Operations Research Analysts: Job Description
Formulate and apply mathematical modeling and other optimizing methods to develop and interpret information that assists management with decisionmaking, policy formulation, or other managerial functions. May collect and analyze data and develop decision support software, services, or products. May develop and supply optimal time, cost, or logistics networks for program evaluation, review, or implementation.
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What Tasks Do Operations Research Analysts Do?
The core tasks performed by operations research analysts cover:
- Present the results of mathematical modeling and data analysis to management or other end users.
- Define data requirements, and gather and validate information, applying judgment and statistical tests.
- Perform validation and testing of models to ensure adequacy, and reformulate models, as necessary.
- Prepare management reports defining and evaluating problems and recommending solutions.
- Collaborate with others in the organization to ensure successful implementation of chosen problem solutions.
- Formulate mathematical or simulation models of problems, relating constants and variables, restrictions, alternatives, conflicting objectives, and their numerical parameters.
- Observe the current system in operation, and gather and analyze information about each of the component problems, using a variety of sources.
- Analyze information obtained from management to conceptualize and define operational problems.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Effective operations research analysts draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
The abilities most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
Common job titles for this role include:
- Advanced Analytics Associate
- Analytical Strategist
- Analytics Consultant
- Business Analyst
- Business Operations Analyst
- Business Process Analyst
- Continuous Improvement Specialist
- Decision Analyst
Job Outlook
The U.S. employs around 276,629 operations research analysts working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +3.1% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Operations Research Analysts Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $83,596 |
| Hourly median | $40.19 |
| 10th percentile | $51,924 |
| 25th percentile | $67,760 |
| 75th percentile | $99,432 |
| 90th percentile | $115,268 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Virginia | $123,050 |
| Alabama | $117,540 |
| District of Columbia | $115,980 |
| New York | $109,440 |
| Vermont | $108,800 |
| Ohio | $104,610 |
| Colorado | $104,560 |
| Illinois | $102,750 |
| New Jersey | $101,220 |
| Delaware | $101,210 |
| Maryland | $100,990 |
| North Carolina | $100,630 |
| Alaska | $99,960 |
| Kansas | $99,740 |
| Oregon | $99,250 |
| Connecticut | $99,210 |
| Hawaii | $97,630 |
| Nebraska | $96,990 |
| California | $96,920 |
| Texas | $96,660 |
| Washington | $96,490 |
| Maine | $90,420 |
| Massachusetts | $90,030 |
| Minnesota | $89,240 |
| Mississippi | $87,550 |
| New Hampshire | $86,380 |
| Rhode Island | $86,120 |
| Indiana | $84,150 |
| Michigan | $84,100 |
| Arizona | $83,500 |
| Utah | $82,230 |
| Nevada | $82,120 |
| Kentucky | $81,760 |
| North Dakota | $80,080 |
| Iowa | $78,140 |
| New Mexico | $77,930 |
| Florida | $77,670 |
| Idaho | $77,460 |
| Pennsylvania | $75,760 |
| Arkansas | $75,650 |
| Tennessee | $75,370 |
| Wisconsin | $74,970 |
| South Carolina | $74,880 |
| Georgia | $73,890 |
| Montana | $71,350 |
| Louisiana | $64,240 |
| West Virginia | $63,760 |
| Oklahoma | $62,510 |
| Puerto Rico | $61,950 |
| Missouri | $55,640 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Compensation for operations research analysts vary by region. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Atlantic | $101,415 | 17.4% | 1.61 |
| Far Western US | $96,913 | 15.8% | 1.06 |
| Great Lakes | $92,041 | 13.7% | 1.22 |
| New England | $91,467 | 6.4% | 1.58 |
| Southwest | $91,210 | 15.2% | 1.21 |
| Southeast | $90,200 | 24.7% | 1.30 |
| Rocky Mountains | $88,318 | 2.5% | 0.71 |
| Plains States | $75,300 | 4.3% | 0.73 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Operations Research Analysts
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington Park, MD | MD | $135,390 | 380 |
| Peoria, IL | IL | $134,500 | 120 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | CO | $133,720 | 190 |
| Huntsville, AL | AL | $132,620 | 330 |
| Burlington-South Burlington, VT | VT | $127,030 | 60 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | DC | $124,090 | 7,610 |
| Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | FL | $121,700 | 70 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $118,320 | 6,350 |
Which Industries Hire Operations Research Analysts
The largest employers of operations research analysts are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Finance and Insurance | 25,040 | $82,790 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 24,310 | $99,600 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 11,770 | $96,310 |
| Educational Services | 6,770 | $74,520 |
| Information | 6,140 | $97,970 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 5,080 | $80,040 |
| Manufacturing | 4,610 | $107,360 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 3,850 | $78,670 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Software Operations Research Analysts Use
- Data base user interface and query software: Amazon Redshift (hot technology)
- Data base management system software: Apache Hadoop (hot technology)
- Data base management system software: Apache Hive (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Apple macOS (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Bash (hot technology)
- Development environment software: C (hot technology)
- Object or component oriented development software: C++ (hot technology)
- Geographic information system: ESRI ArcGIS software (hot technology)
- Enterprise application integration software: Extensible markup language XML (hot technology)
- Application server software: GitHub (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Google Docs (hot technology)
- Analytical or scientific software: IBM SPSS Statistics (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The work environment for operations research analysts is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Spend Time Sitting
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
How to Become Operations Research Analysts
Typical operations research analysts positions require a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Extensive Preparation Needed (Job Zone 5), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Logistics Engineers (Supplemental)
- Project Management Specialists (Supplemental)
- Management Analysts (Primary-Short)
- Financial Risk Specialists (Supplemental)
- Financial Quantitative Analysts (Supplemental)
- Computer Systems Analysts (Primary-Short)
- Computer and Information Research Scientists (Primary-Long)
- Database Administrators (Supplemental)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Students preparing for operations research analysts typically earn programs in:
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
1 programs across 1 majors
Engineering
1 programs across 1 majors
About the Data
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 15-2031.00 (Operations Research Analysts).
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