<p>Let me preface this by saying I want to find an answer, this is not a "that's stupid and pointless" post.</p>
<p>I've hated math until recently, but as of the last year and half I've basically fallen in love. I dream about math, I'm half decent at it, and it makes sense to me. I love learning it and I've run out of math classes for my school. In a perfect world with unlimited jobs and unlimited money, I would major in math and become a professor researching math (and teaching because that's awesome too). The problem is that those jobs are few and far between. I want to have at least a stable future, not like I'm majoring in underwater basket weaving or something.</p>
<p>Can I major in math, hoping to do what I want, and still be safe to get a job at some point? what are those jobs? do they pay a living wage? </p>
<p>Math majors’ job prospects other than university-level research and teaching tend to be areas like finance, computers, and teaching math at the high school or community college level. Taking relevant electives can give you better backup options in those areas if you do not make it to the university-level research and teaching jobs.</p>
I graduated with a degree in math, but my “subplan” was Applied Mathematics/Statistics.
I became a programmer, but I have been getting interest from defense contractors to be a mathematician or operations research analyst. I’m trying to get into a master’s program for mechanical engineering.
I think most “pure math” majors that I knew wanted to become high school teachers, went to grad school for pure math, or they tried for actuary positions.