A math major is someone who studies math in a university or college program. Many college students want part-time jobs for additional income, and choosing a job that supports their mathematics skills or interests can make the experience more valuable. If you’re a math major looking for a part-time job, reviewing potential jobs in which you can work with numbers can be beneficial.
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In this article, we list nine part-time jobs for math majors, examine average salaries and duties, and provide helpful career tips.
9 part-time Jobs for Math Majors
As a math major, you may be most comfortable working in part-time jobs that allow you to work with numbers. These part-time jobs may also help you improve your math skills and make professional connections. Here are nine part-time jobs for math majors, with median salary figures for each.
1. Cashier
National average salary: $30,400 per year
Primary duties: Cashiers are customer service employees who assist with regular functions for department stores and retail stores. They can collect payments, bag groceries, and customer purchases, help customers find the products they want, and use mental math to calculate tax and issue change. Cashiers can work in a variety of places, including technology, grocery, clothing, and general merchandise stores.
2. Bank teller
National average salary: $31,722 per year
Primary duties: A bank teller is a customer service and finance employee who interacts with bank patrons and helps them complete their account transactions. The bank teller can answer questions about different bank accounts and transactions, greet customers, answer phones, balance cash drawers, and help customers order checks and bank cards. The minimum educational requirement for a bank teller is usually a high school diploma, so this can be a great part-time job for mathematics majors who are still in school.
3. Teaching Assistant
National average salary: $32,007 per year
Primary duties: Teaching assistants in mathematics are educators who support teachers during math classes and help prepare class materials. The assistant helps the teacher prepare lessons, organize materials, communicate with mathematics students, and meet with other teachers. Graduate students or advanced undergraduate students may be able to work as teaching assistants with professors on campus.
4. Data entry clerk
National average salary: $38,601 per year
Primary duties: A data entry clerk is an administrative employee who updates computer systems, inputs data and manages routine clerical tasks. The data entry clerk reviews records and checks for accuracy, performs data backups, prepares digital materials, sorts paper records after data entry, and collects and inputs data into information storage systems. Math majors may find part-time or remote data entry jobs that they can do outside of class.
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5. Research Assistant
National average salary: $39,661 per year
Primary duties: A research assistant helps researchers complete their work. They gather information, oversee experiments, provide input, and help prepare reports and other research documents. Math majors may work with a professor who researches mathematical theory or develops new equations and mathematical ideology. This can be a great part-time job for math majors because it can allow them to make connections in their field and improve their math and research skills.
6. Parking attendant
National average salary: $41,156 per year
Primary duties: A parking attendant greets and assists parking garage patrons for various types of companies. Their daily duties can include cleaning the parking booth, counting money at the beginning and end of each shift, helping patrons with parking and payment questions, and directing traffic from the garage. This can be a great job for math majors because they work with money, and it can improve their computational skills. Many parking attendant positions also offer overnight shifts, during which students can complete homework while assisting a few nighttime garage users.
7. Retail sales associate
National average salary: $44,861 per year
Primary duties: A retail sales associate works in a store and performs general retail tasks. This includes restocking shelves, cleaning the store, preparing for sales and promotions, and assisting customers with their shopping experience. As a math major, becoming a sales associate can be helpful because students can use their mathematics skills to compare customer prices and calculate sales tax.
8. Administrative assistant
National average salary: $49,035 per year
Primary duties: Administrative assistants perform clerical duties for organizations and businesses. They often greet guests and field calls to determine if professionals are ready to take them. The assistant manages calendars, transfers phone calls, writes emails, prepares documents, and proofreads reports and industry documents.
9. Math tutor
National average salary: $51,846 per year
Primary duties: A math tutor is an educator who helps students improve their learning outside of a traditional classroom. Math tutors focus on helping students improve their computational and critical thinking skills when approaching problems and equations. A math tutor creates personalized plans for each student, answers academic questions, and adapts to each student’s learning habits. This career path can be a great option for math majors, as many campuses have programs to help them get started.
Tips for getting a part-time job
Here are some tips for getting a part-time job as a math major:
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Have a meeting with a career adviser. Career centers on campus can help you find part-time jobs and prepare for interviews. Depending on the campus and available opportunities, a career adviser may contact professors about potential research or teaching assistant opportunities.
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Be specific about your availability. Before you attend an interview for a part-time job, prepare a calendar or schedule that shows the specific times you have available. When creating this availability sheet, be sure to include your designated studying times to ensure you have time to complete your homework.
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Write a cover letter for each opening. Rather than using the same cover letter for each position you apply to, consider writing a new and customized document for each opening. This can help you optimize keywords and appeal to specific hiring managers.
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Practice interviewing before the meeting. Practice interviewing with a friend, family member, or career adviser to improve your performance. This can help you feel more comfortable and improve your chance of receiving an offer for the position.
Developing soft skills for part-time jobs
While strong technical skills are important for math majors, developing soft skills can also be essential for success in part-time jobs. Soft skills are personal attributes that enable someone to interact effectively and harmoniously with others, including other mathematicians.
Pursuing an advanced degree in a related field, such as statistics, data science, or business, can also help you develop mathematical skills and other soft skills to find the best jobs. You may also pursue a master’s math degree or doctoral degree.
Here are some soft skills that math majors can develop to enhance their part-time job opportunities:
Communication
Effective communication skills are critical in any job. Math majors can develop their communication skills by working on group projects, participating in class discussions, and presenting research findings. They can also practice communicating complex ideas in simple terms to help others understand mathematical concepts.
Time management
Math majors often work on complex projects with tight deadlines for their employers. Developing strong time management skills is essential to succeed in such projects. You can practice time management by setting priorities, breaking down projects into smaller tasks, and using tools like calendars and to-do lists to track progress.
Problem-solving
Math majors receive training to solve complex problems using analytical thinking. Developing problem-solving skills can be helpful in any job. They can practice problem-solving by working on mathematical puzzles or participating in computer science coding competitions. Additionally, they can try to identify and solve problems they encounter daily.
Adaptability
The ability to adapt to change is critical in today’s fast-paced work environment. Math majors can practice adaptability by taking on new challenges, learning new technologies, and working in different settings. They can also develop a growth mindset, which involves being open to feedback and viewing mistakes as learning opportunities.
Teamwork
Working effectively in teams is important in many jobs. Math majors can develop their teamwork skills by participating in group projects, volunteering for team activities, and collaborating with others. They can also practice active listening, respecting others’ opinions, and offering constructive feedback.
I hope you find this article helpful.
