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Mathematicians conduct research in fundamental mathematics and in the application of mathematical techniques to science and management. They deal with the relationships of quantities, magnitudes, and forms through the use of numbers and symbols.

NATURE OF THE OCCUPATION

Mathematicians may:

Test hypotheses and alternative theories in branches of mathematics such as algebra, geometry, number theory, logic, and topology

Develop ideas for application of mathematics to a variety of fields including science, military planning, engineering, electronic data processing and management

Use knowledge of fields to which mathematics or mathematical methods are being applied, such as physics, engineering, astronomy, biology, economics, business and industrial management, or cryptography

Perform computations and apply methods of numerical analysis

Act as advisor or consultant to research personnel concerning mathematical method and applications

Supervise the work of graduate students and faculty

Write for professional journals

Teach

Direct or operate mechanical or electronic equipment in support of industrial, mathematical, or scientific research

The tools, equipment, and materials used may include:

OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTIES

Mathematicians may specialize in these areas:

020.067-014 MATHEMATICIAN has two areas of professional mathematics: "Pure" or "Theoretical Mathematics" and "Applied Mathematics". These two areas may overlap and are not always distinct in practice.

THEORETICAL MATHEMATICIANS usually conduct mathematical research and are primarily concerned with the logical development of mathematical systems. They are involved with mathematical concepts and the advancement of mathematical theories.

APPLIED MATHEMATICIANS assist professionals in other fields to simplify or solve problems by the use of mathematics and mathematical methods. Competence in the particular applied field (e.g. Engineering, physics, etc.) as well as in mathematics, is required.

In addition to learning about these specialties, you may also find it helpful to explore the following Career Exploration Scripts:

WORKING CONDITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

Mathematicians usually work in comfortable surroundings such as offices or research laboratories. They often work closely with other professionals and specialists such as scientists, engineers, college staff members, or government officials. Mathematicians employed as teachers in high schools and colleges may stand when lecturing in classrooms or working in laboratories but may also spend much of their time sitting at desks.

Mathematicians employed in the federal government, industry, and other non collegiate teaching fields usually work a regular 40-hour week. Some overtime may be involved when working on special projects. Those employed in colleges and universities teach from 2 to 4 or more hours per day and may spend the rest of the working day in lecture preparation and research, or consulting. Evening and weekend work are common.

It is customary but not required for Mathematicians to join such associations as The American Mathematical Society, The Mathematical Association of America, and The Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics. Association members must pay periodic membership fees.

You Should Prefer:

• Performing activities related to special processes/machines/techniques

• Working creatively with numbers and abstract symbols

You Should Be Able To:

• Reason clearly and logically with sustained attention

• Understand meanings of mathematical symbols/formulas/concepts

• Use words effectively

• Understand the relationships between words/sentences/paragraphs

• Perform mathematical operations from simple to complex with accuracy

• Think visually of geometric forms

• Picture two-dimensional drawings as three-dimensional objects

• Make judgments based on measurable data and experience

• Direct and plan an activity or the activities of others

Math Problem You Should Be Able to Solve:

A man collected money on May 1, and 1/4 as much on May 2. He collected a total of 7,400. How much was each amount? (Hint: If "n" is the amount collected on May 1, then 1/4n is the amount collected on May 2). What is the equation and how can you solve it?

Reading Example You Should Be Able to Read and Comprehend:

A parabola can be positioned so that the vertex is some other point in the plane. If the axis of symmetry is vertical, then it has an equation of a form y=axý+bx+c. The values of a, b, and c determine where the parabola is positioned in the plane and whether it opens up or down.

Writing Example You Should Be Able to Produce:

Write an article about the Factor Theorem for Quadratic Expressions for a professional journal.

Thinking Skill You Should Be Able to Demonstrate:

When you are teaching or instructing mathematics, you need to consider the audience you are speaking to and what kinds of math levels they are capable of learning.

