Career-PathGPS
← All education and training
Career

Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Typical education: Master's degreeLower pressure

What they do

Teach courses pertaining to mathematical concepts, statistics, and actuarial science and to the application of original and standardized mathematical techniques in solving specific problems and situations. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

Kinds of work

  • Social: Helping, teaching, caring for and supporting other people.
  • Investigative: Science, research, figuring out how things work and solving complex problems.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

Lower pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $79,940 Median per year Most earn $49,180–$139,340

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Conduct faculty performance evaluations.
  • Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
  • Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
  • Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
  • Keep abreast of developments and technological advances in the mathematical field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
  • Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in books, professional journals, or electronic media.

Job outlook

United States
2% more jobs by 2035, slower than average · about 3,900 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Colleges, universities, and professional schools65.0%
  • Junior colleges34.4%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 2 to 4 years

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Master's degreeExperience before this job: 2 to 4 years

Most people in this career hold a master's degree and gain a few years of teaching or related experience first, often as an adjunct or lecturer. Starting from a bachelor's degree, the usual path takes roughly 8 to 10 years, and requirements vary by school, so check the job ads you're interested in.

  1. Bachelor's degree in mathematics or statistics

    4 years

    You build the core math skills (calculus, linear algebra, probability) that every later step depends on, and you can start tutoring or grading to get a feel for teaching.

  2. Master's degree in mathematics or statistics

    2 years

    This is the degree most colleges look for in this field, and many master's programs offer teaching assistantships that give you classroom experience while you study.

  3. Adjunct Instructor or Lecturer in Mathematics

    2-4 years

    You teach your own college math courses on a part-time or term-by-term basis, which builds the teaching record that full-time colleges look for.

  4. Mathematics Instructor

    Ongoing

    You teach postsecondary math courses full time, and some instructors also do research or take on curriculum work.

Where it can lead

  1. Associate Professor of Mathematics

    3-5 years of experience first

    You usually earn tenure or a longer-term position by showing strong teaching, service to the college, and often research or scholarly work, which may require a doctorate depending on the school.

  2. Professor of Mathematics

    5-10 years of experience first

    You are the senior faculty member, with a stronger record in teaching, research or publishing, and mentoring other faculty and students.

  3. Mathematics Department Chair

    5-10 years of experience first

    You manage the department's courses, schedules, budget, and faculty, which requires both strong teaching credentials and good leadership and organization skills.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take the hardest math your school offersCourses like AP Calculus and AP Statistics build the foundation you'll need for a math degree.
  • Join a math club or math competition teamWorking on challenging problems with others builds the deep thinking this career depends on.
  • Tutor classmates or younger studentsExplaining math to others is the first real practice in teaching, and it shows you whether you enjoy it.
  • Take a computer science or programming classCoding helps with statistics and data work, which are common in math and statistics teaching.
  • Get a summer job as a tutor or camp counselorWorking with kids in a learning setting gives you experience explaining ideas and managing a group.

In college

  • Major in mathematics or statisticsA math or stats major gives you the content knowledge and the advanced courses (like linear algebra, probability, and abstract algebra) that graduate programs require.
  • Work as a math tutor or graderCampus tutoring centers and grading jobs are common starter jobs that build teaching experience and look good on graduate school applications.
  • Ask a professor about undergraduate researchResearch experience shows graduate programs you can work on open problems, and it's useful if you later want a role that includes research.
  • Join the math club and give a talkPresenting a topic to a group builds the public speaking skills you'll use every day as an instructor.
  • Apply to master's programs with teaching assistantshipsMany programs pay for your tuition and give you classroom experience, so you can earn your master's while starting to teach.

Tips for getting started

  • Look for graduate programs that offer teaching assistantships. You get paid experience in front of a class while you earn your master's.
  • Ask your math professors if you can help grade, tutor, or lead a review session. Teaching experience is what colleges look for when they hire.
  • Check job postings for math instructors near you now. Requirements differ a lot between community colleges, four-year colleges, and universities, so you'll learn what to aim for.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

Related careers