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Universities
Harvard University, MIT, Stanford University
Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary
These teachers lead college-level math classes, build course materials, grade exams, and advise students on degree plans and careers. The job stands out because it mixes deep subject knowledge with a lot of teaching and student support, and the main tradeoff is that you need advanced education for a role that is still tied to campus schedules and heavy grading loads.
Also known as Math ProfessorProfessor of MathematicsMathematics InstructorPostsecondary Mathematics InstructorMathematics Lecturer
Median Salary
$79,350
Mean $92,880
U.S. Workforce
~49K
4.4K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+2.3%
58.9K to 60.2K
Entry Education
Doctoral or professional degree
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary sits in the Education category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~49K workers, with a median annual pay of $79,350 and roughly 4.4K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 58.9 K in 2024 to 60.2K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Master's Degree, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Graduate Teaching Assistant and can progress toward Full Professor or Department Chair. High-value skills usually include Mathematics, LaTeX & TeX Typesetting, and Canvas, Blackboard & Moodle LMS, paired with soft skills such as Speaking, Active Listening, and Instructing.
Core Responsibilities
- Plan lessons, choose textbooks, and update course materials for advanced math classes.
- Teach lectures and class sessions on topics like calculus, linear algebra, differential equations, and discrete math.
- Write, proctor, and grade exams, homework, and other assignments.
- Keep attendance, grades, and student records organized and up to date.
Keep exploring: more Education careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Plan lessons, choose textbooks, and update course materials for advanced math classes.
02 Teach lectures and class sessions on topics like calculus, linear algebra, differential equations, and discrete math.
03 Write, proctor, and grade exams, homework, and other assignments.
04 Keep attendance, grades, and student records organized and up to date.
05 Meet with students to help them choose classes, map out degree plans, and think about careers.
06 Read current research, attend conferences, and work with other faculty to improve teaching and course content.
Industries That Hire
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Community Colleges
Miami Dade College, Houston Community College, Valencia College
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Online Universities and Learning Platforms
Southern New Hampshire University, Western Governors University, Coursera
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Educational Publishing and Assessment
Pearson, McGraw Hill, ETS
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Research and Policy Organizations
RAND, Mathematica, American Institutes for Research
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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You get to spend your time on advanced math rather than generic office work, teaching topics like linear algebra, differential equations, and discrete mathematics.
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Pay is solid for academia, with a mean annual salary of $92,880 and a median of $79,350.
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There are about 4.4K annual openings, so hiring stays active even though growth is slow.
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BLS says no prior work experience or on-the-job training is required, so the main hurdle is the degree itself.
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You can shape course content, pick materials, and work directly with students who need help planning classes or careers.
Challenges
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Job growth is only 2.3% from 2024 to 2034, adding just 1.3K jobs, so most openings are replacements rather than expansion.
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The education bar is high: BLS says a doctoral or professional degree is typical, and most workers have at least a master's or doctorate.
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Remote work is limited because lectures, office hours, and student advising usually happen on campus.
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The pay ceiling is modest compared with private-sector math careers like data science, actuarial work, or quantitative finance.
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Grading, attendance tracking, advising, and committee work can add a lot of unpaid-looking labor outside class time.
Career Progression
Graduate Teaching Assistant
0-2 years
$35K-$45K
Helps run recitations, grades problem sets, and learns how to teach under faculty supervision.
Adjunct Mathematics Instructor
2-5 years
$50K-$65K
Teaches one or two classes per term, often at more than one campus, with heavy prep work and limited job security.
Mathematical Science Teacher, Postsecondary THIS ROLE
5-12 years
$75K-$100K
Leads courses, advises students, updates curriculum, and balances classroom teaching with grading and department service.
Associate Professor of Mathematics
10-18 years
$105K-$135K
Teaches more advanced classes, mentors graduate students, and takes on more committee work and publication expectations.
Full Professor or Department Chair
15+ years
$140K-$180K
Oversees larger programs, supervises faculty and graduate students, and helps steer hiring, curriculum, and departmental strategy.
Education Paths
Master's Degree
The most common path, held by 43.0% of workers in this role, often in mathematics, statistics, or a closely related field.
Doctoral Degree
Another 36.75% hold a doctorate, which is especially important for tenure-track jobs at research universities.
Post-Doctoral Training
A smaller share, 10.37%, add post-doctoral training after the doctorate before landing a permanent faculty role.
Bachelor's Degree
About 9.32% enter with a bachelor's degree, but most people in that group need extra graduate study or substantial teaching experience to compete for full-time jobs.
Key Skills
Technical
Mathematics 85%
LaTeX & TeX Typesetting 78%
Canvas, Blackboard & Moodle LMS 78%
Python, R & MATLAB 76%
Exam Design & Grading Systems 76%
Curriculum Mapping & Course Design 74%
Soft Skills
SpeakingActive ListeningInstructingReading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingLearning Strategies Job Outlook and Trends
+2.3%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
4.4K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 58.9K to 60.2 K over the next decade, representing 2.3% growth. Around 4.4 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Limited. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.