Jobs Similar to Mathematicians
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to mathematicians, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Statisticians, Astronomers and Data Scientists.
Mathematicians: $126,710 median pay · usual preparation: Graduate degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Mathematicians) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | StatisticiansSame group | 83% | $105,650−17% | Graduate degree |
| 2 | Astronomers | 82% | $128,820+2% | Graduate degree |
| 3 | Data ScientistsSame group | 81% | $120,230−5% | Bachelor's degree |
| 4 | Physicists | 81% | $172,250+36% | Graduate degree |
| 5 | BiostatisticiansSame group | 80% | $105,650Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 6 | Bioinformatics Scientists | 79% | $98,920Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 7 | Atmospheric and Space Scientists | 79% | $99,070−22% | Bachelor's degree |
| 8 | Operations Research AnalystsSame group | 78% | $88,940−30% | Graduate degree |
| 9 | Bioinformatics TechniciansSame group | 77% | $81,490Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 10 | Computer and Information Research Scientists | 76% | $140,300+11% | Graduate degree |
| 11 | Database Architects | 76% | $139,500+10% | Bachelor's degree |
| 12 | Financial Quantitative Analysts | 76% | $81,100Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 13 | Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | 76% | $101,920−20% | Bachelor's degree |
| 14 | Economists | 75% | $124,720−2% | Graduate degree |
| 15 | Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 75% | $79,940−37% | Graduate degree |
| 16 | Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists | 75% | $122,570Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 17 | Industrial Ecologists | 74% | $82,220Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 18 | Environmental Economists | 74% | $124,720Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 19 | Geneticists | 74% | $98,920Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 20 | Social Science Research Assistants | 73% | $61,990−51% | Bachelor's degree |
- 1Statisticians
83% similar · $105,650 (−17%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 2Astronomers
82% similar · $128,820 (+2%) · Graduate degree
- 3Data Scientists
81% similar · $120,230 (−5%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 4Physicists
81% similar · $172,250 (+36%) · Graduate degree
- 5Biostatisticians
80% similar · $105,650 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 6Bioinformatics Scientists
79% similar · $98,920 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 7Atmospheric and Space Scientists
79% similar · $99,070 (−22%) · Bachelor's degree
- 8Operations Research Analysts
78% similar · $88,940 (−30%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 9Bioinformatics Technicians
77% similar · $81,490 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 10Computer and Information Research Scientists
76% similar · $140,300 (+11%) · Graduate degree
- 11Database Architects
76% similar · $139,500 (+10%) · Bachelor's degree
- 12Financial Quantitative Analysts
76% similar · $81,100 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 13Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers
76% similar · $101,920 (−20%) · Bachelor's degree
- 14Economists
75% similar · $124,720 (−2%) · Graduate degree
- 15Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary
75% similar · $79,940 (−37%) · Graduate degree
- 16Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists
75% similar · $122,570 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 17Industrial Ecologists
74% similar · $82,220 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 18Environmental Economists
74% similar · $124,720 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 19Geneticists
74% similar · $98,920 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 20Social Science Research Assistants
73% similar · $61,990 (−51%) · Bachelor's degree
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than mathematicians.
Similar jobs that need less preparation
- Data Scientists81% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Atmospheric and Space Scientists79% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Bioinformatics Technicians77% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Database Architects76% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers76% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists75% similar · Bachelor's degree
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for mathematicians also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where mathematicians is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Astronomers (92)
- Computer and Information Research Scientists (86)
- Bioinformatics Scientists (83)
- Physicists (81)
- Financial Quantitative Analysts (76)
- Economists (75)
- Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary (75)
- Physics Teachers, Postsecondary (75)
- Atmospheric and Space Scientists (74)
- Environmental Economists (74)
Questions about jobs like mathematicians
What jobs are most similar to mathematicians?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Statisticians (83% similar), Astronomers (82% similar), Data Scientists (81% similar), Physicists (81% similar) and Biostatisticians (80% similar).
Which jobs like mathematicians pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Physicists ($172,250, +36%; usually a graduate degree), Computer and Information Research Scientists ($140,300, +11%; usually a graduate degree) and Database Architects ($139,500, +10%; usually a bachelor's degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with mathematicians ($126,710). Without more preparation than mathematicians usually need: Physicists, Computer and Information Research Scientists and Database Architects.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.