · SOC 15-2021
Mathematicians Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $126,710
- Median / year
- $195,190
- Top 10% earn
- -0.7%
- Growth '23–'33
- 2,030
- US workers
Mathematicians earn a median of $126,710 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $126,710, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $69,240 (10th percentile) to $195,190 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 2,030 US workers. Washington pays the most ($162,280), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Mathematicians earn a median of $126,710, putting them among the better-paid US occupations and higher than 92% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Computer and Mathematical, it ranks #7 of 21 by median pay. Employment is projected to fall 0.7% by 2033.
- $126,710
- Median annual wage
- Top 8%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #7 of 21
- in Computer and Mathematical
- 2.8×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Washington at $162,280. Typical entry-level education: Master's degree.
Mathematicians (SOC 15-2021) pays a national median of $126,710 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $69,240 at the 10th percentile to $195,190 at the 90th, with a mean of $129,260 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 2,030 Americans work in this occupation across 12 reporting states and 8 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a -0.7% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as declining relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 100 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is Master's degree. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of A for this role, with a fatality rate of 0.3 per 100,000 and injury rate of 0.2 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Washington pays the highest state median at $162,280, which is +28% above the national figure. The top metro is Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA at $185,520 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
Median Salary
$126,710
per year
Median Hourly
$60.92/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$129,260
average
Employment
2,030
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Mathematicians pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$126,710 Top 8% higher than 92% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 15-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Mathematicians; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 21 15-series occupations with growth data, Mathematicians sits on the slower-growing side at -0.7% growth and $126,710 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
-0.7%
Declining
Annual Openings
100
per year (projected)
Typical Education
Master's degree
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Very Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
0.3/100K
Injury Rate
0.2/100
Danger Index
1/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Mathematicians roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key 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.
- ▸ Develop mathematical or statistical models of phenomena to be used for analysis or for computational simulation.
- ▸ Apply mathematical theories and techniques to the solution of practical problems in business, engineering, the sciences, or other fields.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$69,240
25th Percentile
$88,570
Median
$126,710
75th Percentile
$157,020
90th Percentile
$195,190
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 12 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $162,280 | +28% above national |
| 2 | Virginia | $148,030 | +17% above national |
| 3 | Maryland | $131,810 | +4% above national |
| 4 | Illinois | $130,970 | +3% above national |
| 5 | New York | $126,950 | same as national |
| 6 | California | $126,710 | same as national |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $109,260 | 14% below national |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $104,190 | 18% below national |
| 9 | Nevada | $102,890 | 19% below national |
| 10 | Indiana | $88,050 | 31% below national |
| 11 | Colorado | $86,020 | 32% below national |
| 12 | Michigan | $65,510 | 48% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 8 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $185,520 | +46% above national |
| 2 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $164,470 | +30% above national |
| 3 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $156,480 | +23% above national |
| 4 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $130,970 | +3% above national |
| 5 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $113,590 | 10% below national |
| 6 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $109,260 | 14% below national |
| 7 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $104,190 | 18% below national |
| 8 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $102,890 | 19% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 15 (computer and mathematical) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What to do with this data
How to use Mathematicians pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $157,020/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: Washington leads at $162,280/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.