Occupation · SOC 25-1022
Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary
Teach courses pertaining to mathematical concepts, statistics, and actuarial science and to the application of original and standardized mathematical techniques in solving specific problems and situations. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Median wage
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Projected growth
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Annual openings
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per year
Employed (US)
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Job Zone 5
Typical preparation
Extensive preparation
Stackable credential programs
1,425 mapped
Core skills
MathematicsSpeakingReading ComprehensionInstructingActive ListeningWritingMonitoringLearning StrategiesCritical ThinkingActive LearningComplex Problem SolvingJudgment and Decision MakingTime ManagementSystems EvaluationSocial PerceptivenessService OrientationCoordinationSystems AnalysisPersuasionNegotiationScienceOperations AnalysisManagement of Personnel ResourcesProgrammingTechnology DesignManagement of Material ResourcesManagement of Financial ResourcesQuality Control AnalysisOperations MonitoringTroubleshootingRepairingOperation and ControlInstallationEquipment SelectionEquipment Maintenance
Knowledge areas
MathematicsEducation and TrainingEnglish LanguageComputers and ElectronicsCustomer and Personal ServiceAdministration and ManagementPhysicsPsychologyPersonnel and Human ResourcesAdministrativeCommunications and MediaPublic Safety and SecurityEngineering and TechnologyDesignSociology and AnthropologyTelecommunicationsBiologyChemistryPhilosophy and TheologyTherapy and CounselingLaw and GovernmentForeign LanguageEconomics and AccountingSales and MarketingMedicine and DentistryHistory and ArcheologyTransportationMechanicalGeographyBuilding and ConstructionProduction and ProcessingFine ArtsFood Production
Technology & tools
Blackboard LearnBlackboard softwareCalendar and scheduling softwareCollaborative editing softwareCourse management system softwareDOC CopDesire2Learn LMS softwareDesmosEmail softwareGeogebraGoogle DocsImage scanning softwareLearning management system LMSMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft Visual BasicMicrosoft Visual Basic for Applications VBAMicrosoft WordMoodleSASSakai CLEStructured query language SQLWeb browser softwareiParadigms Turnitin
Representative tasks
Training and Teaching OthersGetting InformationWorking with ComputersCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsThinking CreativelyUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeCoaching and Developing OthersAnalyzing Data or InformationEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsDocumenting/Recording InformationOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsProcessing InformationGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesPerforming for or Working Directly with the PublicProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeoplePerforming Administrative ActivitiesCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersScheduling Work and ActivitiesAssisting and Caring for OthersCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersDeveloping and Building TeamsEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsStaffing Organizational UnitsSelling or Influencing OthersInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsControlling Machines and ProcessesMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesHandling and Moving ObjectsPerforming General Physical ActivitiesOperating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentRepairing and Maintaining Electronic EquipmentDrafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Undergraduate course lectures — prepare and deliver introductory presentations on topics such as calculus or linear algebra under the guidance of a supervising faculty mentor in a university classroom setting.Examination materials — compile and administer assessments for lower-division mathematics courses using departmentally approved templates and rubrics under faculty supervision.Student work — evaluate and grade routine homework assignments and quizzes using provided answer keys and grading guidelines in a postsecondary instructional context.Course syllabi and handouts — prepare standard course materials by adapting existing departmental templates for use in an introductory undergraduate mathematics course.Student attendance and grade records — maintain accurate logs using university learning management systems under the procedural guidance of senior faculty.Classroom discussions — initiate and facilitate structured student exchanges on foundational mathematical concepts by following discussion protocols established by the course coordinator.Office hours — maintain regularly scheduled sessions to provide academic guidance to undergraduate students in a university mathematics department.Mathematical reasoning problems — apply deductive and inductive reasoning to explain standard proof techniques to students encountering formal mathematics for the first time.Analytical software tools — use course-approved platforms such as MATLAB or Mathematica to demonstrate mathematical concepts during scheduled laboratory or recitation sessions.Active listening and social awareness — observe student comprehension signals during lectures and adjust pacing or examples in response, under the mentorship of experienced instructors.
developing
Lecture series for undergraduate and introductory graduate courses — design and deliver coherent instructional sequences on topics such as differential equations and discrete mathematics with reduced supervisory oversight.Examinations and assessments — compile, administer, and grade course-level evaluations independently, applying consistent grading criteria aligned with course learning objectives in a postsecondary mathematics department.Student assignments and papers — evaluate written mathematical work with attention to rigor, notation, and logical structure across multiple course sections in a university setting.Course materials — revise and update syllabi, problem sets, and supplementary handouts based on student performance data and emerging pedagogical best practices.Curricula review — participate in departmental curriculum evaluation meetings, offering evidence-based suggestions for improving content sequencing and instructional methods.Student records — manage and maintain complete and compliant attendance, grade, and advising records using university database and scheduling systems with minimal administrative support.Classroom discussion facilitation — moderate mathematically rigorous Socratic dialogues that develop students' critical thinking and proof-writing skills in an upper-division course environment.Complex problem-solving instruction — guide students through multi-step, non-routine mathematical problems by applying learning strategies tailored to diverse student preparation levels.Word processing and spreadsheet software — produce professionally formatted course documents, grade books, and student progress reports independently for departmental records.Time management planning — coordinate teaching responsibilities, office hours, grading deadlines, and research obligations across a full semester course load in a research-active university.
