Career comparison
Economics Professor vs. Math Professor
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Economics professors earn more at the median ($123,920 vs. $79,940), while economics professors usually get to work faster (5–6 years after a bachelor’s of training). Economics professors teach how markets, money and policy work, and research the economy. Math professors teach college math, from calculus to advanced theory.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Economics Professor | Math Professor | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $123,920 | $79,940 |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $64,060 – $224,200 | $49,180 – $139,340 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +2.4% (slower than average) | +1.7% (slower than average) |
| Openings per year | 1,000 | 3,900 |
| Typical entry education | Doctoral or professional degree | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Training time | 5–6 years after a bachelor’s | 5–7 years after a bachelor’s |
| Key credential | Ph.D. in economics | Ph.D. in mathematics |
| Work setting | Faculty work in classrooms and offices at colleges and universities.. | Math faculty work in classrooms, offices and math learning centers.. |
What each job does
Economics Professor
- Teach economics courses
- Analyze economic data
- Conduct research
- Publish papers
- Advise students
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, high-pay, working independently, and desk work. Both are part of the education & childcare field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose economics professor if…
- I love economics
- I enjoy data
- I like teaching
Choose math professor if…
- I love mathematics
- I’m patient with learners
- I enjoy proofs
Still torn? Take the Economics Professor fit quiz and the Math Professor fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, economics professor or math professor?
Economics Professors earn more at the median: $123,920 versus $79,940 for math professors, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Economics Professors typically train faster (5–6 years after a bachelor’s) than math professors (5–7 years after a bachelor’s).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects economics professors to grow +2.4% from 2025–35, compared with +1.7% for math professors.