Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
The median mathematical science teachers, postsecondary salary in the United States is $79,940 per year. Salaries range from $49,180 at the entry level to $139,340+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 47,670 mathematical science teachers, postsecondary jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to grow 2.3% through 2034.
Last updated: June 2026 Β· Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Median Salary
$79,940
per year
Employment
47,670
jobs in the U.S.
Salary Distribution
10th percentile
$49,180
25th percentile
$61,690
Median
$79,940
75th percentile
$105,000
90th percentile
$139,340
Job Growth (2024-2034)
+2.3%
As fast as average
Annual Openings
4,400
jobs/year (growth + replacements)
Education Required
Doctoral or professional degree
Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary Career Guide
Interview questions, resume templates, and a career ladder written specifically for mathematical science teachers, postsecondarys.
Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary (BLS SOC 25-1022) teach undergraduate and graduate mathematics, statistics, and applied-mathematics courses at 4-year universities, R1 research universities, liberal-arts colleges, and community colleges β the tenure-track and non-tenure-track math faculty pool. Typical seats: tenure-track Assistant / Associate / Full Professor at an R1 research university (Harvard, MIT, Princeton, Stanford, Berkeley, Chicago, Michigan, Wisconsin, UCLA, Columbia, NYU Courant Institute, Yale, Duke, Cornell, Northwestern, Penn, Caltech, Brown, Illinois, Minnesota, Ohio State, Texas, Georgia Tech, Washington, Wisconsin, Rutgers, Maryland, USC); tenure-track faculty at an R2 or regional comprehensive (Cal State system, SUNY comprehensive campuses, University of Texas at Dallas, Kent State, Northern Illinois); teaching-track faculty at a liberal-arts college (Williams, Amherst, Swarthmore, Pomona, Harvey Mudd, Reed, Bowdoin, Wesleyan, Middlebury, Grinnell, Carleton); adjunct or lecturer at a community college (Miami Dade, Houston CC, Northern Virginia CC, Foothill-De Anza, Santa Monica College); or a postdoctoral research fellowship (NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship, Simons Postdoctoral Fellowship, Ritt Assistant Professor at Columbia, Moore Instructor at MIT, SzegΕ Assistant Professor at Stanford, Dickson Instructor at Chicago, Whyburn Instructor at Virginia, Zassenhaus Assistant Professor at Ohio State). BLS reports 47,670 employed with a median of $79,940, p10 $46,570, p90 $170,780+. Entry Postdoc / Visiting Assistant Professor $58-78k (9-month); tenure-track Assistant Professor $78-115k at R1 (9-month); tenured Associate Professor $95-155k; Full Professor $135-235k+; endowed / named chair Full Professor at top-10 department $215-395k+ (9-month + summer salary + consulting). The single biggest earnings lever is stacking a PhD from a top-25 US math department + a strong publication record in Annals of Mathematics / Journal of the American Mathematical Society / Inventiones Mathematicae / Duke Mathematical Journal / Compositio Mathematica + funded NSF DMS or Simons Foundation grants, and landing tenure at an R1 department where 2-1 or 1-1 teaching load protects research productivity across the tenure clock.
Core Skills Hiring Managers Screen For
Research productivity in a mathematical specialty area
Original research contribution in a specific subfield β algebraic geometry, algebraic topology, algebraic number theory, analytic number theory, combinatorics, differential geometry, dynamical systems, ergodic theory, functional analysis, geometric analysis, geometric group theory, harmonic analysis, homotopy theory, K-theory, low-dimensional topology, mathematical logic, mathematical physics, noncommutative geometry, operator algebras, partial differential equations (PDE), probability theory, representation theory, set theory, symplectic geometry, or the applied-math tracks (numerical analysis, scientific computing, mathematical biology, mathematical finance, optimization, statistics). Publication in top venues: Annals of Mathematics (Princeton / IAS), Journal of the American Mathematical Society (JAMS), Inventiones Mathematicae (Springer), Duke Mathematical Journal, Compositio Mathematica, Geometry & Topology, Advances in Mathematics, Journal of Differential Geometry, Communications in Mathematical Physics, Communications on Pure and Applied Mathematics (Courant), Mathematische Annalen, Journal of Number Theory, Annals of Probability, SIAM Journal on Numerical Analysis.
