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Operations research analyst: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 26, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$88,940median pay per year, or $42.76 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $57,060lowest 10% earn less
  2. $68,36025th percentile
  3. $88,940median
  4. $125,99075th percentile
  5. $159,910top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

An operations research analyst had median pay of $88,940 a year in May 2025[1]. Jobs are projected to grow 11.9% from 2025 to 2035, against 3.5% for all occupations[2][3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+11.9%[2]
Openings per year
7,500[6]
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree[7]

How much do operations research analysts make?

The median wage was $88,940 a year, or $42.76 an hour[1]. The median splits workers into a higher-paid half and a lower-paid half. The average was higher at $99,730 a year, or $47.95 an hour[8]. For all occupations, the median annual wage was $50,980[5].

The range is wide. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $57,060 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $159,910[4]. BLS publishes percentile boundaries, not a starting salary[9].

Percentile Annual wage Hourly wage
10th[4][10] $57,060 $27.43
25th[4][10] $68,360 $32.86
Median[1] $88,940 $42.76
75th[4][10] $125,990 $60.57
90th[4][10] $159,910 $76.88

These figures cover workers paid a wage or salary. They leave out the self-employed and do not include benefits or nonproduction bonuses[11].

Pay by state and city

Colorado had the top state median at $129,880[12]. Virginia was next at $129,460, then Alabama at $115,630[12]. Arkansas had the lowest published median at $59,030[12]. BLS published figures for 46 states and DC[12].

Texas had the most jobs at 11,890[13]. California followed with 10,620, then Florida (9,120), Virginia (6,980) and New York (5,890)[13].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs[14], Colorado Springs had the top median at $140,590. Lexington Park, MD was next at $135,300, then Huntsville, AL at $132,000[14]. The Washington, DC area had the most metro jobs at 8,080, with a median of $127,600[15]. The New York area had 6,890 jobs[15].

Show median pay in 46 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
Colorado[12]$129,880770
Virginia$129,4606,980
Alabama$115,630550
New York$108,6105,890
Ohio$103,6202,600
Idaho$103,600500
Oregon$102,1702,710
California$102,10010,620
Delaware$101,070660
Hawaii$100,600120
Maine$99,460220
Nebraska$98,300330
Washington$98,0303,050
Maryland$97,4104,710
North Carolina$97,2902,520
Connecticut$96,700950
Massachusetts$96,5004,200
District of Columbia$96,0302,250
Minnesota$95,5501,240
Mississippi$92,310120
Kansas$92,050n/a
Texas$90,71011,890
Utah$90,200810
Illinois$89,8005,180
Vermont$89,790170
Alaska$88,75070
Nevada$86,500370
Indiana$85,2801,380
Kentucky$83,850660
Michigan$83,480980
North Dakota$82,460130
Iowa$80,580300
Montana$80,400150
New Mexico$80,360510
South Carolina$80,2401,380
Pennsylvania$79,6403,220
Rhode Island$77,910360
Florida$77,6009,120
Tennessee$76,6801,200
Georgia$76,2204,600
Arizona$75,4702,600
Wisconsin$71,8204,270
West Virginia$64,100200
Louisiana$63,210550
Missouri$62,3801,190
Oklahoma$61,5201,840
Arkansas$59,030210

How to become an operations research analyst

The path from the facts is:

Some positions may require a background check for a security clearance[20]. The facts do not say how long training takes.

In an O*NET survey of 21 workers, 43% said a master's degree was required[21]. Another 33% said a bachelor's degree, 14% a doctoral degree and 10% a post-baccalaureate certificate[21].

What operations research analysts do

O*NET describes the job as using mathematical models and other methods to help managers make decisions[22]. Typical tasks include:

O*NET also lists job titles such as decision analyst, optimization analyst and researcher[24].

