Career Explorer Computing and maths
Changing shape
Mathematicians
Conduct research in fundamental mathematics or in application of mathematical techniques to science, management, and other fields. Solve problems in various fields using mathematical methods.
Among the careers AI is changing fastest: more resilient than 4% of the 831 careers we score. AI exposure is very high (the Bureau of Labor Statistics rates it very high), and US jobs are projected to change by +0.6% by 2035, slower than average. The work leans on creative vision.
AI can do many of the tasks, and hiring is expected to grow slower than average or to shrink. The job is likely to change, so build the human parts of it.
- Median pay (2025)
- $126,710
- Job growth to 2035
- +0.6%
- Openings a year
- 100
- People doing it (2025)
- 2,200
- Usual route in
- Master's degree
Where people already use AI for this work
- Maintain current knowledge in area of expertise
- Analyze scientific or applied data using mathematical principles
- Present research or technical information
From Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025).
Work AI rarely helps with
What the work looks like
- Mentor others on mathematical techniques.
- Maintain knowledge in the field by reading professional journals, talking with other mathematicians, and attending professional conferences.
- Develop new principles and new relationships between existing mathematical principles to advance mathematical science.
- Disseminate research by writing reports, publishing papers, or presenting at professional conferences.
- Assemble sets of assumptions, and explore the consequences of each set.
From O*NET 31.0, US Department of Labor.
Careers using similar strengths, with a stronger outlook
- Web and digital interface designersGrows with AI, Index 17, +6.0%
- Software developersGrows with AI, Index 18, +10.2%
- StatisticiansGrows with AI, Index 20, +11.0%
- Mathematical science occupations, all otherGrows with AI, Index 10, +7.1%
Also known as: Computational Scientist, Cryptographer, Mathematician, Research Scientist, Agent-Based Modeler, Computational Mathematician, Cryptographic Vulnerability Analyst, Research Computing Specialist.
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Sources: US Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2025 to 2035; O*NET 31.0; Microsoft Research (2025); Anthropic Economic Index (2026); Eloundou and colleagues (Science, 2024); Felten, Raj and Seamans (2023). How we score. Updated 12 October 2026.