Grant writing + external research funding
NSF Division of Mathematical Sciences (DMS) β the primary US federal funder of pure and applied math research: NSF CAREER Award ($400-600k / 5 yr) for early-career tenure-track faculty; NSF Standard Grant DMS ($150-450k / 3 yr) at Assistant / Associate; NSF Focused Research Group (FRG) collaborative awards; NSF Research Training Group (RTG) at the department level. Simons Foundation Collaboration Grant for Mathematicians ($8.4k/yr / 5 yr β a $42k discretionary research fund), Simons Fellowship for a full sabbatical year, Simons Investigator award (~$100k/yr / 5 yr renewable at senior level). Sloan Research Fellowship ($75k / 2 yr at Assistant Professor level, prestigious signal for tenure). Clay Mathematics Institute Senior Scholar + Fellowship at IAS Princeton, MSRI / SLMath Berkeley, IMS Singapore, IHES Bures-sur-Yvette. Packard Fellowship for early-career (~$875k / 5 yr, cross-STEM). NSA Mathematical Sciences Grants (small). Overhead-rate (F&A) at R1s typically 55-65% on NSF grants, which drives Dean-level respect at grant-active departments.
Undergraduate teaching across the calculus + linear algebra + analysis sequence
Calculus I (single-variable differentiation), Calculus II (integration + series), Calculus III (multivariable + vector calculus), Linear Algebra (finite-dimensional vector spaces + eigenvalue theory), Differential Equations (ODE + PDE introduction), Discrete Mathematics (combinatorics + graph theory for CS majors), Introduction to Proofs / Transition to Higher Math, Real Analysis (Rudin β Principles of Mathematical Analysis), Complex Analysis (Ahlfors + Stein-Shakarchi), Abstract Algebra I-II (Dummit & Foote + Artin), Topology (Munkres), Number Theory (Ireland & Rosen + Marcus), Probability (Ross + Grimmett & Stirzaker), Statistics (Casella & Berger + Wasserman), Numerical Analysis (Trefethen & Bau + Burden & Faires). Course load typically 2-1 or 1-1 at R1 pure-math departments, 2-2 or 3-2 at R1 applied-math + statistics, 3-3 at R2, 4-4 at liberal-arts + community college.
Graduate teaching + qualifying-exam preparation + advanced seminars
Graduate real analysis (measure theory + Lp spaces + Fourier analysis β Folland + Rudin's Real & Complex Analysis + Stein-Shakarchi), graduate complex analysis (Ahlfors + Conway), graduate algebra (Hungerford + Lang's Algebra + Rotman), graduate topology (Hatcher's Algebraic Topology + Bott-Tu Differential Forms + Milnor), graduate differential geometry (do Carmo + Lee + Petersen), graduate PDE (Evans's Partial Differential Equations + Gilbarg-Trudinger), graduate probability (Durrett + Billingsley + Kallenberg). Departmental preliminary / qualifying exams (typically after year 1-2 in graduate school β Analysis + Algebra + Topology + a fourth exam by department). Advanced-topics seminars in the faculty member's research area at the year-3+ graduate student level. Reading courses (Math 396 / Math 499-type) with individual graduate or advanced undergraduate students.
PhD student advising + committee service
PhD dissertation advising β an R1 tenure-track math faculty member typically graduates 3-8 PhD students over a 20-30 year career, with 1-3 active advisees at any time. Selection of open research problems within the advisor's specialty; regular one-on-one meetings (weekly at year 3+); preliminary-exam and thesis-committee membership on other faculty's students; letter-writing for postdoc / faculty-market placement of students. Undergraduate senior-thesis advising (at liberal-arts) or REU (Research Experiences for Undergraduates) mentoring (NSF-funded summer programs). Postdoc mentoring for NSF Postdoctoral Fellows or Ritt / Moore / SzegΕ / Dickson-type named postdocs hosted by the department.
