Computer and mathematical occupation profiles

Overview:

Employment: 4,165,140

Mean Hourly Wage: $42.25

Mean Annual Wage: $87,880

Largest Employment Category—Software Developers, Applications—794,000

Smallest Employment Category—Mathematical Technicians—510 Wage Estimates for the entire group can be found here.

The Computer and Mathematical occupation profiles compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (released in May 2016 and modified in March 2017) include specific information about 19 distinct occupational job types.

Explore the qualifications and nature of each job type through links on this page and throughout the site.

Fast Facts: The Bureau of Labor Statistics (“BLS”) estimates that 4,165,140 are employed in this occupational group earning the “mean annual wage” (as defined below) of $87,880.

If you are interested in assessing long-term trends and comparing the Bureau’s annual surveys beginning in 1988.

In general, the “mean” is the sum of the total values (e.g., wages) in the data set or survey divided by number of values (while the “median” is the middle value in same the sequence. The term “mean annual wage” (or “MAW”) is calculated by multiplying the mean hourly wage as determined by the BLS by a “year-round, full-time” hours figure of 2,080 hours. So, for example, the Computer and Mathematical group’s mean hourly wage of $42.25, multiplied by 2,080, results in the mean annual wage of $87,880.

Did you know? Unsurprisingly, Northern, CA metropolitan areas rate highly in terms of annual mean wages and job concentration in this occupation with San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($123,600/1st) (124.88 per 1,000/1st) and San Francisco-Redwood City-South San Francisco, CA Metropolitan Division ($115,130/3rd) (83.76 per 1,000/4th) leading the way. Huntsville, AL, however, ranks #10 in terms of job concentration at 61.60 per 1,000 jobs. In terms of nonmetropolitan areas, the Los Alamos County, New Mexico nonmetropolitan area tops the list in both highest paid ($108,500) and job concentration (88.84 per 1,000) in this occupation.

Highest Paid (mean annual wage)

  • Computer and Information Scientists, Research ($116,320)
  • Actuaries ($114,120)
  • Software Developers, Systems Software ($110,590)
  • Mathematicians ($105,600)
  • Software Developers, Applications ($104,300)

Lowest Paid (from the lowest)

  • Computer User Support Specialists ($53,100)
  • Mathematical Technicians ($58,490)***
  • Computer Network Support Specialists ($67,770)
  • Web Developers ($72,150)
  • Mathematical Science Occupations, All Others ($77,550)

For the entire list of mean annual wages for this occupation (from highest to lowest),

Sources: In addition to specific citations noted, supplementary source materials include the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics.