Mathematicians
SOC 15-2021 • View wages by state
The median annual wage for Mathematicians is $116,440, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. The mean annual wage is $119,770, and an estimated 2,220 workers are employed in this occupation nationally. Between 2020 and 2023, pay rose +5% while consumer prices rose 17.7% — a real change of -10.8% (pay did not keep up with inflation). BLS projects employment will shrink 0.7% between 2024 and 2034.
Wage Trend & Inflation Adjustment
How the national median wage for Mathematicians has moved across BLS OEWS release years, and what each year's wage is worth in 2023 dollars after adjusting for CPI inflation. "Real" change strips out inflation — the truest measure of whether pay is actually rising.
| Year | Median (nominal) | In 2023 $ (real) | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $116,440 | $116,440 | 2,220 |
| 2022 | $112,110 | $116,725 | 2,070 |
| 2021 | $108,100 | $121,557 | 1,770 |
| 2020 | $110,860 | $130,517 | 2,460 |
Nominal change
+5%
Inflation (CPI)
+17.7%
Real change
-10.8%
Job Outlook (2024–2034 BLS projection)
The BLS Employment Projections program estimates how each occupation's employment will change over the coming decade, and how many job openings to expect each year (from both growth and the need to replace workers who leave).
Projected Growth
-0.7%
About average
Employment 2024
2,400
Projected 2034
2,400
Annual Openings
100
Typical entry-level education: Master's degree.
Highest-Paying Areas (2023)
Where Mathematicians earn the most, and how each area's median compares to the national median of $116,440. A positive premium means the area pays above the national rate.
| Area | Median Annual | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $141,290 | +21.3% | 250 |
| Virginia | $136,740 | +17.4% | 410 |
| Washington | $132,860 | +14.1% | 170 |
| Maryland | $129,690 | +11.4% | 170 |
| New York | $123,700 | +6.2% | 90 |
| Colorado | $116,630 | +0.2% | — |
| Florida | $98,530 | -15.4% | 90 |
| New Jersey | $88,520 | -24% | 80 |
| Nevada | $79,770 | -31.5% | 80 |
| Ohio | $75,100 | -35.5% | 50 |
Wage Distribution (National, 2023)
10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages from BLS OEWS — the full spread, not just an average.
10th Pct
$62,260
25th Pct
$81,910
Median
$116,440
75th Pct
$148,240
90th Pct
$183,500
H-1B Employer Filings
Employer-certified wages from DOL H-1B LCA filings — competitive market benchmark, not approved visas.
| Employer | State | Filings | Median Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| VIPHEMERAL INC. | CA | 16 | $124,768 |
| Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. | NC | 10 | $154,862 |
| Simons Foundation | NY | 6 | $96,063 |
| MPG Operations LLC | NY | 4 | $137,486 |
| University of Michigan | MI | 3 | $70,000 |
| META PLATFORMS, INC. | CA | 3 | $209,720 |
| Carnegie Mellon University | PA | 3 | $68,523 |
| Institute for Advanced Study | NJ | 2 | $75,000 |
| Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. | NY | 2 | $215,529 |
| The University of Virginia | VA | 2 | $53,000 |
| California Institute of Technology | CA | 2 | $70,000 |
| UChicago Argonne LLC | IL | 2 | $115,430 |
| Colorado State University | CO | 2 | $74,300 |
| Two Sigma Investments, LP | NY | 2 | $230,000 |
| Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. | CA | 2 | $182,392 |
| Open Avenues Foundation | MA | 2 | $84,094 |
| MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY | MI | 2 | $57,000 |
| Insycom, Inc. | MA | 2 | $104,354 |
| Triad National Security, LLC | NM | 2 | $183,050 |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | MA | 2 | $70,000 |
Source: DOL Office of Foreign Labor Certification, H-1B LCA data.
Related Occupations in Computer & Mathematical
Other occupations in the same SOC major group, ranked by national median wage.
All Computer & Mathematical occupations →