Peer review + editorial + community service
Peer review of 4-15 papers per year for journals in the specialty (Annals of Mathematics, Duke Math Journal, Inventiones, Advances in Math, Journal of Number Theory, etc.). Editorial board service at specialty journals (typically Associate Editor at Associate Professor stage; Editor / Managing Editor at Full Professor stage). Program committee service for major conferences (Joint Mathematics Meetings (JMM) β AMS + MAA joint annual meeting, ~5,000 attendees; International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM) once every 4 years; specialty conferences like AWM (Association for Women in Mathematics) annual + specialty-area workshops at MSRI / SLMath / IAS / Banff BIRS / Oberwolfach / Simons Center Stony Brook). Referee reports for NSF DMS panels + Sloan Fellowship + Packard Fellowship review committees.
AMS + MAA + SIAM + IMS + AWM + NAM professional-society engagement
American Mathematical Society (AMS) β the primary US pure-math research society; publishes JAMS, Transactions of the AMS, Proceedings of the AMS, Bulletin of the AMS, Notices of the AMS; ~30,000 members; annual JMM meeting jointly with MAA. Mathematical Association of America (MAA) β the primary US teaching + undergraduate-focused math society; Putnam Competition, AMC / AIME / USAMO / MOP olympiad pipeline, MathFest annual meeting. Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM) β applied and computational math (numerical analysis, scientific computing, optimization, mathematical biology). Institute of Mathematical Statistics (IMS) β theoretical statistics + probability. Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM) + National Association of Mathematicians (NAM) β underrepresented-groups advocacy and mentorship. AMS Fellows program (elected recognition, ~5% of AMS membership); ICM invited-speaker recognition (once every 4 years); Fields Medal (age-40 cutoff, 4 awarded every 4 years); Abel Prize + Wolf Prize + Steele Prize + Cole Prize (senior recognition).
Departmental service + tenure-track promotion strategy
Committee service β hiring committee, graduate admissions committee, undergraduate curriculum committee, colloquium committee, prelim-exam committee, department-level P&T committee. Undergraduate program leadership β director of undergraduate studies, math-major advising, actuarial / applied-math track coordination. Graduate program leadership β director of graduate studies, prelim / qualifying-exam coordination, graduate-admissions chair. Tenure-track clock β typical 6-year clock at R1 with 3rd-year review + 6th-year P&T review; standard promotion criteria: 8-15 peer-reviewed publications in reputable venues (with 2-5 in top-5 journals for top-10 departments), 1-3 funded NSF DMS grants, external letters from 8-15 senior scholars solicited from a Dean-approved list, teaching evaluations at or above department median, positive PhD student outcomes.
How to Become a Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary
- 1Complete a Bachelor's in Mathematics or a closely related field with strong grades and graduate-level courseworkB.A. or B.S. in Mathematics with heavy pure-math emphasis β Real Analysis (Rudin baby-Rudin), Abstract Algebra (Dummit & Foote or Herstein), Topology (Munkres), Complex Analysis (Ahlfors), and 2-4 additional graduate-level courses if available (graduate Analysis, Algebra, Topology, Number Theory). GPA 3.7+ in math courses; strong grades in the analysis + algebra sequences are the single strongest predictor of top-25 PhD admission. Ideal undergraduate institutions for PhD placement: MIT, Princeton, Harvard, Stanford, Berkeley, Chicago, Caltech, Harvey Mudd, Williams, Swarthmore, Reed, and top state flagships (Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Texas, UCLA, Georgia Tech, Maryland, Rutgers).
- 2Earn Putnam / IMO / MOP-tier competition credentials or an REU + published preprintWilliam Lowell Putnam Mathematical Competition (annual undergraduate; top-500 and Putnam Fellow β top-5 β are significant PhD admission signals). Prior IMO or MOP participation is a strong signal. Alternatively β NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) at Duluth, Williams SMALL, ICERM Brown, Michigan LSA REU, Illinois REU, Emory REU, Cornell REU, or similar 8-10 week summer programs with a documented research outcome and ideally an arXiv preprint by the time of PhD application. Strong undergraduate honors thesis advised by a research-active faculty member also counts.
- 3Apply to top-25 US PhD programs with GRE Math Subject + strong recommendation letters + research statementTop-25 US math PhD programs by USNWR / research reputation: MIT, Princeton, Harvard, Stanford, Berkeley, UChicago, UCLA, Columbia, NYU Courant, Michigan, Wisconsin, Cornell, Yale, Duke, Northwestern, Penn, Caltech, Brown, Illinois, Minnesota, Ohio State, Texas Austin, Georgia Tech, Washington, Rutgers, Maryland, USC. PhD applications require GRE Math Subject Test (~50th-95th-percentile target depending on tier), 3-5 recommendation letters from research-active mathematicians (ideally 2 who have worked with the applicant on research), research statement identifying prospective specialty area and prospective advisors, transcripts, personal statement. Applications submitted December; admissions decisions March; funding decisions April 15 deadline. Top programs admit 12-30 PhD students per year from 400-1,000 applications.
