Career comparison
Computer Science Professor vs. Math Professor
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Computer science professors earn more at the median ($96,980 vs. $79,940), while computer science professors usually get to work faster (5–7 years after a bachelor’s of training). Computer science professors teach programming, algorithms and computing at the college level. Math professors teach college math, from calculus to advanced theory.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Computer Science Professor | Math Professor | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $96,980 | $79,940 |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $49,460 – $170,200 | $49,180 – $139,340 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +4.9% (about as fast as average) | +1.7% (slower than average) |
| Openings per year | 3,200 | 3,900 |
| Typical entry education | Doctoral or professional degree | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Training time | 5–7 years after a bachelor’s | 5–7 years after a bachelor’s |
| Key credential | Ph.D. in computer science | Ph.D. in mathematics |
| Work setting | CS faculty work in classrooms, labs and offices at colleges and universities.. | Math faculty work in classrooms, offices and math learning centers.. |
What each job does
Computer Science Professor
- Teach computing courses
- Design programming assignments
- Run labs and recitations
- Mentor student projects
- Conduct research
Math Professor
- Teach math and statistics courses
- Write problem sets and exams
- Hold office hours
- Support tutoring programs
- Conduct research
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working with information, working independently, desk work, and problem-solving. Both are part of the education & childcare field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose computer science professor if…
- I love computing
- I enjoy explaining code
- I want to do research
Choose math professor if…
- I love mathematics
- I’m patient with learners
- I enjoy proofs
Still torn? Take the Computer Science Professor fit quiz and the Math Professor fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, computer science professor or math professor?
Computer Science Professors earn more at the median: $96,980 versus $79,940 for math professors, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Computer Science Professors typically train faster (5–7 years after a bachelor’s) than math professors (5–7 years after a bachelor’s).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects computer science professors to grow +4.9% from 2025–35, compared with +1.7% for math professors.