Mathematicsat University of California-Berkeley
Graduates earn $46,674/yr in their first year — about 8.0% below the national Mathematics average. Base-case 10-year earnings $847K; scenarios range from $687K to $894K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at UC Berkeley
A UC Berkeley Mathematics degree equips you with an incredibly rigorous foundation, highly valued in the competitive Bay Area landscape. The initial earning figures often reflect a significant portion of graduates pursuing advanced degrees – Master's or Ph.D. programs in statistics, theoretical computer science, or pure math – which delay entry into the highest-paying industry positions. Those directly entering the workforce often find roles in data science, quantitative finance, or software development at leading tech firms, where the intellectual demands are high.
The "very high" AI risk highlights that while foundational mathematical skills are crucial for developing AI, many routine computational or analytical tasks are increasingly automated. Your unique value will lie in problem-solving, theoretical understanding, and designing novel algorithms, rather than just executing calculations. To maximize your career prospects, actively seek internships applying your mathematical rigor to real-world data science or machine learning challenges within the Bay Area's vibrant tech ecosystem.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to UC Berkeley's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Mathematics
How UC Berkeley stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at UC Berkeley
Other highest-scoring programs offered at UC Berkeley, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Mathematics offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Mathematics trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Mathematics at UC Berkeley
How does University of California-Berkeley's Mathematics program score?
This program scores 65/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Mathematics graduates.
How vulnerable is Mathematics to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Mathematics careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 65% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why does University of California-Berkeley rank so high for Mathematics?
The #54 ranking out of 253 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.