Promising Careers in Maths & Stat.

Careers in Mathematics and Statistics

Rigorous training in mathematics sharpens your logic and critical thinking skills, and you are better able to see connections between things: which one is true, which one false, which one is the cause, which one the effect, and which one is irrelevant. Mathematicians like to boast "if you understand mathematics, you can do anything!", and they exaggerate only a little.

In this area you can learn more about careers for which mathematics or statistics are essential or use it to a great degree.

A List of Careers in Mathematics and Statistics

Occupations to Consider

Actuary
Aerospace Engineer
Air Traffic Controller
Astronomer
Banking/Credit Mgr
Biometrician
Biostatistician
Broker Agent
CAD/CAM Specialist
Cartographer
Computer Consultant
Computer Engineer
Computer Scientist
Consultant
Cost Estimator/Analyst
Cryptographer
Data Processing Mgr
Economist
Efficiency Expert
Engineer
Engineering Lab Tech
Environmental Lab Tech
Estate Planner
External Auditor
Financial Analyst
Financial Auditor
Financial Consultant
Information Scientist
IRS Agent
Insurance Analyst
Investment Banker
Lawyer
Market Research Analyst
Mathematician
Media Center Manager
Meteorologist
Numerical Analyst
Operations Manager
Physicist
Pollution Mgr
Quality Control
Research Analyst
Risk Analyst
Robotics Tech
Securities Broker
Software Engineer
Statistician
System Analyst
Systems Engineer
Teacher
Tech Support Rep
Technical Writer
Underwriter
Urban Planner

Potential Employers

Airline Industry
Banking Firms
Census Bureau
Chemical Industries
Colleges/Universities
Communication Companies
Computer Companies
Department of Defense
Department of Justice
Department of Labor
Engineering Firms
Health and Human Services
Hospitals
Insurance Companies
Investment Firms
K-12 Schools
Library of Congress
Manufacturing Industries
NASA
Pharmaceutical Industries
Professional Journals
Publishing Companies
Transportation Industries
Universities
Utility Companies
Weather Bureau

Careers in Math

Actuary

• Works with statistics and probabilities
• May minor or double-major in Statistics or Economics
• Works for big insurance companies or the government
• Job titles include: Actuary - Insurance Plan Designer - Insurance Rate Setter - Retirement Plan Designer - Statistician

Mathematical Scientist or Research Analyst

• Works with a team of scientists using and inventing the cutting edge of mathematics
• Complements many scientific degrees including: Computer Science, Statistics, Physics,
  Biochemistry, Chemistry, Geography, Economics, Computer Engineering
• Works for high tech industries, armed forces and government research
• Job titles include: Computer Research Scientist - Information Scientist - Mathematical Physicist - Satellite Research Scientist

Mathematical Consultant

• Works with large businesses to solve a wide variety of complex mathematical problems.
• A variety of degrees complement this area
• Large companies and high tech industries and consulting firms
• Hired by Mathematical Consulting Firms
• Job Titles include: Financial Consultant - Management Consultant - Mathematical Consultant - Scientific Consultant - Technical Consultant

Cryptographer

• Creates and deciphers encryption codes using mathematics
• May minor or double-major in Modern Language, Computer Science or Computer Engineering
• Will work for a security agency, financial institution or internet company.
• Job titles include: Cryptanalyst - Cryptographer - Cryptologist

Operations Research Analyst

• Optimizes the operation of a system and provides a quantitative basis for decision making, especially the allocation of resources.
• May minor or double-major in Computer Science or Engineering
• High tech industry or armed forces or government
• Job titles include: Armed Services Operations Research Analyst - Avionic Operations Analyst - Data Analyst - Naval Operations Research Analyst - Nuclear Operations Research Analyst - Operations Research Analyst - Program Analyst - Systems Analyst

Numerical Analyst

• Uses numerical procedures and computers to analyze data and model physical systems.
• May minor or double-major in Computer Science or Engineering
• High tech industry or armed forces or government
• Job titles include: Engineering Analyst - Finite Element Analyst - Numerical Models Software Engineer - Numerical Electrochemistry Modeler
• Numerical Control Engineer - Numerical Analyst - Numerical Modeling Analyst -Propulsion Systems Analysis/Methods Developer Quantitative Analyst - Structural Stress Testing Analyst

Environmental Mathematician

• Works with a team tackling tough environmental problems
• Double-major in any of the sciences
• Works for industry and the government
• Job titles include: Environmental Mathematician - Environmental Scientist - Industrial Mathematician

Topologist

• Studies the mathematics of surfaces
• May minor or double-major in Computer Science or Engineering or Theater
• Oceanography and mapping companies, animation companies
• Job Titles Include: Computer Graphics Designer - Geographic Information Systems Analyst - Topological Oceanographer - Computer Generated Special Effects Designer

Analyst

• Studies the mathematics of complex relationships
• May minor or double-major in Computer Science or Engineering or Economics or Computer Science or any Physical or Natural Science
• High Tech Industries, Large Companies, Military and Government
• Job Titles include: Avionic Operations Analyst - Market Analyst - Numerical Analyst - Operation Research Analyst - Planning Analyst - Process Analyst - Program Analyst - Risk Management Analyst - Stock Market Analyst - Systems Analyst - Systems Design Analyst - Capital Planning Analyst - Computer Security Analyst - Computer Systems Analyst - Data Analyst - Derivative and Stock Option Analyst - Economic Analyst - Engineering Analyst - Financial Analyst - Investment Analyst

