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Research scientist (maths) : Salary and conditions

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  1. Job description
  2. Salary and conditions
  3. Entry requirements
  4. Training
  5. Career development
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Case studies

  • Typical starting salaries range from £25,000 to £35,000, depending on background and specialist subjects.
  • Typical salaries with three to five years' experience range from £29,000 to £38,000.
  • Typical salaries at senior levels range from £30,000 to £70,000 depending on the sector. In academic settings pay varies according to whether the researcher is working as a leader of their own research group, as part of another research team, or with a secured lectureship while continuing their research.
  • Many academic institutions have now implemented a single pay spine for all grades of staff, however some variation does occur.
  • Salaries are generally good compared to other scientists. On average, larger companies pay better than smaller, specialist employers, although these smaller employers may offer earlier responsibility and opportunities to remain in preferred technical areas.
  • Working hours typically include regular extra hours, but weekend or shift work is rarely, if ever, needed. The exceptions to this are academics who may face weekend working and irregular hours with additional responsibilities for postgraduate students.
  • Self-employment and freelance work is possible once a technical specialism has been developed.
  • Jobs are fairly widely available, but posts related to specialist research will be restricted to few institutions in certain areas. Universities, government and other research centres are located across the country.
  • The work often involves strict deadlines and projects can be long in duration with no guarantee of a successful outcome.
  • Travel within a working day is occasionally needed. Researchers often collaborate with other departments within their institution, or with other institutions or companies, and this may involve occasional local travel. In academic roles, some national and international travel is required for attendance at conferences and symposiums to present the results of research - often with a stay of a few days.
 
AGCAS
Written by AGCAS editors
Date: 
July 2011
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