Career comparison
Math Professor vs. Mathematician
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Mathematicians earn more at the median ($126,710 vs. $79,940), while mathematicians usually get to work faster (2–6 years after a bachelor’s of training). Math professors teach college math, from calculus to advanced theory. Mathematicians develop math theories and models to solve problems in science, business and security.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Math Professor | Mathematician | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $79,940 | $126,710 ($60.92/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $49,180 – $139,340 | $69,240 – $195,190 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +1.7% (slower than average) | +0.6% (little or no change) |
| Openings per year | 3,900 | 100 |
| Typical entry education | Doctoral or professional degree | Master's degree |
| Training time | 5–7 years after a bachelor’s | 2–6 years after a bachelor’s |
| Key credential | Ph.D. in mathematics | Ph.D. in mathematics |
| Work setting | Math faculty work in classrooms, offices and math learning centers.. | Mathematicians work in offices for government, research labs and companies.. |
What each job does
Math Professor
- Teach math and statistics courses
- Write problem sets and exams
- Hold office hours
- Support tutoring programs
- Conduct research
Mathematician
- Develop models
- Prove theories
- Design algorithms
- Analyze data
- Write papers
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working with information, working independently, desk work, and problem-solving. They sit in different fields, education & childcare and science, engineering & lab, but share transferable skills such as patience and persistence.
Which should you choose?
Choose math professor if…
- I love mathematics
- I’m patient with learners
- I enjoy proofs
Choose mathematician if…
- I love math
- I’m persistent
- I like hard problems
Still torn? Take the Math Professor fit quiz and the Mathematician fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, math professor or mathematician?
Mathematicians earn more at the median: $126,710 versus $79,940 for math professors, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Mathematicians typically train faster (2–6 years after a bachelor’s) 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 +0.6% for mathematicians.