Have you ever wondered, “What can you do with a math degree?
Is becoming a math teacher my only option?” Well today I am here to show you
the many options you have upon graduating with a math degree.
Actuary
An actuary is someone
who calculates the financial impact of situations that have risk and
uncertainty. This is common in the insurance industry, since the nature of these
industries is based on unplanned events. Actuaries are also hired by private
companies to determine things such as potential demand for a new product, or to
predict the probability and cost of an event. Being an actuary has proven to be
a very lucrative field, and is consistently ranked as one of the most desirable
professions that will continue to be in great demand in the future. If you feel
you have a strong understanding of mathematics, statistics, as well as
business, this would be a great job to consider.
Statistician
As the name implies, statisticians work with using
statistics in the application of mathematical principles. They collect,
analyze, and present numerical data in the form of surveys and experiments. If
you are considering or are already majoring in applied mathematics, this might
be the career for you. Additional background in computer science would help, as
would additional studies in chemistry or a health science (in the case of
testing products).
Market Research
Analyst
If you like gathering and analyzing information,
particularly about what people think and how they will perceive things, this
might be the career path for you! Market research analysts help companies use
statistical data from past sales to predict future sales and to predict which
market they should target for their products or services. In addition to
mathematics and statistics skills, knowledge in computer science, survey design
and sampling theory would help you in this field.
Budget/Financial Analyst
Budget and financial analysts will both work with a company
to maximize the way they spend their money. Budget analysts develop, analyze
and execute budgets, making sure that they are accurate and in compliance with
laws. Financial analysts also guide businesses in their finances, but are more
geared towards investment opportunities. They give recommendations and help
companies develop investment strategies that will be profitable after
evaluating the industry and business trends.
Government Careers
Many departments of the government recruit math majors for
various types of careers (notably, the NSA). For many of these fields, you
would need significant knowledge in another field such as engineering, computer
science, or business, but your background of analysis, statistics, and
differential equations from your math education will give you a great start
into any field you decide to go into.
Teacher/Professor
Yes, it’s the most obvious job that people think of when
they think of a math degree, but that doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing! If you
truly love both math and teaching, then it makes sense to consider a career as
a math teacher. You can become a K-12 math teacher with a bachelor’s degree, but
you will most likely need a Ph.D. to become a college professor or higher.
These are just a few
of the examples of amazing careers you can pursue with a math degree. Some of
them may have been obvious, but hopefully you’ve learned a bit more about the
possibilities that are open to you! Remember, even if a job does not
specifically involve math, having a math degree still makes you desirable to
employers because it shows that you have experience with analyzing data and
problem solving.
We also have a fun and helpful infographic to share with you, showing all of these various jobs!
So if you were undecided about declaring yourself as a math
major, or perhaps you had even overlooked it as a possibility, I hope this
article has changed your mind! If there are any other job possibilities for math
majors you’d like to share, we’d love to hear it in a comment!
P.S. If you'd like a print-friendly version of this infographic (at full size), send us an email at info@centerofmath.org.
