20 Highest Paying Jobs Math Jobs in 2026

All of the highest paying jobs in the U.S. require at least a bachelor's degree. Students who choose to major in mathematics can prepare themselves for many high-paying math jobs.

A math major salary can vary significantly depending on what career path you choose. Keep reading to discover some of the highest-paying math careers.

Salary Disclaimer: The salary ranges provided in this article are estimates based on national averages. Actual earnings may vary depending on location, employer, level of experience, and industry demand.

Top 20 Math Jobs That Pay Well

Some career paths specifically require a mathematics degree, while others you can enter with a few different types of degrees, including one in math. In many cases, a math degree can lead to high-paying bachelor's degree jobs. Keep reading to discover math careers that pay well.

1. Natural Sciences Manager

Estimated Median Salary: $157,740

One of the highest-paying math jobs is as a natural sciences manager. Natural sciences managers are in charge of planning, supervising, or coordinating research in fields like the life sciences, physical sciences, statistics, and mathematics. They usually work in office settings or laboratories.

Most natural sciences managers have a degree in a science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) field. Typically, a bachelor's degree will suffice, but some employers prefer an advanced degree. You'll likely need several years of experience in science before you can work your way up to a management role.

2. Financial Manager

Estimated Median Salary: $156,100

To become a financial manager, you'll need a degree in business, accounting, economics, or a related field like mathematics. While certification isn't required, there are many professional certifications available to financial managers to help them boost their career options.

Financial managers are responsible for the finances of an organization. Their job includes preparing financial statements, monitoring financial details, and helping management make financial decisions.

3. Software Developer

Estimated Median Salary: $132,270

Software developers design computer applications or programs. There are a few different types of software developers, including app developers, who focus on apps, and software engineers, who often lead software development projects.

Most software developers need a bachelor's degree in computer and information technology or a related field, such as engineering or mathematics. This is one of the highest-paying applied mathematics jobs, and the BLS expects the field to grow 18% by 2033.

4. Computer Network Architects

Estimated Median Salary: $129,840

Computer network architects typically need a bachelor's degree in computer and information technology, engineering, or a related field, such as mathematics. They usually need several years of experience working with IT systems.

Computer network architects, or network engineers, design and deploy computer and information networks. They usually work for companies that offer computer systems services.

5. Information Security Analysts

Estimated Median Salary: $120,360

Information security analysts develop and enact security measures to protect an organization's computer networks and systems. They monitor for security breaches and investigate when one occurs, and also help create a disaster recovery plan for the IT department. Some work as cryptographers, who create encryption codes for data security.

Most information security analysts have a bachelor's degree in computer and information technology or a related field, such as engineering or math. They often pursue industry certifications, such as the CompTIA Security+ credential.

6. Actuary

Estimated Median Salary: $120,000

The majority of actuaries work for insurance companies. Their job is to use mathematics, statistics, and financial theory to assess the risk of potential events for insurance policies and advise businesses using their findings.

In general, actuaries have an undergraduate degree in mathematics, business, actuarial science, or some other analytical field. Actuaries need to be certified through either the Casualty Actuarial Society (CAS) or the Society of Actuaries (SOA).

7. Database Administrators and Architects

Estimated Median Salary: $117,450

Database administrators and architects typically need a bachelor's degree in computer and information technology or a related field, such as engineering or mathematics. They need to have an understanding of database languages, and will need to be familiar with whatever programming language their companies use.

The job of database administrators and architects is to create or organize systems to store and secure data for an organization. They need to make sure that data analysts and other users can easily use databases to find the information they need.

8. Mathematician

Estimated Median Salary: $116,440

Mathematicians apply mathematical theories and techniques to solve practical problems in business, engineering, the sciences, and other fields. They work closely with statisticians to use mathematical modeling techniques to analyze data.

Nearly half of all mathematicians work for the federal government. They typically need a bachelor's degree in math or a closely related field. Those who work in the private sector may need a master's degree or other advanced degree.

9. Economist

Estimated Median Salary: $115,730

Most economists need at least a master's degree to enter the field. However, some economists, primarily in government, qualify for entry-level jobs with a bachelor's degree.

Economists conduct research, prepare reports, and evaluate issues related to monetary and fiscal policy. They also analyze topics related to the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services.

10. Data Scientist

Estimated Median Salary: $108,020

Data scientists extract meaningful insights from data to aid in real-world decision making. Their jobs often require gathering data, developing algorithms, and running data analysis.

In general, data scientists need at least a bachelor's degree, and some jobs require a master's or doctoral degree. Common fields of study for data scientists include mathematics, statistics, computer science, business, and engineering.

11. Statistician

Estimated Median Salary: $104,110

Statisticians often need a master's degree in mathematics or statistics. However, some entry-level jobs may accept candidates with a bachelor's degree.

Statisticians work closely with mathematicians, and their job duties often overlap. However, statisticians focus more on data collection and analysis. Many statisticians work for government agencies, but they can also work for research institutions, healthcare organizations, and more.

12. Computer Systems Analyst

Estimated Median Salary: $103,800

Computer systems analysts study an organization's current computer systems and procedures and design improvements to them. Their goal is to help the organization run more efficiently.

Most have a bachelor's degree in computer and information technology or a related field, such as mathematics. However, some employers prefer to hire those with a master's degree.

13. Computer Programmer

Estimated Median Salary: $99,700

To become a computer programmer, you'll need a bachelor's degree in computer and information technology or a related field, such as mathematics. You'll also need to develop skills in specific programming languages.

