Occupational Outlook Handbook | All Occupations

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Computer and mathematical occupations

Actuaries

A strong background in mathematics is essential; actuaries must pass a series of examinations to gain full professional status.
About 6 out of 10 actuaries are employed in the insurance industry.
Employment opportunities should remain good for those who qualify, because the stringent qualifying examination system restricts the number of candidates.

Computer Programmers

Sixty-seven percent of computer programmers held a college or higher degree in 2004; nearly half held a bachelor's degree, and about 1 in 5 held a graduate degree.
Employment is expected to grow much more slowly than that for other computer specialists.
Prospects likely will be best for college graduates with knowledge of a variety of programming languages and tools; those with less formal education or its equivalent in work experience are apt to face strong competition for programming jobs.

Computer Scientists and Database Administrators

Education requirements range from an associate degree to a doctoral degree.
Employment is expected to increase much faster than the average as organizations continue to adopt increasingly sophisticated technologies.
Job prospects are favorable.

Computer Software Engineers

Computer software engineers are projected to be one of the fastest growing occupations over the 2004-14 period.
Very good opportunities are expected for college graduates with at least a bachelor's degree in computer engineering or computer science and with practical work experience.
Computer software engineers must continually strive to acquire new skills in conjunction with the rapid changes that are occurring in computer technology.

Computer Support Specialists and Systems Administrators

Rapid job growth is projected over the 2004-14 period.
There are many paths of entry to these occupations.
Job prospects should be best for college graduates who are up to date with the latest skills and technologies; certifications and practical experience are essential for persons without degrees.

Computer Systems Analysts

Employers generally prefer applicants who have at least a bachelor's degree in computer science, information science, or management information systems (MIS).
Employment is expected to increase much faster than the average as organizations continue to adopt increasingly sophisticated technologies.
Job prospects are favorable.

Computer Specialists, all other
Mathematicians

A Ph.D. degree in mathematics usually is the minimum educational requirement, except in the Federal Government.
The number of jobs with the title 'mathematician' is declining as the workforce becomes increasingly specialized; competition will be keen for the limited number of available jobs.
Master's and Ph.D. degree holders with a strong background in mathematics and a related field, such as computer science or engineering, should have better employment opportunities in related occupations.

Operations Research Analysts

Employers generally prefer applicants with at least a master's degree in operations research or management science, or a closely related field such as computer science, engineering, business, mathematics, or information systems.
Employment growth is projected to be slower than average, reflecting slow growth in the number of jobs with the title "operations research analyst."
Individuals with a master's or Ph.D. degree in management science, operations research, or equivalent should have good job opportunities as operations research analysts or in closely related occupations, such as systems analysts, computer scientists, or management analysts.

Statisticians

About 41 percent of statisticians work for Federal, State, and local governments; other employers include scientific research and development services and finance and insurance firms.
A master's degree in statistics or mathematics is the minimum educational requirement for most jobs as a statistician.
Employment of statisticians is projected to grow more slowly than average because many jobs that require a degree in statistics will not carry the title "statistician."
Individuals with a degree in statistics should have favorable job opportunities in a variety of disciplines.

Earnings Graph

National Average and Percentile Annual Earnings, May 2005

Metropolitan area and State estimates.

source: Occupational Employment Statistics Program; about this section

Area and Industry Statistics

May 2005 Mean Annual Earnings and Employment, wage and salary workers

Computer and mathematical occupations
— National
U.S.:	$67,100
— by State
AL:	$60,700
AK:	$59,740
AZ:	$59,580
AR:	$49,170
CA:	$75,800
CO:	$70,850
CT:	$71,550
DE:	$65,340
DC:	$72,180
FL:	$58,530
GA:	$63,460
HI:	$58,880
ID:	$56,820
IL:	$66,450
IN:	$54,940
IA:	$56,650
KS:	$61,900
KY:	$54,500
LA:	$51,320
ME:	$54,580
MD:	$73,310
MA:	$77,450
MI:	$62,060
MN:	$67,320
MS:	$46,540
MO:	$61,680
MT:	$50,950
NE:	$57,760
NV:	$55,830
NH:	$67,440
NJ:	$76,190
NM:	$60,370
NY:	$71,510
NC:	$64,900
ND:	$46,640
OH:	$61,650
OK:	$51,310
OR:	$61,720
PA:	$62,780
RI:	$64,890
SC:	$53,070
SD:	$45,010
TN:	$56,570
TX:	$66,980
UT:	$59,660
VT:	$58,030
VA:	$72,810
WA:	$73,880
WV:	$50,140
WI:	$58,580
WY:	$45,340
GU:	$40,970
PR:	$39,590
VI:	$42,200
— by NAICS Industry Sector
11	$51,440
21	$67,140
22	$67,480
23	$57,630
31-33	$73,490
42	$68,640
44-45	$53,010
48-49	$61,540
51	$69,470
52	$67,740
53	$57,560
54	$71,430
55	$66,540
56	$62,630
61	$48,920
62	$54,240
71	$49,320
72	$49,900
81	$54,860
92	$62,780
Also see State and Metropolitan Area and industry estimates of employment and percentile earnings for computer and mathematical occupations.

Width of bars indicates mean annual wages; color of bars indicates employment.

source: Occupational Employment Statistics Program; about this section

Demographics

Computer and mathematical occupations

Employed persons, 2004

Employed persons: 3,140,000	Percent of total
	Women	Men	Black	Asian	Hispanic
	27.0%	73.0%	7.5%	14.0%	5.5%

Full-time wage and salary workers, 2004
Employment Median weekly earnings
$ W/M ratio
Women
(emp.) (earn.) 757,000 $972 0.842
Men
(emp.) (earn.) 2,037,000 $1,155
All workers
(emp.) (earn.) 2,793,000 $1,114

source: Current Population Survey; about this section

Union Statistics

• Union affiliation of employed wage & salary workers
• Median weekly earnings of full-time wage & salary workers

Computer and mathematical occupations

Employed wage and salary workers, 2005

Employed persons: 3,067,000
Members of unions		Represented by unions
Number	Percent	Number	Percent
142,000	4.6%	172,000	5.6%
more union employment statistics

Median weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers, 2005
All full-time wage and salary workers $1,132
— Members of unions $1,009
— Represented by unions $1,029
— Non-union $1,141
more union earnings statistics

source: Current Population Survey; about this section

Employee Tenure

Median years of tenure with current employer for employed wage and salary workers, 2004

Occupation	Employee Tenure, median (years)
Computer and mathematical occupations	4.8

source: Current Population Survey; about this section

Fatalities

2004 Fatal occupational injuries by occupation and event or exposure

Occupation	Fatalities: Event or exposure
Occupation	Total	Tran.	Viol.	Cont.	Falls	Expo.	Fires
Computer and mathematical occupations	7	5	-	-	-	-	-

source: Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities Program; about this section

Job Openings

Current job openings on craigslist.com

software / QA / DBA jobs

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systems / networking jobs

technical support jobs

web / HTML / info design jobs

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	Employment	Median weekly earnings
	Employment	$	W/M ratio
Women (emp.) (earn.)	757,000	$972	0.842
Men (emp.) (earn.)	2,037,000	$1,155	0.842
All workers (emp.) (earn.)	2,793,000	$1,114

All full-time wage and salary workers	$1,132
— Members of unions	$1,009
— Represented by unions	$1,029
— Non-union	$1,141
more union earnings statistics