Day in the life
A Day in the Life of a Mathematician
What mathematicians actually do from the start of a shift to the end: the tasks, tools, schedule and realities of the job.
What is a typical day like for a mathematician?
Work on a proof. From there, the day usually includes develop models, prove theories, and design algorithms. Full-time, flexible hours.
Hour by hour: a typical shift
No two days are identical, but this timeline reflects a realistic day for a mathematician working full time.
- Work on a proof.
- Meet engineers about a model.
- Code an algorithm.
- Run simulations.
- Write up results.
- Review a colleague’s paper.
- Read new research.
Where mathematicians work
Mathematicians work in offices for government, research labs and companies.
Hours and schedule
Full-time, flexible hours.
Tasks you’ll do most often
- Develop models
- Prove theories
- Design algorithms
- Analyze data
- Write papers
- Collaborate with scientists
- Present results
Tools you’ll use every day
- MATLAB
- Python
- Mathematica
- LaTeX
- R
- High-performance computing
The best and hardest parts of the job
What people like
- High pay
- Deep intellectual work
- Varied applications
- Flexible schedules
What’s hard
- Advanced degree needed
- Small field
- Abstract problems can stall
- Desk-heavy
You’ll likely thrive if…
- I love math
- I’m persistent
- I like hard problems
- I can code
- I’m willing to do grad school
- I want high pay
Not sure? Take the free Mathematician fit quiz or the Career Match Quiz.
Staying safe on the job
- Protect classified data
- Follow research ethics
- Document assumptions
- Disclose limitations