- 4Complete the PhD in 5-7 years β coursework + qualifying exams + dissertationYears 1-2: coursework in the four qualifying areas (typically Real Analysis, Complex Analysis, Algebra, Topology; or Real Analysis, Algebra, Topology, and a fourth exam by department choice β Numerical Analysis, PDE, Probability, Algebraic Geometry, etc.); pass qualifying / preliminary exams typically by end of year 2. Years 2-4: specialty coursework in prospective research area; identify dissertation advisor; begin reading in the specialty; RA / TA duties (typically 20 hr/wk teaching load β recitation sections, grading, or independent teaching of Calculus I / II). Years 3-6: dissertation research β original results in the specialty; ideally 2-4 papers submitted or published by year 5-6; job-market year is typically year 6 (or year 5 for exceptionally strong candidates). PhD stipend typically $28-42k / 9-month + summer support at top R1s; funding source is department TA/RA line + NSF Graduate Research Fellowship (GRFP, $37k / 3 yr) or NDSEG or Hertz Foundation Fellowship.
- 5Complete a 2-3 year postdoctoral fellowship at a top-25 departmentNamed postdoc positions at top-25 departments β Ritt Assistant Professor at Columbia, Moore Instructor at MIT, SzegΕ Assistant Professor at Stanford, Dickson Instructor at Chicago, Whyburn Instructor at Virginia, Zassenhaus Assistant Professor at Ohio State, Pierce Instructor at Harvard, Gibbs Instructor at Yale, Chowla Assistant Professor at Penn State, Britton Postdoc at McMaster, van Vleck Assistant Professor at Wisconsin β these are typically 2-3 year positions at $65-88k / 9-month + light teaching load (1-1 or 2-1) designed to protect research productivity. NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship (Mathematical Sciences Postdoctoral Research Fellowship β MSPRF) β a competitive independent 2-year federal postdoc worth $65k/yr + $10-15k research allowance. Simons Postdoctoral Fellowship, IAS Princeton School of Mathematics membership, MSRI / SLMath semester or year-long postdoctoral membership.
- 6Apply to tenure-track Assistant Professor positions through MathJobs.orgMathJobs.org (AMS Employment Center) is the standard central US math-faculty application system; applications typically submitted October-December for start dates the following July / August-September. Application package: cover letter, CV, research statement, teaching statement, publication list, 4-6 recommendation letters (research-focused + at least 1 teaching letter). AMS Joint Mathematics Meetings (JMM) Employment Center β annual meeting January in a rotating US city; short-list interviews conducted at JMM by hiring departments. On-campus interviews February-March; offers April-May; standard R1 tenure-track load 2-1 or 1-1 with 6-year tenure clock.
- 7Publish 8-15 papers + secure 1-3 NSF DMS grants during the tenure clock6-year tenure clock β year-1 to year-3 building the specialty research program with 1-3 accepted papers by 3rd-year review; year-3 to year-5 solidifying the specialty and building visibility through invited talks at MSRI / SLMath / IAS / Banff / Oberwolfach / IHES workshops and specialty conferences; year-5 to year-6 candidacy for tenure with 8-15 accepted / in-press peer-reviewed papers, at least 1 in a top-5 journal for top-10 departments, 1-3 funded NSF DMS grants (Standard Grant + ideally NSF CAREER Award), external letters from 8-15 senior scholars, positive teaching evaluations, PhD student advising begun. Tenure decision at end of year 6; positive tenure decision promotes to Associate Professor with tenure; negative tenure decision typically 1-year terminal appointment.
