Let’s face it: math gets a bad rap. Math is an important skill in the workforce, and there’s nothing wrong with pursuing a career that involves a lot of math. If you really love math, there’s a wide range of career options to consider, many of them quite high-paying.
While you likely have a few ideas about how you’d like to apply your love of mathematics to a job, it’s interesting to consider all of the opportunities available to you if you’re just graduating from college or entering the workforce for the first time. Here are five careers to consider if you really love math.
Accountant
If you’re interested in helping another business or individual keep track of their finances and ensure that every cent is accounted for, becoming an accountant can be a great career move. Accountants are generally in demand in a variety of fields, meaning that it’s easy to align some other aspect of your passions or identity with the business you serve as an accountant for. Whether you’re helping a company file its taxes with personalized Intuit envelopes or are maintaining a ledger of expenses, there’ll be plenty of ways for you to apply your love of math to the world of accounting.
Financial Advisor
If you like the thrill of the stock market, becoming a financial advisor and helping others grow their wealth is a great career move. Especially if you have the heart of a teacher, moving into the job market of financial advising can mean that you aren’t just helping people maximize their income and build up their assets. In fact, you can educate your clients to ensure that they have sound financial habits outside of your office, too, such as letting them know about soft dollar arrangements and the role they can play in your long-term returns. While you might already know about concepts like soft dollars, truly helping your clients can ultimately reap major benefits in the long run and might involve some quick mental calculations on your part, too!
Entrepreneur
It’s no secret that if you have a love of data and numbers, these traits can make for a great entrepreneur. In fact, certain types of business owners excel not because they have a unique idea or strong leadership skills, but because they understand and respect mathematical concepts like profit margins, budgets, and even making data-informed decisions.
One specific area where mathematical-minded CEOs really shine is in the area of using CPQ software. If you’re asking yourself, “What is CPQ?”, the simple answer is that CPQ stands for configuring, price, and quote. CPQ software is used in businesses that offer personalized or customizable products in a wide range of configurations in order to improve the purchase pathway for customers with realtime visualizations and an easy-to-understand sales flow. If you love math, you likely love computing different combinations and permutations, so you’ll have an easy time understanding and implementing CPQ software to ensure that your customers have a positive experience when purchasing complex products.
Teacher
There’s a sad adage that “Those who can do” and “Those who can’t, teach.” While this might be true in some subject areas, teachers are in high demand these days, and if you have a passion for mathematics, you can really make a difference in the next generation of learners and leaders. When you love something, your passion for it is often contagious and makes you a stronger educator in the process, ensuring that your students will gain a better understanding, thanks to your expertise.
Actuarial Scientist
Even though the title of this career has the word “scientist” in it, actuarial scientists actually rely on math quite frequently in their day-to-day work. This is because an actuarial scientist (also called an actuary) uses mathematical models, probability, and statistics to help companies identify and analyze the risks of different events. Often, actuaries work with insurance companies and other businesses to better understand and act upon different levels of risks.