The Top Three Jobs for Mathematics Graduates

There are some excellent jobs for mathematics graduates in the UK, even in the entry level market. That said, they aren’t always where you might expect.

Before diving into the first data-driven job that comes your way, it’s best to take a look around the job market to really understand the opportunities out there. And that’s what we’re doing today. Let’s take a closer look at three of the most popular jobs for the numerically knowledgeable to help find a career path that brings you joy.

Software Engineer

It might not seem like the obvious choice, but did you know that most mathematics graduates ultimately become software engineers?

The traditional path into software engineering is of course computer science and this is, for the part, still an industry standard degree. That said, a mathematics degree is, from a training point of view, almost the same. While you might not know the specifics of the modern stack, a mathematics degree shares the same foundation of formal logic, algorithmic thinking, and structural problem solving.

In fact, a mathematics degree can actually take you further than a computer science one in certain areas of software engineering. Areas like machine learning and graphics rendering in particular often require people who can translate the latest cutting edge theoretical research into practical software that will run within the limitations of modern hardware.

Of course, the main reason so many mathematics graduates get into software engineering is simple supply and demand. While the last few years have seen some shrinkage in the entry level market due to AI, software engineering is still a huge market overall. A mathematics degree brings a highly useful, less saturated skillset to the table that can really help a CV stand out in this space.

Actuary

If you’re looking for grounded practical application of advanced mathematical modelling then you should seriously consider becoming an actuary. Actuaryies are the financial risk experts of the business world, using probability, statistics, and financial theory to predict the likelihood of future events and calculate their long-term financial impact.

Most entry-level graduate actuaries work inside insurance companies, pension funds, or specialised financial consultancies. Your daily work would involve applying your knowledge of mathematical models and statistical probabilities to make reliable predictions and inform decision making.

Of course, it’s worth noting that you can’t just roll into the job on a mathematics degree alone. The entry requirements to become an actuary are pretty rigorous. You’ll have to complete a series of professional exams and while your employer will likely pay for these, your first few years will see you working on a salary between £30K and £38K. That’s not bad, but it’s a little low compared to other jobs you could move directly into with a strong mathematics degree.

The major upside comes once you’re fully qualified. Even on the lower end a fully qualified actuary makes around £75K while on the high end they can earn in excess of £100K.

Cryptographer

Cryptography is less a job and more a broad field of work encompassing everything from pure research to penetration testing. Broadly speaking, a cryptographer is anyone whose daily work is based in the study and application of encryption and encryption breaking technologies.

That said, there is an important distinction between a cryptographer and a general cybersecurity specialist. In cybersecurity the focus is often on applying functional solutions that already exist and minimising potential points of weakness. Cryptography is a little further under the hood. Cryptographers build, break, and study systems of encryption.

For those who are drawn to maths out of a desire for learning and problem solving, this is an excellent field to get into. Where software engineers and actuaries often apply the work of others to real world situations, rarely do they get to push forward our understanding or do something truly groundbreaking. Cryptography is a space where the boundaries are always being pushed and where the theoretical and the real world regularly collide.

While it is generally recommended that you do a PhD, if this is the path for you, then that’s probably as much a pro as a con. Ultimately, this is a job for those who love learning.