Government employed Mathematicians must pass a civil service examination. Those working in classified research jobs must obtain security clearances. Mathematicians employed by colleges and universities are usually required to have advanced degrees. In general, the minimal entry requirement for employment is a bachelor's degree.

EDUCATION AND PREPARATION OP PORT UNITIES

NOTE: A Bachelor's Degree (four years of study beyond high school) or a Master's Degree (five to six years of study beyond high school) or a Professional Degree or Doctorate (seven to ten years of study beyond high school) may qualify a person for this occupation.

The following education and preparation opportunities are helpful in preparing for occupations in this Career Exploration Script:

***SCHOOL SUBJECTS***

0700 CAREERS , 0900 COMMUNICATIONS , 1000 COMPUTERS , 1100 ECONOMICS , 1300 ENGLISH , 1600 FOREIGN LANGUAGE , 2200 MATH, 2900 SCIENCE , 3100 STUDY & WORK OPTIONS

***VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS***

There are no Vocational Education Programs related to this Career Exploration Script.

***POSTSECONDARY PROGRAMS***

096 MATHEMATICS

Programs in Mathematics provide opportunities to gain knowledge and skills in the science of numbers and magnitudes. These programs allow students to prepare themselves for employment as Mathematicians, statisticians, and computer specialists in industry and government. Individuals who teach Mathematics at the elementary or secondary school level must have a Michigan Teaching Certificate.

Courses will vary from school to school but may include:

  Search for a College and/or Instructional Program  

***APPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITIES***

There are no Apprenticeships related to this Career Exploration Script.

***MILITARY TRAINING PROGRAMS***

Please check the military web site at  http://www.myfuture.com .

INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERS

Because the military is so large, small savings in personnel or equipment costs can result in savings of millions of dollars. Industrial engineers design ways to improve how the military uses its people and equipment.

What They Do

Industrial engineers in the military perform some or all of the following duties:

• Study how workers and tasks are organized

• Measure work load and calculate how many people are needed to perform work tasks

• Study and improve the way work is done and equipment is used

• Plan and oversee the purchase of equipment and services

• Plan and direct quality control and production control programs

Special Requirements

A 4-year college degree in industrial engineering, industrial management, or a related field is required to enter this occupation.

Helpful Attributes

Helpful Attributes include:

• Interest in technical work

• Ability to plan and organize studies

• Interest in working with mathematical models and formulas

• Interest in working closely with people

Work Environment

Industrial engineers usually work in offices. They may work outdoors while performing field studies or overseeing the installation of equipment and systems.

Training Provided

Job training is offered for some specialties. Training length varies from 8 to 16 weeks of classroom instruction, depending on the specialty. Course content typically includes:

• Management standards, principles, and policies

• Problem analysis and decision making 

• Production and purchasing methods

Civilian Counterparts

Civilian industrial engineers work primarily in manufacturing and consulting firms. They also work in other industries and businesses, including insurance companies, retail stores, banks, public utilities, and hospitals. Civilian industrial engineers perform duties similar to those performed in the military. Depending on the specialty, they may also be called production engineers, safety engineers, production planners, or quality control engineers.

Opportunities

The services have about 2000 industrial engineers. Each year, they need new engineers due to changes in personnel and the demands of the field. After job training, industrial engineers are usually assigned to an engineering, management evaluation, or procurement unit. With experience, they may advance to command or policy-making positions in engineering, administration, or other fields. 

E-Learning Courses and Programs

OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXPERIENCE AND METHODS OF ENTRY

Postsecondary education programs in mathematics may offer experience through co-op jobs or internships. Participation in school mathematics or science clubs may help students measure their interest in this field. Experience may be gained in military service also.

           School-to-Work opportunities include:

informal apprenticeships

mentorships

job shadowing experiences

touring a local Mathematician employer

internships

volunteer work with a Mathematician employer

community service work with an agency

The most common method of entry is direct application to private employers and local, state, and federal civil service offices. Assistance in finding a job is available from college placement offices. Openings may be located by attending mathematics conventions and consulting scientific and professional journals. In addition, you should access and search the internet's on-line employment services sites such as:

            You should also enter an electronic resume on these on-line services.