proficient
Graduate and upper-division undergraduate lectures — autonomously design and deliver advanced instruction on topics such as real analysis, abstract algebra, or topology, adapting content to diverse learner backgrounds in a doctoral-granting department.Comprehensive assessment systems — independently develop, administer, and evaluate a full suite of examinations, projects, and written papers that measure both procedural fluency and mathematical reasoning in a postsecondary context.Non-routine student work — assess and provide substantive written feedback on graduate-level proofs, theses chapters, and research expositions, applying expert judgment about mathematical validity and communication quality.Curriculum design and revision — independently lead the planning, evaluation, and revision of course content and instructional methods for a mathematics program sequence, incorporating current disciplinary and pedagogical research.Interdisciplinary course materials — develop innovative syllabi and handouts that integrate computational tools, real-world applications, and primary literature to enhance student engagement and disciplinary depth.Student academic advising — provide sustained mentorship and guidance to undergraduate and graduate students during office hours and advising sessions, supporting degree planning and research development in a university mathematics department.Classroom discourse management — facilitate high-level seminar discussions that require students to construct, critique, and refine mathematical arguments autonomously in graduate-level course environments.Learning strategy differentiation — apply evidence-based instructional approaches to address varied levels of mathematical preparation and learning needs across a heterogeneous student population.Analytical and scientific software integration — incorporate tools such as Mathematica, R, or Python seamlessly into course delivery and assessment to support computational mathematics pedagogy.Systems evaluation — assess the effectiveness of instructional methods and course structures by analyzing student performance trends and implementing data-informed improvements across a full academic year.
advanced
Mathematics program curriculum — lead the comprehensive design, evaluation, and reform of undergraduate and graduate mathematics curricula at the departmental or college level, aligning content with national standards and institutional strategic goals.Faculty instructional development — mentor junior faculty and graduate teaching assistants in evidence-based pedagogical methods, providing structured feedback on teaching practice within a university mathematics department.Examination and assessment policy — establish departmental standards and policies for assessment design, grading equity, and academic integrity across all course levels and instructors.Scholarly course materials and textbooks — author or edit advanced instructional resources, including textbooks, open-access course notes, and problem sets, that contribute to the broader mathematical education community.Graduate student mentorship — direct the academic and professional development of doctoral students, overseeing dissertation research, qualifying examinations, and career preparation in a research-intensive postsecondary environment.Institutional curriculum governance — represent the mathematics department on university curriculum committees, advocating for program priorities and leading cross-disciplinary course articulation and policy decisions.High-level classroom discourse — design and model transformative seminar and lecture formats that cultivate independent mathematical inquiry and scholarly habits of mind among advanced graduate students.Strategic advising and outreach — build advising frameworks and student-support initiatives that improve retention and degree completion across the mathematics program, coordinating with institutional student success offices.Technology and learning environment strategy — lead departmental adoption of analytical software platforms, online learning tools, and database systems to modernize mathematics instruction at scale.Disciplinary leadership and knowledge dissemination — present pedagogical and mathematical research at national conferences, publish in peer-reviewed venues, and serve in editorial or leadership roles that advance the field of mathematical science education.
Also known as
47 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Actuarial Science ProfessorActuarial Science TeacherAdjunct InstructorAdjunct LecturerAdjunct Mathematics InstructorAdjunct Mathematics Professor (Adjunct Math Professor)Adjunct ProfessorAlgebra TeacherAssistant ProfessorAssociate ProfessorBiometry TeacherBiostatistics ProfessorBiostatistics TeacherCalculus ProfessorCalculus TeacherCollege Faculty MemberCollege Mathematics Instructor (College Math Instructor)College ProfessorCompetitive Mathematics Instructor (Competitive Math Instructor)Cryptoanalysis TeacherCryptography TeacherDevelopmental Mathematics ProfessorGeometry ProfessorGeometry TeacherInstructorLecturerMath ProfessorMath TeacherMathematical Sciences ProfessorMathematics Adjunct ProfessorMathematics Assistant Professor (Math Assistant Professor)Mathematics Faculty MemberMathematics Instructor (Math Instructor)Mathematics LecturerMathematics ProfessorMathematics TeacherPostdoctoral Scholar (Postdoc Scholar)ProfessorSampling Theory TeacherStatistical Methods Professor