Career comparison
Math Professor vs. Physics Professor
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Physics professors earn more at the median ($100,310 vs. $79,940), while math professors usually get to work faster (5–7 years after a bachelor’s of training). Math professors teach college math, from calculus to advanced theory. Physics professors teach physics and lead research into how the universe works.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Math Professor | Physics Professor | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $79,940 | $100,310 |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $49,180 – $139,340 | $60,200 – $177,850 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +1.7% (slower than average) | +2.4% (slower than average) |
| Openings per year | 3,900 | 1,100 |
| Typical entry education | Doctoral or professional degree | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Training time | 5–7 years after a bachelor’s | 6–9 years after a bachelor’s |
| Key credential | Ph.D. in mathematics | Ph.D. in physics |
| Work setting | Math faculty work in classrooms, offices and math learning centers.. | Faculty work in classrooms, labs, observatories and offices.. |
What each job does
Math Professor
- Teach math and statistics courses
- Write problem sets and exams
- Hold office hours
- Support tutoring programs
- Conduct research
Physics Professor
- Teach physics courses
- Run labs and demonstrations
- Lead research
- Mentor students
- Write grants
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working with information, working independently, problem-solving, and high-pay. Both are part of the education & childcare field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose math professor if…
- I love mathematics
- I’m patient with learners
- I enjoy proofs
Choose physics professor if…
- I love physics
- I enjoy math
- I like explaining hard ideas
Still torn? Take the Math Professor fit quiz and the Physics Professor fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, math professor or physics professor?
Physics Professors earn more at the median: $100,310 versus $79,940 for math professors, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Math Professors typically train faster (5–7 years after a bachelor’s) than physics professors (6–9 years after a bachelor’s).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects physics professors to grow +2.4% from 2025–35, compared with +1.7% for math professors.