SalariesWhat the occupation covers
Conduct research in fundamental mathematics or in application of mathematical techniques to science, management, and other fields. Solve problems in various fields using mathematical methods.
Official definition from the Standard Occupational Classification, code 15-2021.
The pay range
Pay differs a lot inside one occupation, with experience, employer and place. The table shows where the lines fall.
| Share of workers | A year | A month* | A week* | An hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn less than | $69,240 | $5,770 | $1,332 | $33.29 |
| Lowest 25% earn less than | $88,570 | $7,381 | $1,703 | $42.58 |
| Median (half earn less, half more) | $126,710 | $10,559 | $2,437 | $60.92 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $157,020 | $13,085 | $3,020 | $75.49 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $195,190 | $16,266 | $3,754 | $93.84 |
* Month and week are the yearly figure divided by 12 and by 52, worked out here for convenience. BLS publishes the yearly and hourly figures.
How it compares
The median for all occupations in the United States was $50,980 a year. The median for Mathematicians is $126,710, which is 149% higher. Among the 21 occupations of the field Computer and Mathematical, it ranks number 7 by median pay. With 2,030 jobs, it makes up about 0.1 of every 10,000 jobs in the country.
Mathematicians pay by state
The highest median pay was in Washington ($162,280), Virginia ($148,030) and Maryland ($131,810). The lowest was in Michigan ($65,510), Colorado ($86,020) and Indiana ($88,050). The most jobs were in Virginia (400), California (250) and Maryland (160). The occupation is most concentrated in Rhode Island, where its share of all jobs is 14.6 times the national share.
No state matches.
| State | Jobs | Median a year | Average a year | Median an hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | 100 | $162,280 | $159,710 | $78.02 |
| Virginia | 400 | $148,030 | $146,240 | $71.17 |
| Maryland | 160 | $131,810 | $135,250 | $63.37 |
| Illinois | 60 | $130,970 | $121,990 | $62.97 |
| New York | 150 | $126,950 | $147,660 | $61.03 |
| California | 250 | $126,710 | $129,110 | $60.92 |
| Rhode Island | 100 | $109,260 | $115,200 | $52.53 |
| Massachusetts | 40 | $104,190 | $103,600 | $50.09 |
| Nevada | 70 | $102,890 | $109,590 | $49.47 |
| Indiana | 40 | $88,050 | $100,620 | $42.33 |
| Colorado | 60 | $86,020 | $111,900 | $41.36 |
| Michigan | 90 | $65,510 | $82,310 | $31.50 |
| New Jersey | 70 | not published | not published | not published |
Sorted by median pay, highest first. "Not published" means BLS did not release that figure for the state, usually because too few employers were surveyed. "$239,200 or more" is the highest value BLS reports in the state tables.
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Common questions
How much do Mathematicians earn in the United States?
The median pay was $126,710 a year in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $69,240 and the highest-paid 10% more than $195,190.
How many people work as Mathematicians?
About 2,030 jobs in the United States in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Checked in November 2026. Figures are for employees, before tax, and leave out overtime pay and benefits. They are official statistics, not advice or a pay offer; see bls.gov/oes for the original tables.