Biomathematician

• Develop analysis algorithms for biological data to help scientist draw conclusions
• May minor or double-major in Statistics, Computational Biology, Computer Science or Computer Engineering
• High Tech Pharmaceutical Industries, Molecular Genetic Research Companies, Biotechnology Companies
• Job titles include: Bioinfomatician - Biomathematician -Biostatistician

Careers Enhanced by Mathematical Training

Actuary - Analyst Programmer - Avionic Operations Analyst -Bioinfomatician - Biomathematician - Biostatistician - Capital Planning Analyst - Computer Graphics Designer - Computer Programmer - Computer Research Scientist - Computer Scientist - Computer Security Analyst - Computer Software Engineer - Computer Systems Analyst - Cryptanalyst - Cryptographer - Cryptologist - Data Analyst - Database Administrator - Derivative/Stock Option Analyst - Economic Analyst - Engineering Analyst - Financial Analyst - Financial Consultant - Information Scientist - Information Systems Manager - Investment Analyst - Market Analyst - Mathematical Computer Scientist - Mathematical Consultant - Mathematical Physical Chemist - Mathematical Physicist - Numerical Analyst - Operation Research Analyst - Planning Analyst - Process Analyst - Program Analyst - Research Scientist - Risk Analyst - Rocket Scientist - Satellite Research Scientist - Scientific Consultant - Software Engineer - Special Effects Designer - Statistician - Systems Analyst - Systems Design Analyst - Systems Integrator - Technical Analyst - Technical Consultant - Techonologies Inventor

Some more Careers in Mathematics and Statistics

·         Actuary.

·         Big data analyst.

·         Budget analyst.

·         Business metrics analyst.

·         Claims adjuster.

·         Control statistician.

·         Cryptographer.

Why be a mathematician or statistician?

Do you want to be the next Pythagoras or Archimedes? Well, you’re in the right place. If you study a mathematical or statistical subject, you have a huge amount of career paths at your fingertips. You could become an investment banker, you could become a software engineer or you could work in HR.

We’re not here to talk about those career paths though! We’re here to discuss the careers where mathematical or statistical research will be the main focus of your responsibilities. It is possible! Rather than using a limited amount of your expert knowledge within a relatively unrelated sector, you can make maths or statistics the entire focus of your graduate job.

What does it take to be a mathematician or statistician?

If you become a professional mathematician or statistician, you could be researching, analysing, developing and utilising mathematical or statistical theories and algorithms for academic purposes. Alternatively, you could be applying them to ‘real life’ situations in order to solve practical problems.

The power of advanced mathematics and high-level statistical analysis can help financial organisations to improve their position in the market, support engineering companies in solving complex technical problems and help medical research institutes to develop new treatments and improve the functionality of medical machinery. It can also be used to influence business strategy or industrial processes.

Furthermore, the UK government harnesses the expertise of professional mathematicians and statisticians in order to influence their policy-making processes. Defence organisations also use mathematical and statistical research to enhance and optimise their military operations.

If pure mathematics (a.k.a. theoretical mathematics) is more your kind of thing, then your best bet for finding employment is with an academic institution. Here you’ll get the opportunity to continue with your own personal research and teach university students about the intricacies of maths or statistics.

To develop a career in this area, you will need a degree in a relevant subject, such as mathematics, statistics or physics. The majority of mathematicians and statisticians will actually have a PhD or MSc. You can qualify for lower-level assistant positions with a BSc, but it is basically impossible to find work in this area if you don’t have a relevant degree.

What do mathematicians & statisticians do?

If you take the academic route, you will be investigating theories and conducting mathematical research in order to expand your knowledge and to share your findings with the academic community. Basically, you will be researching maths for maths’ sake.

The majority of academic mathematicians specialise in one niche area, such as abstract algebra, computation or geometry. Many of these guys combine their own personal research with teaching responsibilities, giving lectures and leading tutorials to help develop the next generation of mathematicians. 

People who pursue the applied mathematics route tend to work as mathematical consultants for a range of different organisations. They research, analyse, develop and apply mathematical structures, algorithms and theories to practical situations and offer insightful solutions for engineering firms, computer companies and government organisations.

If you work in this area, you’ll be carrying out mathematical modelling, numerical analysis, data mining and other advanced techniques. You’ll then be writing up your findings, attending meetings, giving presentations and providing guidance to your clients and colleagues.

Statisticians are employed by all kinds of organisations to accumulate, analyse, evaluate and interpret numerical statistics. They devise quantitative data collection methods, they then use advanced computer technologies to analyse the data, explore patterns and apply statistical theories, before presenting the findings in an accessible way. This statistical research can be used to influence financial planning, business strategy, engineering projects and government policy-making.

So, if you’re a bit of a ‘mathemagician’ and your stats are looking good, the odds are that you would be well suited to a career in mathematical and statistical sciences.