Mathematics

What the Numbers Say About Mathematics

0.0% of the federal civilian workforce (2,289,472 employees total, March 2025) works in the Mathematics occupation (OPM code 1520): 1,134 people, headcount down -1.5% versus the prior period, a modest but trackable signal for anyone considering this specialized federal career path.

The average salary for Mathematics is $138,014 per year, placing it 25.6% above the overall federal civilian average of $109,869. Salaries moved up by 1.7% from the prior period, a modest shift, consistent with routine locality pay and grade-level movement. Average length of service in this role is 11.8 years, a mid-length average tenure, reflecting a mix of career employees and those who transfer or exit mid-career.

The Mathematics and Statistics Group family (code 15) groups Mathematics together with 9 other related occupations across the federal government. Candidates browsing USAJOBS for Mathematics postings should also review these sibling occupations, since federal hiring managers often cross-post positions across closely related codes when recruitment is difficult. All figures here come directly from OPM FedScope Employment Cubes, the same official source referenced in federal workforce planning, budget justifications, and GAO reports.

Inside the Mathematics and Statistics Group family (10 occupations, 26,507 employees combined), Mathematics holds the #6 spot by headcount, a 4.3% share of the family total. Its average salary ranks right at the midpoint of pay among Mathematics and Statistics Group occupations.