- 8Advance to tenured Associate Professor β Full Professor β endowed / named chairAssociate Professor with tenure at $95-155k / 9-month + summer salary from grants ($15-45k) + consulting / teaching-in-summer supplements ($10-30k). Promotion to Full Professor typically 6-10 years post-tenure with continued research productivity (25-40 total career publications, 3-6 NSF DMS grants, PhD students placed at competitive positions, invited-speaker recognition at major conferences). Full Professor at $135-235k+ / 9-month at R1; endowed / named chair at top-10 departments $215-395k+ / 9-month + full summer salary + significant discretionary research fund. Alternative senior track: department chair / associate dean / dean of natural sciences at $185-345k+ / 12-month administrative appointment.
Career Progression
PhD Candidate / Graduate Student
0-6 (years in doctoral program) yrs$28-42k stipend / 9-month + summer support + tuition remission + health insurance
- β’Complete coursework in the four qualifying areas (Real Analysis, Algebra, Topology, and a fourth by department choice) and pass qualifying / preliminary exams by end of year 2
- β’TA duties (recitation sections of Calculus I / II / III, Linear Algebra, or Differential Equations) or RA on advisor's NSF grant β typically 15-20 hr/wk teaching / grading load
- β’Identify dissertation advisor by end of year 2-3; begin reading in the specialty and produce first original results by year 4
- β’Attend specialty-area conferences (AMS sectional meetings, JMM, MSRI / SLMath / Simons workshops) and begin building peer network
Next: Postdoc / Visiting Assistant Professor at 5-7 years upon PhD completion.
Postdoctoral Fellow / Visiting Assistant Professor
5-9 (post-PhD years 0-3) yrs$58-88k / 9-month + summer support at top-25 departments + relocation + moderate research allowance
- β’Independent research program in the specialty with 2-4 additional publications during the postdoc
- β’Light teaching load (1-1 or 2-1) at named postdoc positions (Ritt at Columbia, Moore at MIT, SzegΕ at Stanford, Dickson at Chicago); heavier load (2-2) at NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship or standard Visiting Assistant Professor
- β’Build the tenure-track application package β 4-8 papers submitted / accepted, funded NSF Postdoctoral or DMS Standard Grant, strong letters from postdoc host + former advisor
- β’Apply to tenure-track Assistant Professor positions via MathJobs.org in year 2 of postdoc (typically October-December for start dates the following July-September)
Next: Tenure-track Assistant Professor at year 8-11 post-BA.
Tenure-track Assistant Professor (R1)
8-14 (post-BA years 8-14) yrs$78-115k / 9-month at R1 + summer salary from grants + startup package ($50-200k research fund + travel + summer salary support)
- β’Independent research program with 8-15 peer-reviewed publications across the 6-year tenure clock, ideally 1-3 in top-5 journals
- β’Secure 1-3 NSF DMS grants during the tenure clock β Standard Grant ($150-450k / 3 yr) and ideally NSF CAREER Award ($400-600k / 5 yr) at Assistant Professor level
- β’2-1 or 1-1 teaching load at R1 pure-math departments (undergraduate Calculus / Linear Algebra + graduate Analysis / Algebra / Topology / specialty-area courses)
- β’Begin PhD student advising by year 3-4; committee service on departmental hiring, graduate admissions, and colloquium committees
Next: Tenured Associate Professor at year 14-17 post-BA (positive tenure decision at end of 6-year clock).
Tenured Associate Professor
14-22 yrs$95-155k / 9-month + summer salary from grants + consulting supplements + endowed-chair or center-affiliated bonuses
- β’Maintain research productivity with continued publications in top journals + established international visibility in the specialty
- β’PhD student advising (1-3 active advisees; 5-10 graduated over the associate-professor tenure); postdoc mentoring for NSF postdoctoral fellows or named postdocs hosted by the department
- β’Senior departmental service (associate department chair, director of graduate studies, prelim / qualifying-exam coordination); external service on NSF DMS review panels + editorial boards at specialty journals
- β’Continued NSF DMS + Simons Foundation funding; Simons Fellowship or Sloan Fellowship or Packard Fellowship recognition
Next: Full Professor at year 22-30 post-BA.
