What to do with your degree · 6 min read
What jobs can you get with a maths degree?
Jobs you can get with a maths or mathematics degree: actuary, data scientist, analyst, software, finance, operational research and teaching.
The short answer
Maths graduates are in demand across finance, insurance, data science, technology, engineering, government and education. Common jobs include actuary, data scientist or analyst, quantitative analyst, software developer, statistician, operational researcher, accountant, investment analyst, cryptographer and maths teacher. The degree signals strong problem solving and quantitative skill, and maths graduates tend to earn above-average salaries. Employers also want programming (usually Python, R or SQL), communication and some knowledge of the field you're entering. Many maths graduates also go on to postgraduate study, especially for statistics and research roles.
Key takeaways
- Maths opens finance, insurance, data, tech, engineering and teaching.
- Programming skills (Python, R, SQL) make maths graduates far more employable.
- Actuarial and quantitative roles pay well and value maths highly.
- Maths teachers are in short supply, with funded training routes.
On this pageJobs with a maths degree
Jobs with a maths degree
| Job | What you'd do | What helps you get in |
|---|---|---|
| Actuary | Assess financial risk for insurers and pensions | Graduate programme, professional exams |
| Data scientist | Build models from data | Python, statistics, projects |
| Data analyst | Analyse data for decisions | SQL, visualisation |
| Quantitative analyst | Model financial markets | Advanced maths, programming |
| Software developer | Build software | Programming portfolio |
| Statistician | Design studies and analyse data | Statistics, often a master's |
| Operational researcher | Optimise systems and decisions | Modelling, programming |
| Maths teacher | Teach maths in schools | Teacher training, often funded |
| Accountant or auditor | Financial reporting and checks | Professional qualification |
Skills to add during your degree
- Programming: Python, R and SQL.
- Statistics and data handling, if your course is mostly pure maths.
- Communication: explaining technical ideas to non-specialists.
- Commercial awareness for finance and consulting roles.
Pure vs applied maths
Pure maths graduates often go into finance, cryptography, software and research, valued for abstract problem solving. Applied maths and statistics graduates move easily into data, engineering and operational research. Either way, programming skills are the bridge to most jobs.
Further study
A master's in statistics, data science, operational research or financial mathematics opens specialist roles. A PhD leads to research, academia and some quantitative finance roles. Consider working first if you're unsure: some employers fund further study.
Illustrative example: Priya, a maths graduate, learns Python and SQL in her final year, builds a project forecasting bike-share demand, and joins an energy company's analytics team as a graduate analyst.
Graduate schemes that hire maths graduates
| Sector | Typical schemes |
|---|---|
| Insurance and pensions | Actuarial graduate programmes |
| Banking and investment | Quantitative, risk and analyst programmes |
| Government | Statistician, economist and operational research schemes |
| Technology | Graduate software, data and analytics roles |
| Energy and engineering | Analytics and modelling roles |
| Education | Funded maths teacher training |
Many schemes recruit a year ahead, often opening in the autumn of your final year, so check deadlines early. Online tests are common, and maths graduates usually do well on numerical reasoning, but practise situational judgement and verbal reasoning tests too.
What happens to the gaps
Most posts ask for something your CV doesn't show yet. OffLadder CV names those gaps, and Laddie, our AI coach, turns each one into three steps:
- Learn the skill: a short lesson on what the post asks for, starting from the basics.
- Try the work: a 15-minute task taken from the job itself, so you have a real example to talk about.
- Practise the interview: a five-question mock interview for that role, weighted to the parts you're least sure of.
The conversation stays in your OffLadder account. Once you've done the work, add it to your CV in your own words, and the next post you tailor for can point to it.
Questions people ask
- Is a maths degree worth it?
- Usually, yes. Maths graduates have good employment outcomes and earnings in UK and US data, especially in finance, insurance, data and technology.
- How do I become an actuary?
- Join a graduate actuarial programme at an insurer, consultancy or pension firm, which supports you through professional exams. In the UK that's the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries; in the US, the Society of Actuaries or Casualty Actuarial Society. The exams take several years.
- Do maths graduates need to learn programming?
- For most roles, yes. Python, R and SQL are widely used in data, finance and research. Learning them during your degree gives you a big advantage.
- Can I teach with a maths degree?
- Yes, and maths teachers are in high demand. In England, maths trainees can get bursaries or scholarships. In the US, many states have fast-track routes for maths teachers.
- What if I don't want a maths-heavy job?
- Maths graduates also do well in consulting, operations, product management and law, where structured thinking matters more than equations.
- Which maths jobs pay the most?
- Quantitative finance, actuarial work and data science roles at large tech or finance firms typically pay the most, especially with experience or a postgraduate degree. Pay depends on sector, location and role.
- Can I get a job in tech with a maths degree?
- Yes. Software, data, machine learning and cryptography roles value maths graduates highly. Add programming skills and a project or two, and apply for graduate developer and analyst roles.
- Do I need a first-class degree for good maths jobs?
- Not for most roles. Many graduate schemes ask for a 2:1 in the UK or a strong GPA in the US, and some quantitative finance and research roles prefer top grades or postgraduate study. Programming skills, projects and internships often matter as much as the classification.
Exercises are practice, not evidence of career fit or a qualification. How to read our guides and report a correction.
Sources
- What can I do with my degree: mathematics · Prospects
- Math occupations · US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook
- LEO graduate outcomes by provider and subject · Department for Education, GOV.UK
How this page is written
Sources support the factual background, not a guarantee that an exercise predicts career fit. Fictional practice material is labelled. Dates record content updates; no independent expert review is implied. More about OffLadder.