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Best Careers in Math and Science

Explore top careers in math and science; there are in-demand and high-paying jobs in fields like data analysis, engineering, and healthcare.
Education
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Best Careers in Math and Science
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A lot of people struggle with math. Some also find ways to justify not learning it out of frustration, with one of the most common “reasons” to not learn math being that it’s not really useful once you’re out of school. 

The truth is that math is present everywhere in all parts of life, and while there are many career paths that don’t require complicated mathematics, there are plenty that do. If you're good at math and science, you can get into a lot of different careers that have a lot of room for growth and fulfillment. 

Read on to discover careers in math and careers in science, along with information about average salaries, requirements, and schools that offer courses that can lead to these careers. 

How are math and science compatible?

Math and science go hand in hand. Math offers ways to study space, structure, and quantity. It’s a subject that’s both abstract and definitive. If you like finding faster and smarter solutions to problems, you’re likely to do well in math. 

Science similarly gives insights into how the world around us works and helps us understand why certain things happen. If you like understanding the mechanisms of things and are naturally curious, you’ll probably like science. 

Both subjects help you to think logically, nurture your creativity and curiosity, recognize cause-and-effect relationships, focus on problem-solving, and appreciate the mechanics of solutions. 

With math and science skills, you can get jobs in almost any field that require you to come up with ideas, solve problems, and put your knowledge to use in the real world.

Top 6 Careers that combine math and science

Here are some interesting and very useful careers in which math and science are key, spanning a wide variety of fields. For each career, we’ll also give you an idea of what the salaries might be, options for courses that could get you there, schools that offer majors in that field, and some scholarships available. 

1. Actuary

Actuaries analyze the financial costs of risks and uncertainties. They work with professionals in different business settings to figure out how likely it is that something will happen. They use math, statistics, and financial theory in their line of work. 

Projected average salary: $118,366

Courses to take: 

  • Math and statistics 
  • Actuarial science
  • Economics
  • Engineering
  • Accounting
  • Physics
  • Chemistry

Schools that offer majors: 

  • Bentley University (Waltham, MA)
  • University of Iowa (Iowa City, IA)
  • University of Nebraska (Lincoln, NE)
  • University of Texas at Austin (Austin, TX)

Scholarships for this career trajectory: 

  • Mark Caldwell Memorial STEM/STEAM Scholarship
  • Learner Education Women in Mathematics Scholarship
  • EmPowered Women Scholarship

2. Meteorologist

Meteorologists observe, interpret, understand, and predict the atmosphere of the earth. They collect and analyze data to make forecasts and reports about the weather, as well as to study and predict climate change. 

Projected average salary: $85,647

Courses to take:

  • Meteorology
  • Math
  • Physical sciences
  • Computer science
  • Environmental science
  • Geography

Schools that offer majors:

  • Florida State University (Tallahassee, FL)
  • The University of Oklahoma (Norman, OK)
  • University of Missouri (Columbia, MO)
  • The University of Utah (Salt Lake City, UT)

Scholarships for this career trajectory: 

  • “There’s STEM in That” scholarship
  • Eleven Scholarship
  • Learner Education Women in Mathematics Scholarship

3. NASA Scientist

NASA’s scientists do the tests and research needed for space missions. They study space’s various aspects, like galaxies, planets, comets, and more, so that they can learn about what affects space missions. 

Projected average salary: $133,179

Courses to take:

  • Physics 
  • Astronomy 
  • Astrophysics
  • Astrobiology
  • Space science
  • Aerospace engineering
  • Aeronautics

Schools that offer majors:

  • California Institute of Technology (Pasadena, CA)
  • Harvard University (Cambridge, MA)
  • University of California-Berkeley (Berkeley, CA)

Scholarships for this career trajectory:

  • Bold Science Matters Scholarship
  • Learner Education Women in Mathematics Scholarship
  • Mohamed Magdi Taha Memorial Scholarship

4. Chemist

Chemists apply their knowledge of chemistry to match chemicals to their best uses. As part of their job, they teach people how to use and test chemicals correctly, create chemical processes, analyze substances, write technical reports, test the safety of chemicals, and present their findings in applications. 

Projected average salary: $61,413

Courses to take:

  • Inorganic chemistry
  • Organic chemistry
  • Analytical chemistry
  • Material science
  • Calculus
  • Statistics
  • Environmental science

Schools that offer majors:

  • California Institute of Technology (Pasadena, CA)
  • University of California Irvine (Irvine, CA)
  • Rice University (Houston, TX)
  • Georgia Institute of Technology (Atlanta, GA)

Scholarships for this career trajectory:

  • Si Se Puede Scholarship
  • Tammy Needham Memorial Scholarship
  • William A. Lewis Scholarship

5. Forensic scientist

Forensic scientists work with legal teams to process crime scene evidence, as this evidence is usually presented and analyzed in legal settings. Among their duties are taking pictures and videos, doing investigations, figuring out what patterns of blood spatter mean, tracing substances found in tissues and fluids, and drawing. 

Projected average salary: $66,412

Courses to take:

  • Forensics
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Biochemistry
  • Pathology
  • DNA
  • Criminology

Schools that offer majors:

  • George Mason University (Fairfax, VA)
  • Hofstra University (Hempstead, NY)
  • John Jay College of Criminal Justice (New York, NY)
  • Loyola University of Chicago (Chicago, IL)

Scholarships for this career trajectory:

  • Metadata Matters Scholarship
  • North Star Dreamers Memorial Scholarship
  • TeluguPeople for America Scholarship

6. Registered nurse

Registered nurses work in medical facilities to give patients and care teams support and care. They monitor, report, and record patient symptoms and conditions; observe patients for reactions; administer treatment and medication; perform diagnostic tests; and prepare patients for procedures and surgeries. 

Projected average salary: $75,330

Courses to take - Nursing diploma, associate degree, or bachelor’s degree where subjects include:

  • Anatomy and physiology
  • Biochemistry
  • Chemistry
  • Microbiology
  • Nutrition

Schools that offer majors:

  • Case Western Reserve University (Cleveland, OH)
  • University of Illinois Chicago (Chicago, IL)
  • University of California Irvine (Irvine, CA)
  • The University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ)

Scholarships for this career trajectory:

  • Dashanna K. McNeil Memorial Scholarship
  • Cindy J. Visser Memorial Nursing Scholarship
  • Nursing Shortage Education Scholarship

Get Ahead in Math and Science with Learner

These are just a few of the many careers you can get into if you are good at math and science. You might be interested in a career in math, science, or both but feel that you don’t have the skills and knowledge required. 

You can get them with Learner. No matter your starting point, we can help you create the career path that you want. 

Our skilled and experienced tutors will kickstart your dream by ensuring that you master the fundamentals as well as any topics that you struggle with so that you can knock down goal after goal.

Stop struggling with math today and find a tutor with Learner now!

Get started with a custom-matched tutor for your child.

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About the author:

Mike developed his passion for education as a math instructor at Penn State University. He expanded his educational experience launching and running an Executive Education business - training over 100,000 students per year. As the CEO of Learner, Mike focuses on accelerating learning and unleashing the potential of students. 

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