Full Professor / Endowed Chair
22+ yrs$135-395k+ / 9-month + full summer salary + discretionary research fund + endowed-chair supplements + external consulting
- β’Continued research productivity as a senior leader in the specialty (25-60 career publications; multiple invited-speaker recognitions at ICM, MSRI / SLMath / IHES / Oberwolfach programs, and specialty conferences)
- β’PhD student advising (10-25 graduated over the career); recognized academic-genealogy lineage
- β’Editorial board leadership at specialty journals (Managing Editor / Editor at Annals, Duke, Inventiones, Advances, JAMS-level); AMS Fellow recognition; potentially AMS President or vice-presidential leadership
- β’Departmental leadership (department chair, associate dean, dean of natural sciences at $185-345k+ / 12-month administrative appointment) or continued research-focused faculty role at endowed / named chair
Interview Questions & Answers
5 free questions below. Career Kit unlocks 13 total plus resume bullets for every level.
Q1. Walk me through your dissertation research and its position within your specialty area.technical
Structured, technical, and honest about scope. Example: 'My dissertation was on the Langlands correspondence for GL(n) over a p-adic local field, specifically extending the results of Harris-Taylor (2001) and Henniart (2000) to a more general class of representations. Chapter 1 introduces the local Langlands correspondence and the machinery of automorphic forms; Chapter 2 develops the geometric side of the correspondence via Rapoport-Zink spaces; Chapter 3 proves the main theorem β a compatibility statement between the local Langlands correspondence and Galois representations at a specific class of primes; Chapter 4 discusses applications to the global Langlands program and the Fontaine-Mazur conjecture. Results: 3 papers on arXiv, 2 accepted at Duke Math Journal and Compositio Mathematica, 1 in revision at Inventiones. My advisor is [Name] at [Top-25 department]. Committee: [Names]. I've given talks at [MSRI / SLMath / IAS / Simons / JMM invited-speaker session] and I'm on the March-April interview circuit for tenure-track positions.' Search committees screen for depth, honest positioning within the specialty (what the candidate contributed vs what was already known), and connection to broader open problems.
Q2. How do you approach teaching Calculus I to a 200-student lecture with a wide range of preparation?situational
Structured pedagogically. (1) Preparation β clear syllabus with specific weekly learning goals; established textbook (Stewart / Rogawski / Thomas / OpenStax) for accessible reading; weekly problem sets with a mix of computational + conceptual + application problems. (2) Lecture design β 15-20 minute mini-topic segments with worked examples; frequent low-stakes clicker / poll-everywhere / Kahoot check-for-understanding questions; explicit connection to prerequisite material (algebra + trig review) at each new topic. (3) Recitation section design β assigned to graduate TA; smaller-group problem-solving practice; TA training on common student misconceptions in limits, derivatives, and integrals. (4) Assessment β 2-3 midterms + comprehensive final; regular quizzes; problem sets weighted lightly to encourage practice; extensive office hours (2-4 hr/wk faculty + 4-8 hr/wk TA). (5) Support for struggling students β early-warning identification through midterm-1 performance; referral to the university math tutoring center; supplemental instruction (SI) sessions where offered. (6) Assessment of teaching effectiveness β end-of-semester student evaluations, peer classroom observation, learning-outcome analysis on comparable exams year-over-year.
Q3. Describe your research plan for the next 5 years and how it maps to NSF DMS funding.technical
Concrete and specific. Example: 'My 5-year research plan has three thrusts. Thrust 1: continuation of my dissertation work on the local Langlands correspondence at ramified primes β 2-3 papers extending the Chapter-3 result to a broader class of representations, targeted at Duke / Inventiones / JAMS. This work is the primary basis for an NSF Standard Grant application in year 2 of the tenure clock. Thrust 2: a collaborative program with [Collaborator] at [Institution] on the global Langlands program and applications to the Fontaine-Mazur conjecture; this is planned to yield 2-3 joint papers over 3-4 years, is the basis for an NSF FRG collaborative grant application in year 3 with 3 other PIs, and would fund a graduate student position for 3 years. Thrust 3: an NSF CAREER Award proposal in year 3-4 combining the research program with a graduate-training component (an annual specialty summer school at [Institution] and an REU on introductory algebraic number theory). Backup funding: Simons Collaboration Grant for Mathematicians as a $42k discretionary line, Simons Fellowship in year 4-5 for a sabbatical year at MSRI / SLMath.' Search committees screen for candidates who understand the NSF DMS funding landscape and who have a concrete grant-writing plan.
