Mathematician Salary in 2026

    SOC: 15-2021.00 · BLS OEWS 2026 · Updated March 2026
    Median Annual
    $121,680
    per year
    Salary Range
    $63K – $188K
    P10–P90
    Total Jobs
    2,220
    employed
    Job Growth
    -0.7%
    2024–2034
    Section 01

    How Much Do Mathematicians Make?

    Mathematicians earn a median annual salary of $121,680 as of 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) data. Wages span from $63,430 at the 10th percentile to $187,660 at the 90th percentile — a range of $124,230. The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $154,480.

    PercentileAnnual salary
    10th percentile$63,430
    25th percentile$85,720
    Median (50th)$121,680
    75th percentile$153,340
    90th percentile$187,660
    10th: $63,430Median: $121,68090th: $187,660
    Section 02

    Mathematician Salary by State

    Median annual salary across all 50 states. Click a column to sort.

    StateMedian salary
    District of Columbiatop$154,480
    California$143,890
    Virginia$142,150
    Washington$137,180
    Maryland$128,940
    Illinois$127,290
    Colorado$108,500
    Florida$105,370
    Nevada$102,900
    New York$98,620
    Ohio$96,780
    New Jersey$96,620
    Michigan$63,430
    Section 03

    Highest-Paying Metros for Mathematicians

    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
    Highest paying
    $176,000
    top metro salary
    Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
    $160,510
    $-15,490 vs highest
    California
    $143,890
    $-32,110 vs highest
    Virginia
    $142,150
    $-33,850 vs highest
    Washington
    $137,180
    $-38,820 vs highest
    Maryland
    $128,940
    $-47,060 vs highest
    New York
    $98,620
    $-77,380 vs highest
    New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ
    $91,290
    $-84,710 vs highest
    Section 04

    Mathematician Salary by Experience

    Estimated salary ranges derived from BLS wage percentiles. Entry level corresponds to P10–P25, mid-career to the median, experienced to P75, and senior to P90+.

    Experience levelEstimated salary
    Entry level (0–2 yrs)~$63,430 – $85,720
    Mid career (3–7 yrs)~$121,680
    Experienced (8–15 yrs)~$153,340
    Senior (15+ yrs)$187,660+
    Section 05

    How to Earn More as a Mathematician

    Location is the single biggest salary lever: Mathematicians in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA earn $176,000 — $54,320 above the national median. An advanced credential — such as a graduate degree or specialized certification — is consistently associated with higher earnings in this field. Reaching the 75th percentile ($153,340) typically requires 5–10 years of experience plus specialization in a high-demand area.

    Want to see if a different career pays more for your skills? PathScorer maps your experience against hundreds of occupations and shows you where you're most competitive. Try it free →

    Section 06

    Mathematician Salary vs Similar Careers

    CareerMedian salary
    Mathematicianthis career$121,680
    Financial Quantitative Analyst$80,190
    Computer and Information Research Scientist$140,910
    Software Developer$133,080
    Operations Research Analyst$91,290

    Find out where you stand — free in 2 minutes

    PathScorer compares your skills to Mathematician requirements and shows you what you already qualify for — plus which similar careers pay more for your background.

    See how your skills compare — free
    Free to try No sign-up Based on O*NET data
    Section 07

    Frequently Asked Questions

    SOC: 15-2021.00 · Data: BLS OEWS 2026, O*NET 29.1 · Salary figures are national medians unless otherwise noted.