EARNINGS AND ADVANCEMENT

Earnings of Mathematicians depend on their education level and experience, type of employer, and nature of the duties.

Nationally, recent graduates of mathematics programs in colleges and universities were offered annual salaries of (mid 2006):

 In 2006, depending on their college records, beginning Mathematicians in the federal government earned:

The salaries of these federal government workers may be higher in some urban areas.

Full professors of mathematics teaching in national colleges and universities during the 2005-06 school year earned average annual salaries of $83,512. Nationally in late 2006, Senior staff Mathematicians averaged $110,885 in the private industry. The median yearly earnings of "all" workers in the U.S. were $33,852 in 2005.

Mathematicians with a bachelor's degree employed by the State of Michigan (late 2006) earned between $32,865 and $60,197 yearly.

Mathematicians may receive supplemental income from summer teaching, special research projects, consulting, and writing books or articles.

Most Mathematicians receive paid holidays and vacations, group life and hospitalization insurance, sick leave, and pensions. Those who teach in colleges and universities may receive paid sabbatical leave after 6 or 7 years of service. Mathematicians in private employment may have savings and stock investment plans. These benefits are usually paid for, at least in part, by the employer.

Mathematicians who hold advanced degrees may move into more responsible theoretical work or into a supervisory position. A doctorate may mean opportunities for independent research, assignment to increasingly complex and theoretical problems, or managerial positions. Advancement may depend on the type of employer, education level, experience, and the nature of the work performed.

EMPLOYMENT AND OUTLOOK

Nationally, in 2004, about 13,000 Mathematicians and related Mathematical Scientists were employed. Employment is expected to decline through the year 2014. The industry distribution for Mathematicians looked like this:

To find employers, click Employer/Business Locator.

Individuals who possess a Master's or Ph.D. degree with a strong background in mathematics and a related discipline, such as engineering or computer science, should have good job opportunities. However, many of these workers have job titles that reflect their occupation, rather than the title mathematician.

Advancements in technology usually lead to expanding applications of mathematics, and more workers with knowledge of mathematics will be required in the future. However, jobs in industry and government often require advanced knowledge of related scientific disciplines in addition to mathematics.

The most common fields in which mathematicians study and find work are computer science and software development, physics, engineering, and operations research. More mathematicians also are becoming involved in financial analysis.

Mathematicians must compete for jobs, however, with people who have degrees in these other disciplines. The most successful jobseekers will be able to apply mathematical theory to real-world problems, and possess good communication, teamwork, and computer skills.

Private industry jobs require at least a master's degree in mathematics or in one of the related fields. Bachelor's degree holders in mathematics usually are not qualified for most jobs, and many seek advanced degrees in mathematics or a related discipline. However, bachelor's degree holders who meet State certification requirements may become primary or secondary school mathematics teachers.  

There are approximately 550 Mathematicians employed in Michigan . Most mathematicians worked for consulting firms, computer and data processing firms, financial institutions, or the federal government. The data contained under Michigan Employment and Michigan Outlook do not include over 1,000 postsecondary teachers of mathematics or individuals with a mathematics degree who work in other fields, such as computer systems analysis and computer programming.

The number of Mathematicians employed in Michigan is expected to increase much faster than the average for all occupations through the year 2012. Because of the small size of the occupation about 40 openings per year are projected. A few additional openings may become available to replace Mathematicians who change jobs or occupations.

Because of limited opportunities, the best outlook is for persons who combine a major in mathematics with a minor in actuarial work, computer programming, systems analysis, statistics, or the physical and life sciences. Individuals who combine a major of mathematics with a minor in one of the above subjects will improve their chances for employment.

MICHIGAN 'S EMPLOYMENT OUT LOOK TO 2012

SOURCES OF ADDITIONAL INFO RMATION

Printed Occupational information is available upon written request from sources below.

Copyright © 2006 Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth