18 Highest Paying Math Jobs That You Can Pursue

If you enjoy working with numbers, are an excellent math student or have a degree in mathematics, consider pursuing a career in mathematics, finance, accounting or engineering. Learning what roles are available, the responsibilities for each and how much you can earn can help you better identify the career path that meets your goals and personality. In this article, we explore the highest paying math jobs so you can get your search started.

High-paying jobs that involve math

If you're good at math and wondering about professions where you can put this highly valued skill to work, here are 18 of the highest-paying jobs for people interested in pursuing jobs related to math:

1. Mathematics teacher

National average salary: $48,840 per year

Primary duties: A math teacher leads a classroom of students in learning basic and advanced math concepts. They typically specialize in teaching a certain level of student, including elementary school, middle school, high school or postsecondary. Regardless of the student level they teach, they're responsible for executing math lessons, demonstrating how to solve problems, proctoring tests, grading exams and homework and providing one-on-one assistance as necessary.

Related: Learn About Being a High School Teacher

2. Treasurer

National average salary: $68,119 per year

Primary duties: A treasurer is a finance professional who's responsible for setting and monitoring the short-term and long-term budgets for an organization or corporation. They ensure the organization stays in good financial standing by running financial reports, create financial goals, review financial forecasts, supervising financial teams, research strategies to improve spending, saving and investment and filing tax returns for the business.

Related: Learn About Being a Treasurer

3. Purchasing manager

National average salary: $72,120 per year

Primary duties: A purchasing manager is in charge of procuring a business's supplies, materials and products. They negotiate contracts with vendors and suppliers, monitor inventory, use statistical modeling to assess and improve purchasing methods, set financial goals and hire and train other procurement team members.

Related: Learn About Being a Purchasing Manager

4. Financial analyst

National average salary: $72,139 per year

Primary duties: A financial analyst collects and assesses data to make logical predictions and projections of an organization's or client's financial standing. They may assess current and potential investments, analyze data and make insights, write reports to present findings to organizations or clients and identify financial opportunities that meet the goals, needs and limitations of an organization or client. When a financial analyst focuses on developing investment goals and strategies, they're referred to as buy-side analysts, and those who specialize in advising on selling stocks, bonds or other investments are called sell-side analysts.

Related: Learn About Being a Financial Analyst

5. Chemist

National average salary: $74,486 per year

Primary duties: A chemist is a scientist who researches the properties, uses and reactions of various chemicals. They may work in food production, medicine development or nuclear energy monitoring chemicals under various conditions, testing inter-chemical reactions, assessing the impacts of chemicals on organic or inorganic materials, testing the effects of chemicals on humans and animals and developing chemical solutions for a variety of uses. They apply many mathematical principles to correctly and safely mix chemical compounds, record their findings and repeat experiments effectively.

6. Certified public accountant (CPA)

National average salary: $75,304 per year

Primary duties: A CPA has passed the CPA exam, so they're certified to help clients, organizations and corporations assess and record their financial data. They may be tasked with managing financial assets and accounts, filing taxes, monitoring audits, preparing financial statements and helping clients and organizations set financial goals and mitigate risk. They may work for a CPA firm and have individual or corporate clients or as an in-house accountant for a corporation or organization.

Related: Learn About Being a CPA (Certified Public Accountant)

7. Civil engineer

National average salary: $87,826 per year

Primary duties: A civil engineer designs major public works constructions and oversees the building projects to ensure that it meets local, state and national regulations and stays within budget. They collaborate with corporations, organizations and government agencies to understand public works goals, use geometrical and engineering math principles to design structures like buildings or bridges, oversee materials purchasing, addresses issues related to environmental impact and sustainability and evaluates a project's scope, timeline and budget. In some cases, they may also revise the design of a building and lead reconstruction efforts to improve sustainability, environmental impact, safety or longevity of a structure.

Related: Learn About Being a Civil Engineer

8. Investment analyst

National average salary: $90,700 per year

Primary duties: An investment analyst researches investment opportunities and past market data, develops financial models, creates reports on insights and recommends different stocks, bonds or other investment opportunities to a client, organization or corporation. Depending on where they work, investment analysts may specialize in producing research that improves a sales pitch for certain investment options, or they may research and recommend opportunities to their employer's financial team to buy or sell investments when opportune.

