Career profile for Mathematics Professor

What does a Mathematics Professor do?

Mathematics Professors 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.

In addition, Mathematics Professors includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

What kind of tasks does a Mathematics Professor perform regularly?

Mathematics Professors are often responsible for overseeing or executing some or all of the following tasks:

Compile, administer, and grade examinations or assign this work to others.
Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as anatomy, therapeutic recreation, and conditioning theory.
Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, papers, and oral presentations.
Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, or handouts.
Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, course materials, and methods of instruction.
Maintain regularly scheduled office hours to advise and assist students.
Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
Keep abreast of developments and technological advances in the communication field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
Select and obtain materials and supplies, such as textbooks and performance pieces.
Collaborate with colleagues to address teaching and research issues.
Advise students on academic and vocational curricula, and on career issues.
Serve on academic or administrative committees that deal with institutional policies, departmental matters, and academic issues.

The above responsibilities are specific to Mathematics Professors. More generally, Mathematics Professors are involved in several broader types of activities:

Activities	Importance	Details
Training and Teaching Others		Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
Getting Information		Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Working with Computers		Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates		Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others		Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.

Training and Teaching Others

Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.

Getting Information

Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Working with Computers

Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates

Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others

Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.

What is a Mathematics Professor salary?

The median salary for a Mathematics Professor is $73,650, and the average salary is $86,760. Both the median and average roughly describe the middle of the Mathematics Professor salary range, but the average is more easily affected by extremely high or low salaries.

Many Mathematics Professors earn significantly more or less than the average, due to several factors. About 10% of Mathematics Professors earn less than $38,730 per year, 25% earn less than $53,970, 75% earn less than $106,580, and 90% earn less than $154,750.

Between the years of 2020 and 2030, the number of Mathematics Professors is expected to change by 5.5%, and there should be roughly 5,600 open positions for Mathematics Professors every year.

Median annual salary: $73,650
Typical salary range: $38,730 - $154,750
Projected growth (2020 - 2030): 5.5%

What personality traits are common among Mathematics Professors?

Interests

Career interests describe a person's preferences for different types of working environments and activities. When a person's interest match the demands of an occupation, people are usually more engaged and satisfied in that role.

Compared to most occupations, those who work as a Mathematics Professor are usually higher in their Social, Investigative, and Artistic interests.

Mathematics Professors typically have very strong Social interests. Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

Also, Mathematics Professors typically have strong Investigative interests. Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Lastly, Mathematics Professors typically have moderate Artistic interests. Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

Mathematics Professors typically have moderate Conventional interests. Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Values

People differ in their values, or what is most important to them for building job satisfaction and fulfillment.

Compared to most people, those working as a Mathematics Professor tend to value Achievement, Independence, and Recognition.

Most importantly, Mathematics Professors very strongly value Achievement. Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.

Second, Mathematics Professors strongly value Independence. Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions.

Lastly, Mathematics Professors strongly value Recognition. Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious.

Psychological Demands

Each occupation brings its own set of psychological demands, which describe the characteristics necessary to perform the job well.

In order to perform their job successfully, people who work as Mathematics Professors must consistently demonstrate qualities such as analytical thinking, integrity, and independence.

Below, you'll find a list of qualities typically required of Mathematics Professors, ranked by importance:

Demands	Importance	Details
Analytical Thinking		Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
Integrity		Job requires being honest and ethical.
Independence		Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
Dependability		Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Attention to Detail		Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.

Analytical Thinking

Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.

Integrity

Job requires being honest and ethical.

Independence

Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.

Dependability

Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.

Attention to Detail

Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.

What education and training do Mathematics Professors need?

Many Mathematics Professors have earned a graduate degree. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a doctoral degree, such as a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D..

Mathematics Professors may need some on-the-job training, but most candidates will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.

Educational degrees among Mathematics Professors

0.6% did not complete high school or secondary school
1.4% completed high school or secondary school
2.0% completed some college coursework
1.8% earned a Associate's degree
14.6% earned a Bachelor's degree
32.1% earned a Master's degree
47.4% earned a doctorate or professional degree

Knowledge and expertise required by Mathematics Professors

Mathematics Professors may benefit from understanding of specialized subject areas, such as mathematics, education and training, or computers and electronics knowledge.

The list below shows several areas in which most Mathematics Professors might want to build proficiency, ranked by importance.

Knowledge areas	Importance	Details
Mathematics		Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Education and Training		Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Computers and Electronics		Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Customer and Personal Service		Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Administration and Management		Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Mathematics

Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Education and Training

Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Computers and Electronics

Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Customer and Personal Service

Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Administration and Management

Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Important Abilities needed by Mathematics Professors

Mathematics Professors must develop a particular set of abilities to perform their job well. Abilities are individual capacities that influence a person's information processing, sensory perception, motor coordination, and physical strength or endurance. Individuals may naturally have certain abilities without explicit training, but most abilities can be sharpened somewhat through practice.

For example, Mathematics Professors need abilities such as mathematical reasoning, oral expression, and number facility in order to perform their job at a high level. The list below shows several important abilities for Mathematics Professors, ranked by their relative importance.

Abilities	Importance	Details
Mathematical Reasoning		The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
Oral Expression		The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Number Facility		The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.
Oral Comprehension		The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Written Comprehension		The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

Mathematical Reasoning

The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.

Oral Expression

The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

Number Facility

The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.

Oral Comprehension

The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

Written Comprehension

The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

Critical Skills needed by Mathematics Professors

Skills are developed capacities that enable people to function effectively in real-world settings. Unlike abilities, skills are typically easier to build through practice and experience. Skills influence effectiveness in areas such as learning, working with others, design, troubleshooting, and more.

Mathematics Professors frequently use skills like mathematics, speaking, and reading comprehension to perform their job effectively. The list below shows several critical skills for Mathematics Professors, ranked by their relative importance.

Skills	Importance	Details
Mathematics		Using mathematics to solve problems.
Speaking		Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Reading Comprehension		Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Active Listening		Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Instructing		Teaching others how to do something.

Mathematics

Using mathematics to solve problems.

Speaking

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Reading Comprehension

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

Active Listening

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Instructing

Teaching others how to do something.

What is the source of this information?

The information provided on this page is adapted from data and descriptions published by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration under the CC BY 4.0 license. TraitLab has modified some information for ease of use and reading, and the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment, and Training Administration has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.

If you have any questions or suggestions about this information, please send a message.

Career profile Mathematics Professor

Mathematics Professor

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