How to Become A Mathematician
Should I Become a Mathematician?
If you love working with numbers and figures, then becoming a Mathematician can lead to a lucrative and rewarding professional career. Various industries require the services of a mathematician. As a result, the education and experience/skill requirements may vary based on the specific needs of any one sector.
Mathematicians are mainly categorized into two classes: Theoretical and Applied. Theoretical mathematicians usually work in educational institutions as teachers and researchers looking to expand the existing body of knowledge in the field. This branch of mathematics is also known as pure mathematics.
How to Become a Mathematician 
On the other hand, applied mathematics is utilized to deal with real world problems. Economics is one area that makes use of many mathematical models and applications. This guide will give you important information about starting a career as a mathematician.
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Education
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Master’s degree (or higher) in Mathematics
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Major Requirement
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Undergraduate and Master’s degrees required for regular teaching and public sector jobs; research positions in universities and private businesses/corporations require a Doctoral degree.
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License/Certification
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Graduate certificates and short courses available (optional)
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Key Skills
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Mathematics, complex problem solving, active learning, reading comprehension, critical thinking, inductive and deductive reasoning, mathematical reasoning, scientific and analytical software, component or object-oriented development software, operating system software, database user interface and query software.
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Annual Mean Wage
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$104,870 (As of May, 2018)
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Job Outlook
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Employment opportunities for Mathematicians and Statisticians are projected to grow by 30% between 2018 and 2028.
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Sources: US Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine
Apart from having excellent command over numbers, you will need to be good at critical thinking and be an active learner in order to become a successful mathematician. Moreover, you will need to have sound reasoning and analytical ability to make it in this field.
Career Requirements
Getting an undergraduate degree is a basic requirement if you want to follow a career path in Mathematics. After that, you may go for higher studies and obtain a master’s as well as doctoral degree depending upon the requirements of the job you aim for.
Steps to Become a Mathematician
The following process will help you become a Mathematician in the United States.
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Get a High School Diploma or GED Certificate
You will need to finish high school in order to be eligible for enrollment in an undergraduate degree program in Mathematics. In case a High School Diploma is not available, you can also apply for college with a GED (General Educational Development) certificate which is considered equivalent to HSD.
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Complete Your Undergraduate Degree in Mathematics
Once you have cleared high school, you can then go for a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics or a closely related field.
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Go for Further Education in the Field
After you are done with your undergraduate degree in Mathematics, you can then study further for a master’s and doctorate in the subject. Depending on your career aspirations, you may also apply for some teaching or other positions that require only a Bachelor’s degree. However, post-graduate education is often needed for higher-level positions in both academia and industry which tend to be research-intensive.
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Start Your Career As a Mathematician
When you are done with your master’s and doctorate in Mathematics, you will be able to apply for a wide range of jobs in different sectors.