Career comparison
High School Teacher vs. Math Professor
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Math professors earn more at the median ($79,940 vs. $72,040), while high school teachers usually get to work faster (4 years plus licensing of training). High school teachers teach teenagers a subject and prepare them for college, careers and life. Math professors teach college math, from calculus to advanced theory.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| High School Teacher | Math Professor | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $72,040 | $79,940 |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $48,780 – $107,600 | $49,180 – $139,340 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | -0.2% (little or no change) | +1.7% (slower than average) |
| Openings per year | 63,500 | 3,900 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Training time | 4 years plus licensing | 5–7 years after a bachelor’s |
| Key credential | State teaching license | Ph.D. in mathematics |
| Work setting | High school teachers work in classrooms and labs, with after-school activities, meetings and events.. | Math faculty work in classrooms, offices and math learning centers.. |
What each job does
High School Teacher
- Plan and teach lessons in a subject
- Grade assignments and exams
- Prepare students for state and AP exams
- Manage classroom behavior
- Differentiate instruction
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 high-pay. Both are part of the education & childcare field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose high school teacher if…
- I love my subject
- I enjoy working with teenagers
- I can manage a classroom
Choose math professor if…
- I love mathematics
- I’m patient with learners
- I enjoy proofs
Still torn? Take the High School Teacher fit quiz and the Math Professor fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, high school teacher or math professor?
Math Professors earn more at the median: $79,940 versus $72,040 for high school teachers, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
High School Teachers typically train faster (4 years plus licensing) than math professors (5–7 years after a bachelor’s).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects math professors to grow +1.7% from 2025–35, compared with -0.2% for high school teachers.