Where they work

Analysts spend much of their time in offices. They may travel to collect information, watch business processes, meet clients or attend conferences[25]. In 2025, 26% worked in finance and insurance, the largest employer group[26]. Some federal analysts work for the Department of Defense, which also hires analysts through private consulting firms[27]. Most work full time[28].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 11.9% from 2025 to 2035[2]. That is from about 113,100 to 126,600 jobs, a gain of about 13,500[2]. For all occupations the projected growth is 3.5%[3]. These counts include self-employed workers[2].

About 7,500 openings a year are projected[6]. Openings include jobs left by people who retire or switch occupations, not only new jobs[6]. Each year, 2.6% of workers leave the labor force and 2.5% move to a different occupation[29]. BLS expects analysts to be needed to work with growing amounts of data and to help businesses improve their processes[30].

Is it a good fit?

The facts describe a field with pay above the all-occupations median and growth above the all-occupations rate[1][5][2][3]. Entry usually needs a bachelor's degree, and some jobs want a master's[7][16]. The work leans on math, data and writing for managers[23][31][17]. Pay varies widely, from $57,060 at the 10th percentile to $159,910 at the 90th[4].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[32].

Frequently asked questions

How much does an operations research analyst make?
The median was $88,940 a year in May 2025, or $42.76 an hour[1].
What degree do you need to be an operations research analyst?
BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry education[7]. Some jobs require a master's degree[16].
Is operations research analyst in demand?
BLS projects 11.9% growth from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations[2][3]. About 7,500 openings a year are projected[6].
What is the highest paying state for operations research analysts?
Colorado is first in the state list, with a median of $129,880[12]. Virginia is next at $129,460[12].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Operations Research Analysts in the US was $88,940 per year and $42.76 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Operations Research Analysts is projected to grow 11.9% from 2025 to 2035, from about 113,100 to 126,600 jobs (a change of +13,500). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Operations Research Analysts: 10th percentile $57,060, 25th percentile $68,360, 75th percentile $125,990, 90th percentile $159,910. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 7,500 openings for Operations Research Analysts are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Operations Research Analysts: education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Operations Research Analysts was $99,730 per year and $47.95 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Operations Research Analysts: 10th percentile $27.43, 25th percentile $32.86, 75th percentile $60.57, 90th percentile $76.88. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. Median annual wage for Operations Research Analysts in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Operations Research Analysts jobs: Texas 11,890; California 10,620; Florida 9,120; Virginia 6,980; New York 5,890. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Operations Research Analysts (areas with at least 100 jobs): Colorado Springs, CO $140,590; Lexington Park, MD $135,300; Huntsville, AL $132,000; Peoria, IL $129,300; Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $127,810; Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $127,600; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $123,360; Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH $122,570. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Operations Research Analysts jobs: Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 8,080 (median $127,600); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 6,890 (median $103,110); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 4,270 (median $106,380); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 3,680 (median $86,500); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 3,480 (median $98,270); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 3,420 (median $100,700). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Other Experience. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. O*NET 15-2031.00 survey of workers (21 respondents), education level they say is required: Master's Degree 43%, Bachelor's Degree 33%, Doctoral Degree 14%, Post-Baccalaureate Certificate 10% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  22. O*NET description of Operations Research Analysts. O*NET OnLine
  23. O*NET task list for Operations Research Analysts. O*NET OnLine
  24. O*NET 15-2031.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Advanced Analytics Associate, Analytical Strategist, Decision Analyst, Operations Research Analyst (Ops Research Analyst), Operations Research Scientist (Ops Research Scientist), Optimization Analyst, Researcher. O*NET OnLine
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of operations research analysts in 2025: Finance and insurance 26%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Operations Research Analysts: 2.6% of workers leave the labor force each year and 2.5% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  30. BLS Employment Projections, factor affecting employment of Operations Research Analysts: Demand change - share increases as operations research analysts will be needed to analyze growing amounts of data and help businesses optimize and improve processes. BLS Employment Projections
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.