This article aims at giving you facts on Mathematics degree and the careers you can venture into.
“Uncle, so you want to be a teacher all your life?” I said to my uncle, “why do you say so?” he asked, “because the only job for those who study mathematics at the university are teaching”, I responded. That day was the longest conversation I have had with my uncle. That incident changed my ideologies about studying mathematics.
Well, as a young girl in primary school, I always believed those who studied mathematics as a course only ended up teaching jobs. You couldn’t blame a young ignorant lad. Writing this article brought back the whole memories and I could help but smile.
I believe that if I was privileged to get information such as this, I would have thought differently. There might still be individuals like me out there. This article will be helpful.
What you should know about Mathematics as a course.
Those who study maths are logical thinkers and keen problem solvers, eager to make sense of even the most advanced equations, they can identify patterns and use quantitative data to construct solutions. Moreso, math is involved in just every job in some way. As a result of this, a wide range of opportunities comes from the universal need for graduates with strong analytical and problem-solving skills. This, however, shows that studying mathematics can open doors to a variety of amazing careers in many fields.
Below are the things you can do with a mathematics degree:
1. ACCOUNTING CAREER
A career in accountancy offers a range of options for maths graduates in many different industries. Accountancy jobs include roles such as auditor, tax accountant, forensic accountant, management accountant and corporate advisor
They are also responsible for ensuring that the financial records of an organization are up to date, calculating payroll, preparing tax returns, and ensuring that the company complies with all financial rules and regulations.
To become a chartered accountant, in addition to an undergraduate degree in mathematics or a related area, you’ll also need to gain further professional qualifications. Becoming a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) can be a big advantage for your career.
- Median salary- $70,500
- Top salary- $122,840 or more.
2. ECONOMIST
With a maths degree, you can build a career as an economist. Economists study market data and use mathematical models and statistical analysis to understand and explain economic trends, monitor market conditions to help corporations maximize their profits. Many economists work for various levels of government, examining issues related to employment, taxes, and interest rates. Many of the entry-level positions in government agencies are available to those with a bachelor’s degree in maths.
- Median salary- $104,340
- Top salary- $182,560 or more
3. ACTUARIAL CAREER
The actuarial field is one of the most common industries in which math graduates find work.
Actuaries evaluate financial risk in order to manage and advise clients. They combine risk analysis skills with in-depth knowledge of economics, mathematics and statistics to calculate and manage risks for insurance companies, actuaries ensure sound investments are made and commercial/business goals fulfilled
- Median salary-$102,880
- Top salary-$186,110 or more
4. STATISTICAL CAREER
They deal with collation, analysis, interpretation and presentation of statistics and quantitative data. Statistician’s skills are required in numerous industries, ranging from healthcare to government and from finance to sport. You’ll be tasked with managing, collecting and arranging data by means of surveys, experiments and contextual analysis. You may then be called upon to create reports and advise clients/colleagues on possible strategies, for example in order to make good financial decisions to further business goals.
As a statistician, you’ll have expert analytical skills as well as solid communication and IT skills.
- Median salary-$87,780
- Top salary-$139,350 or more
7. TEACHING
Just like I thought that teaching was the only career a maths degree holder can embrace, there are actually lots of other careers in teaching. Numeracy is always a high priority within primary and secondary education systems, this, however, makes highly numerate graduates with an interest in teaching highly sought-after. If you enjoy the challenge of making math understandable to students of different ages and abilities, you might be cut out for a career as a high school math teacher.
You could help young learners master the concepts involved in algebra, geometry, and calculus. In order to pursue a career in teaching, one is required to have a formal teaching qualification, but some states allow people who already have a bachelor’s degree in another area to take a fast track to certification and begin teaching immediately but to teach at the university level, a postgraduate degree is often required.
- Median salary- $60,320
- Top salary- $97,500 or more
8. METEOROLOGY
The role involves studying weather conditions using data collected from weather stations, radar, remote sensors and satellite images across the globe, in order to interpret and produce forecasts. To achieve this, you’ll need excellent IT, calculus and physics skills, as well as strong skills in analyzing and interpreting complex mathematical data.
In order words, they use advanced modelling techniques to forecast atmospheric conditions and not magic. Many of them work for agencies like the National Center for Atmospheric Research, but opportunities are also available with Airlines, consulting firms, and Agricultural companies.
- Top salary- $142,500 or more
10. SYSTEMS ENGINEERING
You’re right to think that the only people who are qualified to work in the engineering field are only those with a degree in engineering but then, it is also important to know that with a maths degree, you can also build a career in engineering but in some specialized roles, after all, it’s all about calculations too.
Maths graduates are often good at helping to solve real-world, physical problems, and can be found working in mechanical, structural, aeronautical and many other realms of engineering. Some electronics and communications companies hire math majors especially those who come from programs IT, as entry-level systems engineers.
Data analysis and problem-solving skills are key to this job, and you have to be comfortable learning new technologies. Engineering internships and work experience can help if you want to improve your employability straight out of university.
- Median salary- $77,9721
- Top salary- $124,000.
11. CRYPTOGRAPHY
With a degree in maths, you can be a cryptographer, making and breaking codes and coming up with more effective ways to keep sensitive data safe from hackers. Asides working with intelligence agencies, you can be encoding signals for cable companies or encrypting transactions for financial institutions. You can get started in this career right after graduation, particularly if you have good IT knowledge.
- Median salary- $119,4762
- Top salary- $148,650 or more
12. DATA ANALYSIS
Having a maths degree is one way to become a data analyst. They specialize in collecting, processing, and verifying data. They apply standard statistical techniques to complex sets of data in order to identify trends that can help companies solve problems or make better business decisions. Data analysts are in high demand in many industries, from sales and marketing to insurance and health care. A bachelor’s degree in math is a good opportunity to have access to this kind of work.
- Median salary-$59,6141
- Top salary-$84,000 or more
13. MATHEMATICAL MODELER
Do you know that with a maths degree, you are a step away to producing a video game if your choice? Well, mathematical modellers can work in areas ranging from animation and video game design to aerospace engineering or biological research. You’ll need at least a master’s degree in applied mathematics to do this kind of work.
- Median salary- $81,7701
- Top salary- $104,000 or more
14. MATHEMATICIAN
Normally, anyone who studied maths is automatically called a mathematician but the fact is, not all who have a degree in maths are mathematicians professionally. A mathematician is someone who enjoys solving problems through numerical analysis. People who do this kind of work are in demand. You might find yourself researching new theories and concepts, developing mathematical models, or analyzing data to solve business problems. Most times, to successfully build a career in this line, you need an advanced degree but federal government jobs can be obtained with a bachelor’s.
- Median salary-$101,900
- Top salary-$160,550 or more
CONCLUSION
It is obvious that having a maths degree does not restrict you in any way, in fact, it only leaves you with ample career choices to make.
From finance and technology to academia and research, mathematics graduates possess invaluable analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills that are highly sought after by employers. Whether you will be working as data scientists, actuaries, computer programmers, educators, or researchers, mathematicians play a pivotal role in advancing fields such as artificial intelligence, cryptography, healthcare, and engineering.