Computer programmers write, modify, and test code and scripts that allow computer software and applications to function properly. There are a number of different programming languages they may use, but popular ones include C++ and Java.

14. Mechanical Engineer

Estimated Median Salary: $99,510

Mechanical engineers design and oversee the manufacture of many products ranging from medical devices to new batteries. They specifically focus on mechanical and thermal sensors and devices.

Most mechanical engineers have a degree in mechanical engineering. However, this field requires strong mathematical skills, and a mathematics degree may suffice with the right experience.

15. Management Analyst

Estimated Median Salary: $99,410

A bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level requirement for management analysts. Many fields of study provide a good background for management analysts, including business, social sciences, and mathematics.

Management analysts, also known as management consultants, come into organizations, observe them, and recommend ways that they can improve their efficiency. They often work for consulting services, but roles in government organizations or as self-employed contractors are common as well.

16. Financial Analyst

Estimated Median Salary:$99,890

Financial analysts help businesses and organizations make decisions about their finances. They also assess the performance of stocks, bonds, and other types of investments.

Most entry-level positions for financial analysts require a bachelor's degree in a field like business, finance, or mathematics. Some employers prefer to hire those with master's degrees.

17. Budget Analyst

Estimated Median Salary: $84,940

To become a budget analyst, you'll need at least a bachelor's degree in fields such as business, social science, psychology, or mathematics. You'll also want to take courses that help you develop your financial and analytical skills.

Budget analysts help public and private organizations plan their finances by preparing budget reports and monitoring spending. Most work for government agencies or educational services.

18. Operations Research Analyst

Estimated Median Salary: $83,640

Operations research analysts use mathematics and logic to help organizations make informed decisions and solve problems. They may tackle problems in a variety of areas, including business, logistics, and healthcare.

Most operations research analyst jobs require a bachelor's degree, but some require a graduate degree and may include operations research or a related field, such as business, mathematics, engineering, or computer science.

19. Postsecondary Mathematical Science Teacher

Estimated Median Salary: $81,020

Typically, postsecondary teachers must have a PhD or other doctoral degree in their field. However, a master's degree may be enough for some postsecondary teachers at community colleges.

A postsecondary math teacher or math professor teaches college students about math. They may choose to specialize in a specific area of mathematics, like linear algebra or calculus.

20. Market Research Analyst

Estimated Median Salary: $74,680

Market research analysts help companies understand what products people want, who will buy them, and at what price. They have to analyze things like consumer preferences and business conditions.

A bachelor's degree is common for market research analysts, although there is no one specific major. Common fields of study include business, social sciences, and mathematics.

What These High-Paying Math Careers Have in Common

The roles on this list tend to reward strong quantitative reasoning applied to real-world problems, whether that's modeling financial risk, analyzing large datasets, or designing complex systems. These positions depend less on pure theoretical math and more on the ability to translate mathematical thinking into practical decisions that organizations rely on.

Math expertise also translates across a wide range of industries, since fields like finance, technology, and engineering all depend on professionals who can work confidently with numbers and data. That cross-industry demand is part of why math majors have more career flexibility than many other technical degrees offer.

Building Skills That Boost Your Math Degree Salary

Beyond core math coursework, developing programming skills in languages like Python or R can significantly boost your value to employers, since so many math-related careers now involve working with large datasets and computational tools. Pairing your math degree with even basic coding proficiency can open doors to higher-paying roles in data science and analytics.

Building knowledge in an applied field, like finance, computer science, or engineering, can also make your math degree more marketable. Employers often value math majors who can apply their quantitative skills directly to a specific industry's problems, rather than those with strong theoretical knowledge alone.

FAQs About the Highest Paying Jobs for Math Majors

Below, we've answered some frequently asked questions about the highest-paying jobs with a math degree that focus on expected income and typical jobs that math majors can get.

How Much Does a Mathematician Make?

One of the highest paying math careers is that of a mathematician. Mathematicians have an estimated median salary of $116,440. However, those working in specific sectors, including aerospace manufacturing and the federal government, often make more.

What Are the Highest-Paying Jobs That Involve Advanced Math Skills?

There are several high-paying jobs that involve math, such as natural sciences manager, financial manager, and software developer. However, there are other high-paying jobs that require degrees in other fields, but still require a strong knowledge of mathematical concepts.

For example, most engineering careers require an engineering degree, but engineers often need advanced math skills. Many types of engineers have an average salary over $100,000.

What Jobs Do Most Math Majors Get?

A math major can lead to a number of career paths. However, according to the BLS, some of the most common jobs for math majors are:

• software developer
• postsecondary teacher
• secondary school teacher
• data scientist

Do You Need a Graduate Degree to Advance in a Math Career?

A graduate degree isn't required for every high-paying math career, since many math majors move into strong roles in software development, finance, and data analysis with a bachelor's degree alone. That said, more research-focused or specialized roles, like actuarial leadership or academic positions, often benefit from or require a master's or doctoral degree. Whether graduate school makes sense typically depends on the specific career path you're targeting.

Which Industries Pay the Most for Math Majors?

Finance, technology, and aerospace or defense-related industries tend to offer some of the strongest salaries for math majors, largely due to the complexity and high stakes of the work involved. Government agencies and research institutions also offer competitive pay for specialized mathematical and statistical roles. Researching salary trends within your specific target industry can help you set realistic expectations as you plan your career path.

Explore Math Degree Programs

Find the perfect math degree by exploring the degree programs featured on Learn.org. Reach out to individual schools to learn more about how they can help you land a high-paying math career.