Q4. Why an R1 tenure-track position rather than a liberal-arts college or industry?culture
Honest and self-aware. 'The R1 tenure-track path fits my research trajectory. I've spent the last 8 years building a specialty in [area]; my publication pipeline, my advisor network, and my grant plan all assume a 2-1 or 1-1 teaching load, an active graduate program, and departmental resources at R1 scale. I'm not indifferent to teaching β my student evaluations in graduate-school TA and postdoc teaching have been strong, and I'd like to advise 3-8 PhD students over my career. But I know myself well enough to know that a 4-4 liberal-arts load or an industry data-science role would trade off the specific research contribution I want to make in [area]. If I don't get an R1 tenure-track offer this cycle, the honest fallback is a strong postdoc at a top-25 department and re-applying in cycle 2; industry (Renaissance Technologies, Two Sigma, DE Shaw, Jane Street, or a tech company research lab) is a longer-term option I'd consider seriously only after 5-7 years of continued academic pursuit.' Search committees screen for candidates who chose the R1 track deliberately.
Q5. Where do you see your career in 10 years?closer
Show the standard R1 tenure-track trajectory. 'Year 1-6 tenure-track Assistant Professor at your department with 8-15 peer-reviewed publications, 1-3 NSF DMS grants including the CAREER Award, 1-2 PhD students underway, and consistent teaching evaluations above department median. Year 6-10 tenured Associate Professor with continued research productivity and expanded PhD-student advising (3-5 active advisees), potentially co-organizing a specialty semester at MSRI / SLMath or an Oberwolfach workshop. In parallel, building international visibility through invited speakerships at specialty conferences and ICM sectional talks. Longer-term target β Full Professor in the specialty at year 15-18, potentially endowed / named chair at a top-10 department; AMS Fellow recognition; editorial board service at a top-tier specialty journal.'
Resume Template β Tenure-track Assistant Professor (8-14 yrs from BA)
Copy these bullets into your resume as a starting point. Career Kit includes bullets for every level of the ladder.
Tenure-track Assistant Professor (8-14 yrs from BA)
- βΈTenure-track Assistant Professor of Mathematics at [University]; specialty in algebraic number theory and the Langlands program; 6-year tenure clock initiated FY23.
- βΈ9 peer-reviewed publications since PhD (2020), including 2 in Duke Mathematical Journal, 1 in Compositio Mathematica, 1 in Inventiones Mathematicae (in press), and 5 in strong specialty journals (Journal of Number Theory, Algebra & Number Theory, International Mathematics Research Notices).
- βΈNSF DMS Standard Grant awarded FY23 ($312k / 3 yr, PI); NSF CAREER Award application submitted FY24 targeting $520k / 5 yr; Simons Collaboration Grant for Mathematicians ($42k / 5 yr) awarded FY22.
- βΈPhD Mathematics, [Top-25 department], 2020. Advisor [Name]. Ritt Assistant Professor at Columbia 2020-2023 (post-PhD named-postdoc). NSF Graduate Research Fellowship 2015-2018. $102k / 9-month + $18k summer salary + $50k startup research fund. Teaching: graduate Algebraic Number Theory (Math 8XX) + undergraduate Real Analysis (Math 4XX) + Calculus II lecture.
What Gets You Rejected
- βWeak publication record after PhD + postdoc β 0-3 papers with no top-journal placements is essentially disqualifying for R1 tenure-track at top-50 departments.
- βPhD from below-top-50 institution without exceptional publication record + top-tier postdoc β the top-25 vs below-top-50 PhD signal is the single strongest filter at R1 hiring.
- βNo NSF DMS grant history + no funded postdoc β signals candidate has not built the grant-writing capacity that R1 departments require for continued research productivity + F&A overhead contribution.
- βWeak teaching evaluations at postdoc level β R1 departments assume teaching is not a primary hiring factor, but visibly poor teaching (evaluations 20+ points below department median) is disqualifying.
- βSpecialty misaligned with departmental hiring priorities β the hiring committee is looking for the specific specialty area they advertised; a strong number theorist applying to an applied-math / statistics slot is a category mismatch.
- βPoor recommendation letters from advisor / postdoc host β the strongest single signal in the file; a lukewarm advisor letter is often terminal at top-25 R1 hiring.
- βJob talk that fails to connect the specialty research to open problems and audience-accessible motivation β R1 job talks are evaluated on both technical depth and communication clarity to a general math audience.
