Math majors aren’t immune to the forces squeezing the job market for recent graduates. But a Bachelor of Science in Math holds up better than most — depending on what graduates decide to do with it.
Where math sits relative to other majors: Several STEM fields have endured a turbulent labor market in the past several years. Physics, computer science and computer engineering majors have all experienced elevated unemployment rates, invalidating the old assumption that a STEM degree guarantees you a great job. Math isn’t a risk-free degree, but it hasn’t experienced the decline in job prospects that other STEM degrees have.
What math degrees can lead to: Not many graduates become “mathematicians” in the truest sense of the word. Growth for that specific occupation is projected to remain flat or slightly decline through 2034, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Someone with the title of “mathematician” must often have a master’s or doctoral degree, not just a bachelor’s degree. Fortunately, there are many other destinations for holders of a Bachelor of Science in Math.
Finance and actuarial work: These roles rely heavily on math and statistics expertise, especially probability and financial modeling.
Statistician roles: Statistics is among the fastest-growing math-adjacent fields, and some entry-level positions require only a bachelor’s degree.
Business and technical analysis: Computer systems analysts and operations research analysts both list the bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education.
Teaching, actuarial exams and graduate study: Many math majors choose to pursue additional credentials, such as a teaching license, actuarial exam or master’s in statistics, data science or applied math before entering the workforce.
How to reduce the chance of underemployment: Math majors who succeed quickly on the job market have transcripts that show a mastery of theory alongside applied and computational coursework. For example, a highly qualified candidate might demonstrate comfort with programming languages and statistical software as well as theoretical math knowledge. Those who graduate without that additional technical layer may face a longer job search than those who do.
Although a math degree isn’t a promise of a great job after graduation, it does lead to a variety of career options, including finance, tech, analytics, actuarial work, education and graduate study. The BLS data suggest that many of these fields have strong wages now and are projected to grow in the years to come. Math majors can take advantage of that market by ensuring they have the theoretical and applied technical skills employers are asking for before they leave campus
