Jobs / Data and analytics / 15-2021.00
Mathematicians
Conduct research in fundamental mathematics or in application of mathematical techniques to science, management, and other fields. Solve problems in various fields using mathematical methods.
- US jobs
- 2,030
- Median wage
- $126,710 a year
- Job family
- Data and analytics
Can agents do the work of mathematicians?
We read the evidence for the whole job family, Data and analytics: Some tasks (no change in 12 months)
Agents complete 20% or more of the tasks (or projects) on a direct benchmark.
Evidence: Spider 2.0, 96.7% of tasks completed.
0% of this occupation's work, by O*NET work activities, is measured by a direct benchmark.
- 33%Analyze scientific or applied data using mathematical principlesNot measured
- 19%Maintain current knowledge in area of expertiseNot measured
- 10%Present research or technical informationNot measured
- 9%Develop scientific or mathematical theories or modelsNot measured
- 8%Design computer or information systems or applicationsNot measured
- 7%Determine operational methods or proceduresNot measured
- 5%Assist scientists, scholars, or technical specialists with projects or researchNot measured
- 5%Advise others on the design or use of technologiesNot measured
Benchmarks for the job family
These cover work in data and analytics, not always this occupation's tasks.
Direct evidence
Work benchmarks mapped primary to this family. They set the step when they report how many tasks agents complete.
- BIRD-Interactby HKU and Google Cloud22.7%MERIT + GPT-5.4 (GPT-4o user simulator) · 22 May 2026Emerging
- 96.7%Genloop's Sentinel Agent v2 Pro · 1 Mar 2026Saturated
Also relevant
These benchmarks cover part of this family's work, or have no result yet. They do not set its step.
- 54.5%arito · 13 Sep 2026Emerging
Context only
These benchmarks span many occupations, or they test how agents behave. They give context but do not set the step.
Typical tasks
From O*NET 31.0. Core tasks first. Few of these tasks have a benchmark today.
- Mentor others on mathematical techniques.
- Maintain knowledge in the field by reading professional journals, talking with other mathematicians, and attending professional conferences.
- Develop new principles and new relationships between existing mathematical principles to advance mathematical science.
- Disseminate research by writing reports, publishing papers, or presenting at professional conferences.
- Assemble sets of assumptions, and explore the consequences of each set.
- Perform computations and apply methods of numerical analysis to data.
- Address the relationships of quantities, magnitudes, and forms through the use of numbers and symbols.
- Conduct research to extend mathematical knowledge in traditional areas, such as algebra, geometry, probability, and logic.
- Develop mathematical or statistical models of phenomena to be used for analysis or for computational simulation.
- Apply mathematical theories and techniques to the solution of practical problems in business, engineering, the sciences, or other fields.
- Develop computational methods for solving problems that occur in areas of science and engineering or that come from applications in business or industry.
- Design, analyze, and decipher encryption systems designed to transmit military, political, financial, or law-enforcement-related information in code.
Other job titles for this occupation (17)
Agent-Based Modeler · Computational Mathematician · Computational Scientist · Cryptographer · Cryptographic Vulnerability Analyst · Mathematician · Research Computing Specialist · Research Scientist · Researcher · Algebraist · Applied Mathematician · Cipher Expert · Cryptanalyst · Engineering Mathematician · Game Mathematician · Geometrician · Math Researcher (Mathematics Researcher)