Careers

It can be hard to know where to start when considering a career in mathematics! Here are some readings and resources that explore the wide variety of careers available.

  • WeUseMath.org address the question: “When will I use math?” The homepage has a short video addressing this question.
  • The book 101 Ways to Use a Mathematics Degree, published by the MAA is another great resource.
  • The Mathematical Sciences in 2025 is a 2013 report from the National Research Council that reviews the current state of the mathematical sciences in the United States and makes recommendations for the future in light of the increasingly cross-disciplinary nature of the mathematical sciences.
  • Careers in Applied Mathematics: Options for STEM Majors, is a brochure published by the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics containing descriptions of careers, profiles of people in those careers, and further resources.
  • Girls’ Angle Bulletin is a bimonthly magazine that contains interviews with mathematicians, articles on math, mathematical activities, math problems, and math inspired art.
  • Women@NASA has profiles of women who work at NASA and links to career information and advice.
  • MathTeacherEDU.org contains salary information for mathematics teachers by state.
  • Careers That Count was created by AWM in 1991 to encourage individuals to look at the mathematical sciences as a possible career choice and includes profiles of 15 women mathematicians. The original booklet is out of print, but we offer this online version.

Be sure to check out the career pages from other mathematical societies:

The following links contain job postings for jobs in math-related fields, but it is by no means an exhaustive list.

  • The American Association of University Women has several types of fellowship and grants. Career Development Grants provide funding to women who hold a bachelor’s degree and are preparing to advance or change careers or re-enter the workforce.

  • AMS-AAAS Congressional Fellows  spend the year working on the staff of a Member of Congress or a congressional committee, working as a special legislative assistant in legislative and policy areas requiring scientific and technical input. The program includes an orientation on congressional and executive branch operations, and a year-long seminar series on issues involving science, technology and public policy.
  • The AAAS Science & Technology Fellowship program is designed to provide a unique public policy learning experience, to demonstrate the value of science-government interaction, and to bring a technical background and external perspective to the decision-making process in the Congress.

  “There are many jobs in industry for mathematicians, but they don’t always have the word ‘math’ in the job title.” –SIAM careers brochure