9. Mechanical engineer

National average salary: $94,487 per year

Primary duties: Mechanical engineers design, build and test mechanical devices and machines that solve issues or alleviate flaws. They study issues and flaws, use computer-aided design software, mathematical modeling and advanced engineering mathematics to test hypothetical solutions, develop prototypes and oversee design revisions and early manufacturing.

Related: Learn About Being a Mechanical Engineer

10. Mathematician

National average salary: $99,502 per year

Primary duties: A mathematician applies mathematical theory, principles and algorithms to assess and solve problems in business, technology, economics, science and engineering. Depending on where they work, they may be responsible for selecting testing methods, using mathematical theories and equations to experiment with data, developing and assessing theories, deciphering or creating encryption systems and conducting research on principles.

11. Statistician

National average salary: $100,348 per year

Primary duties: Statisticians apply statistical methods and models to gather, analyze, experiment and draw insights from data. They research qualitative factors, review historical data and reports, select testing methods and models, creating data experiments and write reports that help guide decision-making for businesses, organizations or government agencies. Depending on the industry in which they work, they may also help set goals and develop strategies with key decision-makers or leaders, providing analytical insight into various issues.

Related: Learn About Being a Statistician

12. Aeronautical engineer

National average salary: $101,659 per year

Primary duties: Depending on the terms of their employer and specific job description, an aeronautical engineer will design aircraft—like airplanes, helicopters and missiles—for air travel, cargo shipping, military purposes and emergency service. They're responsible for assessing the goals of each aircraft project, drawing manufacturing blueprints and creating prototypes, selecting materials and making improvements during the manufacturing process.

Related: Learn About Being an Aeronautical Engineer

13. Financial modeler

National average salary: $102,064 per year

Primary duties: This business professional is responsible for creating visual representations of financial data to test hypothetical scenarios and decisions, demonstrate potential outcomes and track the history of an asset, account or company. Depending on where they work, they may make recommendations on goals, strategies, budgets and investment opportunities as well as calculate the cost of a project or cutback.

14. Robotics engineer

National average salary: $103,951 per year

Primary duties: A robotics engineer specializes in designing, creating and testing machines that replicate or supplement human activity. Depending on the industry, they may build prototypes and oversee the development of machines—referred to as robots—that handle tasks that are dangerous, repetitive, unhealthy or costly to humans. These engineers research robotics technology, identify robotics solutions to various problems, apply theories and principles to projects and monitor a budget for manufacturing a machine. They may create robots for industries like manufacturing, mining or construction.

15. Economist

National average salary: $108,261 per year

Primary duties: An economist studies the allocation and distribution of money, resources, goods and services in society to develop effective solutions to urgent economic problems. These professionals conduct research and surveys, use mathematical modeling and principles to assess economic data, create reports and visualizations of data spreads, identify significant trends and interpret forecasts. They may provide guidance to government agencies, organizations or corporations on policies, strategies, investment opportunities and other important decisions that impact the local, state, national and global economy.

16. Actuary

National average salary: $115,528 per year

Primary duties: An actuary applies mathematical and statistical principles to analyze the risk of investments or financial decisions, typically for insurance companies. However, they can also work for businesses, governments, health care organizations or a company's employee benefits department. For businesses, they may provide data to support setting prices for new products or securities and help determine benefits packages that are financially feasible for the business and its employees. For health care organizations, they may help decision-makers select insurance companies to partner with. For insurance companies, they collaborate with underwriters to assess applicants and determine coverage and premiums.

Related: Learn About Being an Actuary

17. Insurance underwriter

National average salary: $125,246 per year

Primary duties: An insurance underwriter reviews information like age, preexisting conditions, lifestyle, geographical location and the likelihood of natural disaster to determine if an applicant receives an insurance policy. They also determine how much coverage a policyholder gets, how much it costs policyholders and how much the company may pay should the policyholder file claims. They're often responsible for creating and using mathematical equations that effectively calculate premiums and coverage based on risk factors, determine the likelihood of injury, illness or other claim and researching competitors' policies and processes to help make their insurance products more competitive.

Related: Learn About Being an Underwriter

18. Algorithm engineer

National average salary: $133,516 per year

Primary duties: Also referred to as an algorithm developer, this data science and technology professional researches, designs and tests algorithms for various computer, software, web application and data management processes. They collaborate with clients or decision-makers in their company to determine the goals of a system, and then they review current systems and algorithms as well as mathematical principles. Using these resources and tools, they design an algorithm to collect, organize, interpret or interact with data and then maintain and improve the algorithm as the client's or business's needs change.