Exercise your number-crunching talents at one of these high-paying careers
By Vivian Giang
In today's data-driven economy, those with excellent math skills don't have to look far to find high-paying, high-growth jobs open for the taking.
To find out which jobs offer the best opportunities for people who love math, we analyzed CareerCast's list of the top 200 occupations in 2013 and pulled out those jobs that require analytical math skills.
CareerCast, a job search site, measured the stress, physical demands, and both the current and future employment outlook of the 200 occupations.
The overall score for each job takes into account the pay; hiring outlook; stress; emotional factors, including the level of competitiveness and degree of public contact; and physical demands, such as stamina required and work conditions, that normally come with the job. Once the categories are combined, a lower overall score signals that the job is more desirable to employees.
Much of the data used to evaluate the jobs comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, other government agencies, trade associations, and private survey firms.
10. Economist
Annual median salary: $91,210
BLS projected growth (through 2020): -2.9%
Work environment score: 48
Stress score: 17
What they do: Studies and analyzes the effects of resources such as land, labor, and raw materials, on costs and their relation to industry and government.
The ranking is based on data that weighted stress, physical demands, and both the current and future employment outlook across 200 occupations from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Find a job now as an economist.
9. Stockbroker
Annual median salary: $72,484
BLS projected growth (through 2020): 15%
Work environment score: 70
Stress score: 39
What they do: Facilitates the purchase and sale of stocks, bonds, and other securities for individual and institutional clients.
The ranking is based on data that weighted stress, physical demands, and both the current and future employment outlook across 200 occupations from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Find a job now as a stockbroker.
8. Tax examiner (tax collector)
Annual median salary: $50,210
BLS projected growth (through 2020): 8%
Work environment score: 50
Stress score: 17
What they do: Determines tax liability and collects taxes from individuals or businesses.
The ranking is based on data that weighted stress, physical demands, and both the current and future employment outlook across 200 occupations from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Find a job now as a tax examiner.
7. Insurance underwriter
Annual median salary: $61,182
BLS projected growth (through 2020): 6%
Work environment score: 46
Stress score: 16
What they do: Assesses and analyzes the risks inherent in insuring potential policy holders before making recommendations to the insurance companies that employ them.
The ranking is based on data that weighted stress, physical demands, and both the current and future employment outlook across 200 occupations from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Find a job now as an insurance underwriter.
6. Accountant
Annual median salary: $63,175
BLS projected growth (through 2020): 14%
Work environment score: 48
Stress score: 19
What they do: Prepares and analyzes financial reports to assist managers in business, industry, and government.
The ranking is based on data that weighted stress, physical demands, and both the current and future employment outlook across 200 occupations from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Find a job now as an accountant.
5. Astronomer
Annual median salary: $96,228
BLS projected growth (through 2020): 15%
Work environment score: 50
Stress score: 21
What they do: Uses principles of physics and mathematics to understand the workings of the universe.
The ranking is based on data that weighted stress, physical demands, and both the current and future employment outlook across 200 occupations from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Find a job now as an astronomer.
4. Meteorologist
Annual median salary: $90,183
BLS projected growth (through 2020): 13%
Work environment score: 47
Stress score: 14
What they do: Studies the physical characteristics, motions, and processes of Earth's atmosphere.
The ranking is based on data that weighted stress, physical demands, and both the current and future employment outlook across 200 occupations from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Find a job now as a meteorologist.
3. Statistician
Annual median salary: $74,200
BLS projected growth (through 2020): 14%
Work environment score: 44
Stress score: 14
What they do: Tabulates, analyzes, and interprets the numeric results of experiments and surveys.
The ranking is based on data that weighted stress, physical demands, and both the current and future employment outlook across 200 occupations from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Find a job now as a statistician.
2. Financial planner
Annual median salary: $107,222
BLS projected growth (through 2020): 32%
Work environment score: 49
Stress score: 19
What they do: Related to careers in portfolio management, the financial planner offers a broad range of services aimed at assisting individuals in managing and planning their financial future.
The ranking is based on data that weighted stress, physical demands, and both the current and future employment outlook across 200 occupations from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Find a job now as a financial planner.
1. Actuary
Annual median salary: $91,211
BLS projected growth (through 2020): 29%
Work environment score: 44
Stress score: 16
What they do: Interprets statistics to determine probabilities of accidents, sickness, and death, and loss of property from theft and natural disasters.
The ranking is based on data that weighted stress, physical demands, and both the current and future employment outlook across 200 occupations from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Find a job now as an actuary.