What Can You Do With a Degree in Mathematics?
There are many career paths in mathematics, including actuaries, mathematicians, statisticians, analysts, and research, to name a few. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, employment for mathematicians is expected to have a 33 percent increase between 2016 and 2026. Most career paths within the mathematics field require you to have a minimum degree of a bachelor's. You develop skills and abilities that make you very marketable in a wide variety of jobs from actuaries to research analysts.
Brooklyn College alumni with a degree in mathematics work as math instructors, education consultants, professional trainers, mathematicians, and many more.
Top Employers for Brooklyn College Mathematics Internships and Full-Time Jobs for Alumni (Based on LinkedIn)
- Achievement First
- Amazon
- Brooklyn College
- City University of New York
- Country-Wide Insurance Company
- Goldman Sachs
- Guardian Insurance
- Hofstra University
- JP Morgan
- LifeSci NYC
- New York City Department of Education
- New York City Teaching Fellows
- PwC
- Queens College
- Research Foundation at CUNY
- SUNY Downstate Medical Center
There is a lot of information available on LinkedIn, including profiles of more than 1,000 Brooklyn College alumni who graduated with a degree in mathematics. Join the Brooklyn College Alumni group and see where alumni are currently working, their skill sets, and their career progression. You can filter further based on employer, class year, etc.
Keep in mind, this list isn't inclusive of all the opportunities available to mathematics students. Use the Magner Career Center resources to your advantage to find opportunities that align with your interests!
Selected Alumni Profiles
Career Guides and Articles
Here are some career guides and articles that share information on career options open to mathematics majors:
What Is the Average Salary for Those in the Mathematics Field?
There are several different aspects of the mathematics field that affect the average salary, such as education level, industry type, experience, and location. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary is $49,090 a year in May 2017. The best approach to determining possible salaries is to research them on websites like Indeed.com and Salary.com.
On-Campus Resources
There are a number of resources on campus that will help you learn more about mathematics career options. Attend events and keep current on the resources available to you.
Magner Career Center
The Magner Career Center has a wealth of information on everything you need to get started in your career, help with résumés, an internships database, job fairs, etc.
- They host frequent career events that may be of interest to you, which include Careers in Science: Choosing Your Ideal Major: What Can You Do With It?, Careers with Social Impact, etc.
- You can get matched with alumni who majored in mathematics at Brooklyn College to learn about their experiences, get career advice, and develop a professional relationship.
- Miriam Loyd is the liaison to the School of Natural and Behavioral Sciences and someone you can meet with for career guidance. For more information or to set up appointments, visit the center's website, call 718.951.5696, or visit 1303 James Hall.
Department of Mathematics Resources
- The department website has a section for students that includes information about major-related information.
- Jeff Suzuki, the department chair, is a contact when applying for graduate school.
Student Clubs
To find all clubs and the latest events, search for the names of clubs and sign in to RSVP for the events you would like to attend.
Off-Campus Resources
American Mathematical Society
The American Mathematical Society website provides detailed information on licensure requirements for those interested in going into the mathematics field. It is important to note that licensure requirements often vary by state, so if you are interested in living in another state you will want to see their licensing requirements.
Vault Guides
Review the Vault Guides to learn about careers. For example, you may want to review include Vault Guide to Non-Profit Jobs, Vault Career Guide to Curating, Vault Guide to Education or Vault Guide to Government Jobs to name a few.
Occupational Network (O*NET)
Occupational Network (O*NET) offers occupational statistics such as salaries and growth potential for all occupations. Additionally, you can search occupations by name or by your own interests, skills, abilities, etc.
Occupational Outlook Handbook
Occupational Outlook Handbook gives you information on the training and education needed for the job, earning potential, expected job prospects, what you would be doing on the job, and what the working conditions are like.
Mathematical Association of America
The Mathematical Association of America is a membership opportunity which provides a search engine for careers in the field, internships, etc.
Organizations
Students interested in pursuing a career in mathematics would be well served in joining at least one of the many existing math organizations:
- American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE)
- American Statistics Association (ASA)
- Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM)
- Casualty Actuarial Society
- National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM)
- Society of Actuaries
- Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM)
- Society of Women Engineers (SWE)
Meet Up
CUNY Meetups host various events throughout the semester open to all CUNY students and alumni.
