Salary distribution
Where California mathematicians fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $110,140 and $156,310, with a median of $143,890.
Mathematicians in California: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 35 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $140,000. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 2 | $95,000 |
| Level II — qualified | 9 | $112,341 |
| Level III — experienced | 6 | $190,374 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 9 | $214,471 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Mathematicians in California. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meta Platforms, Inc | Research Scientist | 9 | $214,032 |
| WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A. | Lead Quantitative Analytics Specialist (017040.000526) | 3 | $150,405 |
| MagicByte AI, Inc. | Member of Technical Staff | 2 | $100,000 |
| Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory | Postdoc | 2 | $105,924 |
| Reservoir Engineering Research Institute | Applied Mathematician | 1 | $67,486 |
| California Institute of Technology | Postdoctoral Scholar Research Associate in Computing & Math | 1 | $77,250 |
| International Computer Science Institute | Postdoctoral Researcher | 1 | $77,709 |
| San Jose State University Research Foundation | Research Associate | 1 | $88,400 |
| Center for Applied Rationality | Staff Researcher | 1 | $170,000 |
| LeanTaaS, Inc. | Manager - Data Science | 1 | $202,000 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Research Scientist at Meta Platforms, Inc$214,032SunnyvaleDecided Dec 17, 2025I-200-25344-470738
- Applied Mathematician at Reservoir Engineering Research Institute$67,486Palo AltoDecided Nov 20, 2025I-200-25317-405331
- Member of Technical Staff at MagicByte AI, Inc.$100,000Palo AltoDecided Nov 14, 2025I-200-25307-365178
- Lead Quantitative Analytics Specialist (017040.000526) at WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.$191,000San LeandroDecided Nov 6, 2025I-200-25272-341239
- Postdoctoral Scholar Research Associate in Computing & Math at California Institute of Technology$77,250PasadenaDecided Sep 19, 2025I-200-25255-306941
- Postdoctoral Researcher at International Computer Science Institute$77,709BerkeleyWage Level IVDecided Sep 12, 2025I-200-25248-288860
- Member of Technical Staff at MagicByte AI, Inc.$100,000Palo AltoWage Level IDecided Sep 11, 2025I-200-25247-286789
- Research Associate at San Jose State University Research Foundation$88,400San JoseWage Level IIDecided Aug 8, 2025I-200-25213-216160
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
Mathematicians pay by experience level in California
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Mathematicians specialties in California
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 13 certified offers. The most common variant is Research Scientist at a median of $214,032.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research Scientist | Meta Platforms, Inc | 9 | $214,032 |
| Member of Technical Staff | MagicByte AI, Inc. | 4 | $325,000 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Mathematicians in California, by industry
Median offered wage across 35 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Technology and software leads with a median of $214,032.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technology and software | Meta Platforms, Inc | 13 | $214,032 |
| Professional services | Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory | 10 | $97,962 |
| Finance and insurance | WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A. | 6 | $135,687 |
| Education | California Institute of Technology | 4 | $77,289 |
| Manufacturing | Apple Inc. | 2 | $162,460 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in California over the past 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Doctoral or professional degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 5.0 / 5
Mathematics
Basic skill
- 5.0 / 5
Mathematics
Knowledge
- 5.0 / 5
Mathematical Reasoning
Ability
- 4.5 / 5
Number Facility
Ability
- 4.3 / 5
Critical Thinking
Cross-functional
- 4.1 / 5
Complex Problem Solving
Technical
- 4.1 / 5
Deductive Reasoning
Ability
- 4.1 / 5
Inductive Reasoning
Ability
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Address the relationships of quantities, magnitudes, and forms through the use of numbers and symbols.
- 02
Disseminate research by writing reports, publishing papers, or presenting at professional conferences.
- 03
Maintain knowledge in the field by reading professional journals, talking with other mathematicians, and attending professional conferences.
- 04
Apply mathematical theories and techniques to the solution of practical problems in business, engineering, the sciences, or other fields.
- 05
Conduct research to extend mathematical knowledge in traditional areas, such as algebra, geometry, probability, and logic.
- 06
Develop mathematical or statistical models of phenomena to be used for analysis or for computational simulation.
- 07
Perform computations and apply methods of numerical analysis to data.
- 08
Assemble sets of assumptions, and explore the consequences of each set.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
0.0%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Slower than average
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
Sponsored
Build the skills employers list for Mathematicians
Online courses from licensed providers. We may earn a commission when you enroll. The commission does not influence our rankings or wage data.
Explore coursesTop metros in California
Metro-level salary data for mathematicians in major California metropolitan areas.
- Los Angeles$149,150
Compare Mathematicians pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Mathematicians in California?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Mathematicians in California is $143,890.
- How does California compare to the national median for Mathematicians?
- The California median is +15.4% versus the BLS national figure of $124,644.
- What is the salary range for Mathematicians in California?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $87,630 and the 90th-percentile at $181,690, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Mathematicians a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment flat by 0.0% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Mathematicians?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Doctoral or professional degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.