These Careers Equate to a Strong Future

By: Staff Writer

Updated: 9/7/2010

Have a knack for numbers? From teaching to engineering, if you have a high aptitude in math, you may want to look into the following occupations. It may just add up to a great future.

Actuary

This occupation is considered amongst some of the top careers and most lucrative college degrees for employment. You will find most actuaries working primarily in the insurance field, but new opportunities for employment have been found in the health care and financial fields. Being an actuary combines strong math, analytical and statistical skills. An actuary is responsible for determining the risk involved in insuring a person’s life, property, health and their business. In the health care field, they evaluate risks associated with certain medical issues and its associated costs. Actuaries are also more heavily represented in the financial services sector including commercial banks, investment banks, and retirement funds.

Median Average Earnings: $53,754
Job Growth: 24 percent
Education: Bachelor's degree plus certification

Statistician

Statisticians primary role is to apply their mathematical and statistical knowledge of numerical data to a variety of areas including economics, engineering, medicine, education, sports, and biology to name a few. The data collected whether through sampling, economic data, or experiments, is interpreted and analyzed by the statistician using computer software.

In pharmaceutical companies, a statistician may develop and evaluate the results of a clinical trial to determine the safety and effectiveness of a new medication. Manufacturers utilize statisticians for product development and testing. Environmental and agricultural agencies depend on statisticians to determine the average level of pesticides in drinking water, and national defense agencies utilize their skills to determine the accuracy of new weapons and the effectiveness of defense strategies.

There are a number of specialty areas that a statistician may be employed in, with strong growth expected for biostatisticians in the pharmaceutical industry where their work will be needed for research and clinical trials.

Median Average Earnings: $65,720
Job Growth: 9 percent
Education: Master’s Degree in Statistics or Mathematics

Cost Estimator

As the title would imply, this occupation, no matter what the industry involves analyzing and compiling data in order to accurately project the cost of an upcoming project. The vast majority of cost estimators work in the construction industry followed by manufacturing. Driving the anticipated growth of this industry is the investment in our nation’s infrastructure including bridges, highways, electric power plants, subways, transmission lines and water and sewerage systems. It is highly recommended that cost estimators, because of the role they play in the construction industry, pursue their bachelor’s degree in fields such as construction management or engineering. Other degrees that employers look for include building construction and architecture. Bottom line, this is a strong field to enter for those with strong math skills.

Median Average Earnings: $52,940.00
Job Growth: 19 percent
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Math Teacher

Teaching has traditionally been a very strong field to pursue with demand often exceeding supply; however, for general education positions, the majority of teacher openings can be found in the math and science fields. Therefore, a candidate for a math teacher opening may also be able to land a job and receive the financial support of the school district in pursuing full certification.

Many teachers specialize in just one field, teaching multiple classes in mathematics, such as algebra, geometry and calculus. To be successful, math teachers must first have in-depth content knowledge in the subjects they are teaching. More importantly, they must also have the skills to be able to present the material in a manner students can understand.

Median Average Earnings: $43,580 to $48,690
Job Growth: 12 percent
Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Education or Mathematics plus certification or accepted alternative licensure

 

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