Mathematician salary in the U.S.
Mathematicians in the U.S. earn a median of $126,710 a year ($60.92 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,030 workers.
Pay ranges from $69,240 for the lowest-paid 10% to $195,190 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $129,260, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for mathematicians in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $69,240 | $33.29 |
| 25th percentile | $88,570 | $42.58 |
| Median | $126,710 | $60.92 |
| 75th percentile | $157,020 | $75.49 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $195,190 | $93.84 |
| Average (mean) | $129,260 | $62.15 |
Half of mathematicians earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $10,559.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,279.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,873.46 |
| Weekly | $2,436.73 |
| Hourly | $60.92 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Mathematician salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $162,280 | 100 |
| Virginia | $148,030 | 400 |
| Maryland | $131,810 | 160 |
| Illinois | $130,970 | 60 |
| New York | $126,950 | 150 |
| California | $126,710 | 250 |
| Rhode Island | $109,260 | 100 |
| Massachusetts | $104,190 | 40 |
| Nevada | $102,890 | 70 |
| Indiana | $88,050 | 40 |
| Colorado | $86,020 | 60 |
| Michigan | $65,510 | 90 |
Best-paying metro areas for mathematicians
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $185,520 | 70 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $164,470 | 200 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $156,480 | 40 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $130,970 | 60 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $113,590 | 150 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $109,260 | 100 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $104,190 | 40 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $102,890 | 40 |
Metro areas with the most mathematicians
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 200 | $164,470 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 150 | $113,590 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | 100 | $109,260 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 70 | $185,520 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 60 | $130,970 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 40 | $104,190 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | 40 | $102,890 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 40 | $156,480 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Data Scientist | $120,230 | $57.80 |
| Operations Research Analyst | $88,940 | $42.76 |
| Statistician | $105,650 | $50.79 |
| Actuary | $130,000 | $62.50 |
| Mathematical Science Occupations, All Other | $81,490 | $39.18 |
| Software Developer | $135,980 | $65.38 |
| Computer User Support Specialist | $61,860 | $29.74 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $105,850 | $50.89 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $116,580 | $56.05 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $99,130 | $47.66 |
| Information Security Analyst | $129,180 | $62.11 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $104,300 | $50.14 |
| Computer Network Architect | $134,050 | $64.45 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | $76,220 | $36.64 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 15-2021. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a mathematician make in the U.S.?
The median salary for mathematicians in the U.S. is $126,710 a year, or $60.92 an hour. Pay ranges from $69,240 for the lowest-paid 10% to $195,190 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid mathematicians make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of mathematicians in the U.S. earn at least $195,190 a year. The top 25% earn $157,020 or more.
What is the starting pay for mathematicians in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $69,240 a year, and a quarter of mathematicians earn $88,570 or less.
How many mathematicians work in the U.S.?
About 2,030 mathematicians are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.