[mdlthree]

From my experience, I would offer the generalization that nobody hires mathematicians. Mathematics in society is more of a skill set than a professional title. The most challenging or cutting edge math that could be commonly used is the LINEST() function in Excel. A person who is good at math also has a lot of great skills to offer a company, it is just selling those features and not the calculus.

I started out as a math major, then I transitioned to a double major math AND stats because stats is more applicable. I struggled for a year looking for work (also US immigration sucks, even for Canadians) and ended up in a master degree program in Industrial Engineering. I chose engineering specifically for the word "engineering". I was lucky that I discovered the field of Industrial Engineering at that university otherwise I was headed for a BS in Mechanical.

Continuing formal math education will further limit the kind of jobs you can apply, increasing the level of competition. Even the BS in Math left me with the feeling people saw me as over qualified, lacking regular skills.

Math is super great by the way, just not the idea of being a "mathematician". It (unfairly) causes alienation of your true potential.

[cpsempek]

This is my sentiment as well. I have BS in math and MS in applied math and now work as a data analyst. Problem solving and abstracting problems to general properties and attributes are the most worthwhile skills that my math education has provided me, at least as marketable skills. I learned R and python on my own and no doubt this has been a huge help in finding jobs, and has allowed me to be closer to the tech at my jobs versus a more traditional excel based biz analyst role. This has allowed me to learn a lot more on the job, like being able to directly touch dbs, create my own ETLs, learn AWS products, etc.

You (OP) may take for granted the way that your math education shaped your brain to think about things. Don't. This mode of thinking is one of your biggest assets that employers are after.

[walshemj]

What is the difference between mech and industrial?

[mdlthree]

Mechanical engineers make things, industrial engineers make things better. The discipline started in the 1900s mostly concerned with improving manufacturing efficiency and cost. Now it has grown to improve all facets of product quality and business process (physical and digital). It is one of the best disciplines to use applied math. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industrial_engineering

[En_gr_Student]

Industrial engineers work on production processes. You can't make a bridge better without fully "grokking" the physics behind the original design. It isn't exactly amenable to incremental improvement.

[mdlthree]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8UePdbDmMw This was one of the keynote speakers at the 2015 IISE National Convention. Nancy Currie was/is works for NASA and has education in Industrial Engineering. She worked extensively investigating the Columbia space shuttle incident. Her involvement shows how industrial engineers participated in making space flight safer / better. It's really not grokking the physics that can make things better. Excellent presentation.