How much does a Mathematician make?
The median pay for a Mathematician in the United States is $126,710 per year — about $60.92 per hour. Entry-level positions start near $69,240, while the most experienced Mathematicians in the top 10% earn $195,190.
That is $65,320 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Mathematician salary range by percentile
Half of all Mathematicians earn between $88,570 and $157,020 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $69,240 | $33.29 | |
| 25th percentile (early career) | $88,570 | $42.58 | |
| 50th percentile (median) | $126,710 | $60.92 | |
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $157,020 | $75.49 | |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $195,190 | $93.84 |
Highest-paying states for Mathematician
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Washington leads the country for Mathematician pay at $162,280 a year, followed by Virginia ($148,030) and Maryland ($131,810). At the other end, Michigan posts the lowest median at $65,510 — a gap of $96,770 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
| # | State | Median salary | Hourly | vs national |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $162,280 | $78.02 | +28% |
| 2 | Virginia | $148,030 | $71.17 | +17% |
| 3 | Maryland | $131,810 | $63.37 | +4% |
| 4 | Illinois | $130,970 | $62.97 | +3% |
| 5 | New York | $126,950 | $61.03 | +0% |
Mathematician salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 12 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
Workforce and education
About 2,000 people work as Mathematicians in the United States. On qualifications: a doctoral or professional degree (8 or more years of higher education) is required, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
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