No, not all mathematics PhDs work as mathematicians. Some pursue academic or research positions outside of mathematics, while others move into industry or other fields.
Detailed response question
Mathematics PhDs are highly specialized individuals who have spent years studying and researching advanced topics in mathematics. While many go on to pursue careers as mathematicians, there are also a variety of other career paths available to these individuals.
According to the American Mathematical Society, “While most doctoral students in mathematics are preparing for careers in academia, some will choose careers in industry, government, or consulting.” In fact, a survey conducted by the AMS found that approximately 40% of mathematics PhDs go on to work in industry, while another 20% work in government or non-profit organizations.
Industry jobs that may be available to mathematics PhDs include positions in data science, finance, cryptography, computer programming, and more. Government and non-profit jobs may include positions in national security, policy analysis, education, and more.
One famous example of a mathematics PhD who pursued a non-traditional career path is John Urschel. Urschel earned his math PhD from MIT, but instead of pursuing a career in academia, he went on to play professional football in the NFL for several years.
Here are some interesting facts about mathematics PhDs:
According to the National Science Foundation, the number of doctorates awarded in mathematics has been steadily increasing in recent years, from 1,141 in 2010 to 1,398 in 2019.
The median salary for mathematicians in the United States was $105,030 in 2020, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Famous mathematicians who earned PhDs in the field include Alan Turing, John Nash, and Terence Tao.
In addition to traditional academic programs, there are also online PhD programs in mathematics available from reputable institutions such as Colorado State University and Northcentral University.
Below is a table showing some possible career paths for mathematics PhDs:
Career path
Description
Academic
Teaching and conducting research at a university
Industry
Applying mathematical principles to solve problems in a variety of industries
Government
Working for government agencies such as the National Security Agency or the Census Bureau
Non-profit
Working for organizations such as the American Mathematical Society or the Mathematical Association of America
Consulting
Providing mathematical expertise and advice to businesses and organizations
Entrepreneurship
Starting a business that utilizes math skills, such as a data analysis or software development company
In this video, you may find the answer to “Are all mathematics PhDs working mathematicians?”
Mathematicians and physicists have different ways of thinking about and approaching problems, with mathematicians preferring to focus on the logic of their arguments and physicists looking for situations where the mathematics applied can be used to explain real-world phenomena. One example of this difference is the theorem that three dimensions of space are special, with mathematicians being able to derive the same results in a two-dimensional space if they are careful enough. However, the modern attitude of mathematicians is not to be beholden to physics, with many of them preferring to work on problems that are more interesting or relevant to themselves.
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Not all Mathematics PhDs are working mathematicians or associated with academia.
Not all Mathematics PhDs are working mathematicians or associated with academia.
People are also interested
What percent of math PhDs become professors?
Answer: Math Professors By Education
Math Professor Degree
Percentages
Bachelors
61%
Masters
32%
Doctorate
4%
Associate
2%
Are you a mathematician if you have a math degree?
As a response to this: A graduate degree in mathematics is the most common educational requirement for mathematicians. However, there are positions for those whose highest level of education is a bachelor’s degree.
Do you call a math PhD doctor?
As a response to this: The title “Doctor” can still be used informally for those who hold other doctoral degrees such as a JD (Doctor of Law) or an EdD (Doctor of Education). A PhD student can only be referred as a “Doctor” upon the completion of their doctoral program and after receiving their degree.
How common are math PhDs?
The response is: Each year US Universities graduate around 1200 mathematics PhDs, of whom around half are US citizens or permanent residents. Approximately 30 percent are female, and 8 percent are members of under-represented ethnic and racial minority groups.
How many mathematicians are there in the US?
The reply will be: By definition mathematician is a person who holds phd in mathematics. Per Wikipedia only 2.94% of population in US out of 310 million hold phd in anything. And math phd’s are very rare. By estimation I would assume that only 0.001% of total population would hold phd in mathematics. So that does end up as around 3100 mathematicians in US.
What do you do with a pure math PhD?
I notice that many pure math PhD students, doing things like algebraic geometry or representation theory, drop out and enter industry and become software developers. The ones who finish their pure math PhDs also drop out and do things such as blogging, tutoring, etc.
What are applied math PhD students doing?
As a response to this: These students are pretty "top of the heap" too, attending the top pure math PhD programs like at UC Berkeley and UCLA. Then I notice that many applied math PhD students typically finish, and also get post-doc offers. These PhD students are typically doing numerical methods for the solutions of partial differential equations. Why does this happen?
Can you become a professor with a math PhD?
The answer is: However, according to a study by the American Mathematical Society, around 60% of math PhDs go on to become college or university professors. This is a higher percentage than for PhDs in other disciplines, which suggests that becoming a professor is a popular career choice for those with a math PhD. How can I become a math professor?
How many mathematicians are there in the US?
Answer will be: By definition mathematician is a person who holds phd in mathematics. Per Wikipedia only 2.94% of population in US out of 310 million hold phd in anything. And math phd’s are very rare. By estimation I would assume that only 0.001% of total population would hold phd in mathematics. So that does end up as around 3100 mathematicians in US.
Are mathematicians a real job?
The job title doesn’t tell the whole story, however: These people are doing mathematics and are indeed mathematicians. Furthermore, the number of mathematicians is increasing. The number of new Ph.D.’s in the U.S. has gone up every year since 2002.
What do you do with a pure math PhD?
The reply will be: I notice that many pure math PhD students, doing things like algebraic geometry or representation theory, drop out and enter industry and become software developers. The ones who finish their pure math PhDs also drop out and do things such as blogging, tutoring, etc.
Can a professor be a mathematician?
Answer: Although they have advanced degrees in mathematics, many of those employed in academia might call themselves professors instead of mathematicians, and similarly, those in industry and government may not have "mathematician" in their job title.
