What Do You Do With an Associate of Mathematics?
- An associate degree in mathematics equips you with knowledge that can help you start a tutoring service for high school students. It can also serve as a step toward a bachelor’s degree in mathematics. Successful completion of an approved teacher-training program, along with certification by the state board of education, serve as prerequisites for a math teacher job. The BLS reports an annual mean wage of $54,360 for elementary and secondary schoolteachers as of May 2010.
- An actuary analyzes mathematical and statistical data to estimate costs, evaluate risks and determine investment areas. Candidates -- most but not all having a bachelor’s degree in actuarial science, mathematics or economics -- must clear a series of examinations by the Society of Actuaries or the Casualty Actuarial Society to become certified actuaries. Four of the initial exams in both test series cover the same areas, the BLS explains.
While passing all the tests may take between six to 10 years, you can gain employment as an actuarial assistant by clearing the first two exams, which cover subjects that also figure in the coursework of an associate degree in mathematics, including statistics, calculus and probability. The labor bureau reports a $96,930 annual mean wage for actuaries in the insurance industry as of May 2010. - Small businesses hire accounting clerks, bookkeepers and auditing staff to manage their financial records. A high school diploma is the minimum qualification that employers expect, the BLS states. While businesses may not specify that candidates possess a degree in mathematics, an associate degree in the subject provides the basic skills necessary for such jobs. The BLS indicates that during May 2010, the average wage of employees in accounting, bookkeeping and payroll services was $34,760.
- According to Weber State University, most engineering programs require students to complete pre-engineering courses that include coursework in calculus, algebra, probability and statistics, similar to the coursework of an associate degree in mathematics. On the CNN Money website, Julianne Pepitone reports on a 2009 survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers that lists engineering among the top-earning degrees requiring math skills. The survey also indicates annual earnings for engineers between $54,158, for biomedical engineering graduates, and $83,121, for petroleum engineering graduates.
