Careers Using Math

Everyone has asked themselves: When will I use math? Believe it or not, hundreds of careers use skills learned in high school math on a daily basis. The truth is virtually every career you could choose will build on the basic skills learned in High School Math. Below we’ve highlighted some of these careers. Want to go further in math? Check out our page on math majors.

Actuary

DAVID ANDRIST Actuary The Hartford Insurance Company BS Math BYU “I am a casualty actuary at The Hartford Insurance Company. Casualty actuaries

Air Traffic Controller

Air traffic controllers coordinate the movement of air traffic to make certain that planes stay a safe distance apart. Their

Animator

An animator is an artist who creates multiple images called frames and key frames that form an illusion of movement

Architect

Architects design buildings and other structures. They make sure buildings are functional, safe, and economical. They draw plans of every

Astronaut

ROBERT L. STEWART NASA Astronaut BA Math U. of Southern Mississippi “It should be evident that each step in my

Attorney

EMILY GUBLER CLARK Columbia Law School BS Math BYU “After graduating from BYU in Mathematics in April 2004, I moved to

Biologist

Biologists study living organisms and their relationship to the environment. They perform research to gain a better understanding of fundamental

Biostatistician

Biostatisticians design research studies and analyze data related to human health, animals or plants. The healthcare, biomedical, and pharmaceutical fields

Budget Analyst

Budget analysts develop, analyze, and execute budgets, which are used to allocate current resources and estimate future financial needs. They

Cartographer

Cartographers design, prepare and revise maps, charts, plans, three-dimensional models and spatial information databases, often using computer-based techniques, and applying

Chemical Engineer

Chemical engineering is the branch of engineering that deals with the application of physical science and life sciences with mathematics

Chemist

Chemists study the composition of matter and its properties such as density, acidity, size and shape. They carefully describe the

Climatologist

Climatologists study climate conditions averaged over a period of time. They use climate models for a variety of purposes, from

College Professor

PACE NIELSEN “Mathematics has an unearthly beauty and majesty… At the University of California, Berkeley, I earned my Ph.D.. During

Computational Biologist

A computational biologist (bioinformatics) applies the techniques of computer science, applied mathematics, and statistics to address biological problems. His/her main

Computer graphics engineer

Did you know that even your favorite movies were created using math? Doug Roble at Digital Domain Productions, Inc. has

Computer Scientist

Computer scientists work as theorists, researchers, or inventors. They use innovation to solve complex problems and create or apply new

Cost Estimator

Cost estimators figure out how much a project or product will cost. This helps business owners and managers decide whether

Cryptanalyst

Cryptanalysts design, implement, and analyze algorithms for solving problems. They analyze and decipher secret coding systems and decode messages for

Data Scientist

Data scientist/analytics consultant: Data science deals with analyzing extremely large amounts of data. Think of all the data being created

Economist

Economists study how society distributes resources, such as land, labor, raw materials, and machinery, to produce goods and services. They

Electrical Engineer

Electrical engineers design, develop, test, and supervise the manufacture of electrical equipment. Some of this equipment includes electric motors; machinery

Epidemiologist

An epidemiologist investigates and describes the causes and spread of disease and develops the means for prevention or control. They

Financial analyst

Financial firms that deal with banking, investing, and trading employ mathematicians. These firms include Goldman Sachs, Capital One, RBS, ING,

Foreign Exchange Trader

A foreign exchange trader looks at the various factors that influence local economies and rates of exchange, and then takes

Forensic Analyst

Forensic analysts use scientific techniques to solve criminal cases. They may use traditional methods such as fingerprinting, assisted by computers;

Geographer

A geographer is a scientist whose area of study is geography, the study of Earth’s physical environment and human habitat.

Geologist

A geologist is a scientist who studies the solid and liquid matter that constitutes the Earth and terrestrial planets. Geologists

Government agencies and national laboratories

National laboratories hire students with strong mathematics backgrounds. Robert Berry is a mathematician who worked at Sandia National Labs on

Hydrologist

Hydrologists apply scientific knowledge and mathematical principles to solve water-related problems in society, such as problems of quantity, quality, and

Inventory Control Specialist

The inventory control specialist maintains the perpetual master inventory listings of all property, coordinates the annual inventories of all property

Market Research Analyst

Market researchers gather information about what people think. They help companies understand what types of products people want and at

Mathematical Biophysicist

Mathematical biophysicists develop theories and methods of the physical sciences for the investigation of biological systems.

Mathematical Physicist

A mathematical physicist applies mathematics to problems in physics and develops mathematical methods suitable for the formulation of physical theories.

Mathematician

Mathematics is one of the oldest and most fundamental sciences. Mathematicians do research in fields such as logic, set theory,

Mechanical Engineer

Mechanical engineers research, design, develop, manufacture, and test tools, engines, machines, and other mechanical devices. Mechanical engineering is one of

Medical scientist

As medical fields become more immersed in data, mathematics can provide more insight in the study of medicine. Helen Moore

National Security Analyst

National security analyst, also known as intelligence analysts, use the process of taking known information about situations and entities and with appropriate

Nuclear Engineer

Nuclear engineers devise how to use radioactive materials in manufacturing, agriculture, medicine, power generation, and many other ways. Many nuclear

Operations Research Analyst

ROBIN ROUNDY BS Math BYU “BYU’s math department launched me on a very exciting career in operations research – the

Operations researcher

Operations research applies analytical and mathematical methods to help make better decisions. It deals with such questions as “What is

Petroleum Engineer

Petroleum engineers work in the technical profession that involves extracting oil in increasingly difficult situations as the world’s oil fields

Physician

JEFF ANDERSON, MD PHD Director of Functional Neuroimaging University of Utah Department of Neuroradiology BS Math BYU “Most people who train in

Political Scientist

Political scientists study the structure and theory of government and seek practical and theoretical solutions to political problems. Most current

Psychometrician

A psychometrician is a person who practices the science of measurement, or psychometrics. The term psychometrics refers to the measurement

Purchasing Agent

Purchasing agents are in charge of all buying for their company. They buy the raw materials, goods, and services their

Quantitative Financial Market Analyst

A quantitative financial market analyst, also known as a quant, is a person who works in finance using numerical or

Software Engineer

Programming or coding is an essential skill for any mathematics student who wants a career in industry or business since

Statistician

Statistics is the scientific application of mathematical principles to the collection, analysis, and presentation of numerical data. Statisticians apply their

Stockbroker

A stockbroker invests in the stock market for individuals or corporations. Only members of the stock exchange can conduct transactions,

Teacher, High School

High-school math teachers teach students subject like geometry, statistics, algebra and calculus. Daily tasks include planning lessons, creating sample problems,

Technical Writer

A technical writer is a professional writer who designs, writes, creates, maintains, and updates technical documentation—including online help, user guides,

Technology consultant/engineer

Technology and engineering companies such as Raytheon, Boeing, Sandia National Laboratories, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Bell Helicopter, Ford Motor Company,

Urban Planner

Urban planners develop long- and short-term plans for the use of land and the growth of urban, suburban, and rural