What are maths careers?

By studying the subject of maths, you’ll develop skills in many areas, such as problem solving, logical thinking and decision making.

These skills are valued by employers in many different career sectors, so there are a wide variety of jobs available to individuals with maths qualifications.

You’ll find jobs that are directly associated with maths, such as data science, accountancy and statistics.

You will also find careers that are less directly involved with maths but which are widely available to individuals with certain levels of qualifications in maths.

These careers include insurance underwriting, software testing and meteorology.

Areas in Maths Careers

Mathematicians and statisticians can work in a wide range of career sectors.

These include:

• Accountancy.
• Banking and Finance.
• Business Consultancy.
• Financial Consultancy.
• IT.
• Medicine and Health.
• Petroleum and Nuclear Industries.
• Space Science and Astronomy.

Why study a maths course?

You can study maths and related subjects at all levels of education, from GCSEs to degrees. The higher qualification you have, the more specialised areas of work you will be able to enter.

With a GCSE or A Level in maths, or equivalent qualifications, you could work in roles like a sales executive, a customer service representative or a forensic computer analyst.

If you have qualifications like a degree or a Higher National Diploma, you’ll not only have more career opportunities, you will also be able to earn a higher salary.

Career Outcomes from a Maths Course

Once you have earned a maths qualification, there are various career outcomes available to you. Here are some of the most popular professions you can enter once you’ve successfully completed a maths-related course.

Actuary

This job involves evaluating, managing and advising financial risks. You’ll need to have a good understanding of statistics, probability theory and investment theory. To become an actuary, you’ll need a degree in a subject like finance, business or economics.

Investment Analyst

As an investment analyst, you’ll provide research and information to assist stockbrokers, fund managers and traders in making important decisions about their investments. To enter this career, you’ll need to have a degree in a subject like accounting, economics or mathematics.

Odds Compiler

It can help to have a higher-level qualification to become an odds compiler, but it’s not always mandatory. The required qualifications will differ from one employer to another. As an odds compiler, you would work for casinos or betting companies to work out the likelihood of potential betting scenarios.

Statistician

This position involves collecting, analysing and presenting quantitative information. Statisticians typically work in sectors like education, government, sport and market research. To become a statistician, you’ll need to have a degree in a subject like economics, mathematics or statistics.

Meteorologist

In this role, you would predict weather and study the causes of weather conditions by applying data obtained from the upper atmosphere, the land and the sea. You’ll need a degree to become a meteorologist, but your degree subject doesn’t have to be meteorology. You could have a degree in a subject like mathematics, ocean science or computer science.