CJ Nesbit

ENG 1201

Professor Leonard

18 March 2022

What is the best major for a student gifted in mathematics and related skills?

At a young age, children often discover their gifts through the diverse academic

environment of school. For some students, this gift is in the field of mathematics. Many factors

go into deciding a major, including tuition costs, job benefits, and salary. What degree or major

would be the best for these students to pursue?

One of the best degrees in terms of salary opportunities for said skillset is software

engineering, or other minor careers in the field of computer science. The job involves receiving a

ticket or a to-do list, and getting tasks done by compiling code. To become a software engineer,

you must obtain your degree from a college that offers it. An internship is also recommended as

it helps with getting experience (Alpiao). However, is a degree necessary? Computer languages

can be self-taught, especially in the information age. By observing the amount of people who

have degrees in each area, the value of a degree can be determined. Eighty percent of software

developers for applications have degrees. This field of computer science has the highest average

pay and most demand, as it is the most applicable field of computer science. For this field, it

seems reasonable to conclude that it is necessary to have a degree. Another large field is website

development. Only forty-six percent of these developers have degrees. However, the average

salary of web developers is less. So, it is possible to become a self-taught software engineer
without a degree. Some disadvantages to taking this path is lack of connections, a professor, and

an all-around skillset (Ericksen).

There are multiple paths to become a software engineer, but is it worth it? Six figure

salaries are common with tech giants and in places with high cost of living, such as New York.

Job satisfaction is also high. The puzzle of finding bugs and making the most efficient program

is satisfying to the types of people who tend to pursue the job. Due to the demand for software

engineers, flexible hours and remote working is starting to become a norm. Job security has also

increased due to demand. The U.S. News predicts the field will grow by 315,000 jobs by 2029

(BrainStation). However, that could just be one source reporting outliers. Checking with another

source, it reports varying salaries depending on the area. San Fransico pay is around $160,000,

but in London, it drops to $100,000. It is difficult to correlate the pay with cost of living,

especially in a diverse job field. One thing is for sure though; the average pay is going up in

comparison to the past few years (Loten).

While software is a good field to go into, it is also high competition. It can be difficult to

get a job that pays the six figures while also maintaining a healthy life outside of work.

Mathematics or mathematics education is another option to consider. Mathematics education

especially provides a slight decrease in work during the summer if the institution does not have

summer classes. Mathematicians tend to earn more money than math teachers according to

DegreeQuery. They can make up to $103,010 a year. For mathematics education in high school,

the average pay is $59,170. This still is good pay for the average person.

These sources seem to point to software engineering as the best opportunity for a student

gifted in mathematics. However, it is a rigorous, high competition job. A degree is almost

required for the top end fields of computer science and is completely required for public school
education. Thus, some of the free cash flow in the first bit of years would be dedicated to paying

off student debts. Mathematics education at a private school doesn’t require a teaching license

(DegreeQuery), but it earns less than public school education. However, considering these facts,

software engineering still seems to be the best option.

 Bibliography

Alpiao, Kelsey. “Career Crush: What Is It like to Be a Software Engineer?” Harvard Business Review, 22
Feb. 2022, https://hbr.org/2021/07/career-crush-what-is-it-like-to-be-a-software-engineer.

BrainStation. “Is Software Engineering a Good Job? (2022 Guide).” BrainStation®, STAGE9 BrainStation®,
9 Dec. 2021, https://brainstation.io/career-guides/is-software-engineering-a-good-job.

Dodge, Krystle. “What Is the Benefit of a Mathematics Degree vs. A Mathematics Education Degree?”
DegreeQuery.com, DegreeQuery.com, 9 June 2021, https://www.degreequery.com/what-is-the-
benefit-of-a-mathematics-degree-vs-a-mathematics-education-degree/.

Ericksen, Kristina. “Self-Taught or Not: Is a Computer Science Degree Worth It?” Self-Taught or Not: Is a
Computer Science Degree Worth It? | Rasmussen University, Rasmussen University, 22 Mar. 2018,
https://www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/technology/blog/is-computer-science-degree-worth-it/.

Loten, Angus. “Software Engineers' Pay Is Rising Faster Outside Silicon Valley.” The Wall Street Journal,
Dow Jones & Company, 12 Feb. 2020, https://www.wsj.com/articles/software-engineers-pay-is-
rising-faster-outside-silicon-valley-11581550773.