Salary Negotiation Levers
- βTop-25 PhD placement + top-tier postdoc premium β Assistant Professor offers at top-25 departments are $10-30k above regional-comprehensive offers for the same career stage; the top-25 PhD + named-postdoc combination is the single most powerful lever.
- βStartup research package β R1 tenure-track offers include a startup research fund typically $50-200k for pure-math faculty (heavier in applied-math and statistics at $150-450k); negotiable line covering summer salary support (2-3 summers), graduate student support (1-2 years), postdoc support at $65-80k / yr, travel + conference budget, equipment / computing budget.
- βSummer salary support β 9-month academic-year salary contract at R1s; summer salary comes from NSF DMS grants at 2-2.5 months per summer (~22-28% of academic-year salary); negotiate 2-3 guaranteed summers of institutional summer salary during the tenure clock if grant funding is delayed.
- βTeaching-load reduction β 2-1 vs 2-2 vs 1-1 teaching load is a significant research-productivity lever; negotiate a reduced load for the first 2-3 years of the tenure clock (research-startup discount) if department norm is 2-2.
- βSpousal / partner hire accommodation β Dean-level negotiation at R1 departments; typically involves a soft-money or lecturer appointment for the partner or a joint faculty search if the partner is also academic; the single largest non-salary lever for dual-academic couples.
- βHousing assistance β Dean-level negotiation for high-cost metros (Bay Area, Boston, NYC, DC); typical form: down-payment assistance loan, forgivable loan over 5-7 years of continued employment, or below-market university housing (Harvard / Stanford / MIT / Berkeley faculty housing).
- βNamed postdoc positions during tenure clock β negotiate the ability to host a named postdoc position (e.g. Ritt / Moore / SzegΕ / Dickson-equivalent) as part of the tenure-track offer; adds significant specialty-area collaborative capacity.
- β9-month to 12-month appointment upgrade at senior stage β Department chair, Associate Dean, or Dean of Natural Sciences positions convert to 12-month salaries at $185-345k+ with administrative supplement; typical late-career track for tenured Full Professors.
- βEndowed / named chair at Full Professor β top-10 department named chairs at $215-395k+ / 9-month with discretionary research fund of $25-100k/yr; typically 10-20 years post-tenure.
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Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary Career Growth Kit β $29
Already working as a mathematical science teachers, postsecondary? This kit is for building your case for the next promotion or raise β not for getting hired.
- β Self-review draft mapped to mathematical science teachers, postsecondary competencies
- β Promotion packet outline with evidence appendix structure
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Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary Salary by State
Best Cities (cost-adjusted) βSalary Map β Click a state for details
$54K$131Kβ No data
Top Paying States
California
$131K
+63%
Delaware
$102K
+27%
Michigan
$99K
+24%
Rhode Island
$96K
+20%
Oregon
$92K
+15%
New Hampshire
$92K
+15%
New York
$87K
+9%
Minnesota
$86K
+7%
Washington
$86K
+7%
Massachusetts
$85K
+7%
Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.
| State | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| California | $130,680 | +63.5% |
| Delaware | $101,510 | +27.0% |
| Michigan | $99,330 | +24.3% |
| Rhode Island | $95,600 | +19.6% |
| Oregon | $91,770 | +14.8% |
| New Hampshire | $91,670 | +14.7% |
| New York | $87,230 | +9.1% |
| Minnesota | $85,570 | +7.0% |
| Washington | $85,560 | +7.0% |
| Massachusetts | $85,490 | +6.9% |
Showing 1β10 of 48
Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary Salary by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $150,550 | +88.3% |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $137,720 | +72.3% |
| Fresno, CA | $135,890 | +70.0% |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $135,860 | +70.0% |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $134,920 | +68.8% |
| Madison, WI | $132,100 | +65.2% |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $131,980 | +65.1% |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $131,070 | +64.0% |
| Visalia, CA | $130,910 | +63.8% |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $128,920 | +61.3% |
Showing 1β10 of 155
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.
How does this compare to pro athletes?
A mathematical science teachers, postsecondary earning $79,940/year would need 746 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 801 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.
See all sports & celebrity salaries βπ See how mathematical science teachers, postsecondary salaries have changed over the past decade.
View Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary salary trend (2011β2024) β