Career change as a mathematician
With your experience you can switch to 8 jobs in Germany: 6 with on-the-job training and 2 with training or a course.
In the job search you can sort by what matters to you, save jobs and see where they lead.
Career change paths
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Data scientist
Also: Data analyst
With on-the-job training
As a data scientist or data analyst, you build forecasts and analyses for retail, industry, energy or health.
- What you bring:
- Statistics, modeling and clean data work are your core skills.
- How to get there:
- Companies hire mathematicians and statisticians and expect programming skills, usually in Python, R or SQL. If you lack practice in these, online courses or further training lasting a few weeks to a few months help.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an officeHome office possible€6,500gross per monthMedian salary
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Risk manager at a bank
Also: Quantitative analyst
With on-the-job training
At banks, insurers or energy traders, you calculate and monitor market, credit or liquidity risks.
- What you bring:
- You know probability, time series and risk models.
- How to get there:
- Banks and insurers train mathematicians on the job in financial products and supervisory law, usually a few months. Certificates such as the FRM are possible alongside work but not a must.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an officeHome office possible€6,570gross per monthMedian salary
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Data analysis consultant
Also: Business intelligence consultant
With on-the-job training
In consultancies, you help companies build key figures, measure processes and base decisions on data.
- What you bring:
- You can translate complex questions into numbers and explain results clearly.
- How to get there:
- Consultancies train mathematicians on the job in industry knowledge and analysis tools. Expect project work at clients and occasional travel.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with peopleIn an officeHome office possible€6,768gross per monthMedian salary
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Software developer
Also: Developer of calculation software
With on-the-job training
As a developer, you program applications, for example for simulation, planning or insurance rates.
- What you bring:
- Algorithms and logical thinking suit you, and software is also built around calculations and optimization.
- How to get there:
- Companies train mathematicians with programming experience on the job, often in a team with experienced developers. If you lack practice, the usual route is further training or projects of your own over a few months.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an officeHome office possible€5,986gross per monthMedian salary
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Teacher for special tasks in mathematics
Also: Lecturer in statistics at a university of applied sciences (Fachhochschule)
With on-the-job training
At universities, you teach basic courses and supervise exercise sessions and exams.
- What you bring:
- Almost all degree programs need mathematics and statistics, and you can explain them from practice.
- How to get there:
- Positions as a teacher for special tasks (Lehrkraft für besondere Aufgaben) usually require a master's or Diplom degree. Teaching assignments are often done alongside another job. For a professorship at a university of applied sciences, a doctorate and several years of professional practice are usually required.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically light€6,119gross per monthMedian salary
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Controller
Also: Actuarial auditor at an audit firm
With on-the-job training
In controlling or auditing, you plan and review key figures, provisions and valuations.
- What you bring:
- You work precisely, know valuation models and can check figures for plausibility.
- How to get there:
- Companies and audit firms train mathematicians on the job in accounting and audit procedures. For controlling, basic knowledge of bookkeeping helps, which you can gain in courses lasting a few weeks.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an officeHome office possible€5,576gross per monthMedian salary
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Mathematics teacher at a grammar school (Gymnasium)
Also: Mathematics teacher at a comprehensive school
With a degree
As a teacher, you teach mathematics and often a second subject and guide students through to their qualification.
- What you bring:
- You can explain mathematical material with expertise.
- How to get there:
- Depending on the state, university graduates with a master's or Diplom degree in mathematics are admitted through the alternative route (Seiteneinstieg), with a preparatory service (Vorbereitungsdienst) or a qualification alongside work, usually lasting one to two years. Each state regulates whether a second subject is needed and which types of school are open.*Regulated by law (State law: teacher education acts and alternative-route regulations of the German states).
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically light€5,466gross per monthMedian salary
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IT security consultant
Also: Cryptography specialist
With further training
In IT security, you check methods, assess risks and advise companies or authorities.
- What you bring:
- Encryption and security methods rest on mathematics, which you master.
- How to get there:
- To get started, you need solid IT knowledge. Further training or certificates in information security usually take a few months alongside work. Authorities and security firms also hire mathematicians for cryptography directly.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightIn an officeHome office possible€5,295gross per monthMedian salary
Salary: median of all full-time employees in the job, gross per month excluding special payments, as of April 2025. Half earn more, half earn less. Source: Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis), table 62361-0030, license dl-de/by-2-0. Assigned to the jobs by quereinsteiger.de. No guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently asked questions
Which jobs can I do as a mathematician without vocational training or retraining?
Without a new qualification, often with on-the-job training: Data scientist, Risk manager at a bank, Data analysis consultant, Software developer, Teacher for special tasks in mathematics and Controller.
Which retraining or further training suits me as a mathematician?
With vocational training, retraining, further training or a course: Mathematics teacher at a grammar school (Gymnasium) and IT security consultant.
Which of these jobs pay the most?
According to official statistics, the highest median full-time salaries are: Data analysis consultant (€6,768 gross per month), Risk manager at a bank (€6,570 gross per month) and Data scientist (€6,500 gross per month). Half of employees earn more, half earn less; when you start it is often lower. Source: Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis), April 2025. No guarantee of accuracy.
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