### Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Operations Research Analysts Summary
                        
            
                                                        
                                                                
                        
            
            
            
                            
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
            						
							
				                                                
                                            




            			operations research analysts imageOperations research analysts use statistical analysis and simulations to analyze and solve business problems.							
						Quick Facts:     Operations Research Analysts2023     Median Pay
            						$83,640     per year
										$40.21     per hourTypical Entry-Level Education
                                    Bachelor's degreeWork Experience in a Related Occupation
                                    NoneOn-the-job Training
                                    NoneNumber of Jobs, 2022
                                    109,900Job Outlook, 2022-32
                                    23% (Much faster than average)Employment Change, 2022-32
                                    24,700What Operations Research Analysts Do
                                                
                        
                        
Operations research analysts use mathematics and logic to help solve complex issues.
            
                        Work Environment
                        
Operations research analysts spend much of their time in office settings, although travel may be necessary to meet with clients. Most operations research analysts work full time.
            
                                                How to Become an Operations Research Analyst
                                                
                        
Operations research analysts typically need at least a bachelor’s degree to enter the occupation. Some employers require or prefer that applicants have a master’s degree. Analysts may need a degree in operations research or a related field, such as applied mathematics.
            
                        Pay
                        												                            																				    														The median annual wage for operations research analysts was $83,640 in May 2023.									                                					
						
            
                        Job Outlook
                        						
												Employment							of operations research analysts is projected to grow							 23 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.
						About 9,800 openings for operations research analysts are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
            			
            			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
						State & Area Data
                       Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for operations research analysts.
            
            
						
                        Similar Occupations
                        
                                                    Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of operations research analysts with similar occupations.
            
            
                        More Information, Including Links to O*NET
                        
                                               
                        Learn more about operations research analysts by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
 What Operations Research Analysts Do 
            

			Operations research analystsOperations research analysts advise managers and other decision makers on the appropriate course of action to solve a problem.			
Operations research analysts use mathematics and logic to help organizations make informed decisions and solve problems.
Duties
Operations research analysts typically do the following:
Identify problems in areas such as business, logistics, healthcare, or other fields
Collect and organize information from a variety of sources, such as databases, sales histories, and customer feedback
Gather input from workers or subject-matter experts
Analyze collected data and extract information relevant to the problem being addressed
Develop and test quantitative models, support software, and analytical tools
Write memos, reports, and other documents explaining their findings and recommendations for managers, executives, and other officialsOperations research analysts may be involved in many aspects of an organization. For example, they may help managers decide how to allocate resources, develop production schedules, oversee the supply chain, and set prices.
To begin a project, analysts first identify the problem to be solved or the processes to be improved. They typically collect data and interview clients, workers, or others involved in the business processes being examined.
Analysts then break down the problem into its various parts using statistical and database software and analytical techniques, such as forecasting and data mining. They also study the effect that different changes and circumstances would have on each of these parts. For example, to help an airline schedule flights and set ticket prices, analysts may take into account the cities involved, the amount and cost of fuel required, the expected number of passengers, the pilots’ schedules, and the maintenance costs.
Operations research analysts provide alternatives to pursuing different actions and may assist in achieving a consensus on how to proceed. They weigh the costs and benefits of alternative solutions or approaches in their recommendations to managers.
 Work Environment
			Operations research analystsOperations research analysts typically work in an office setting.			

	    
				
	
	
	
	
	
	
	    					 Operations research analysts held about 109,900 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of operations research analysts were as follows:
        Professional, scientific, and technical services
                25%Finance and insurance
                24Management of companies and enterprises
                9Federal government
                5Manufacturing
                5Some operations research analysts in the federal government work for the Department of Defense, which also employs analysts through private consulting firms.
Operations research analysts spend much of their time in office settings. They may travel to gather information, observe business processes, work with clients, or attend conferences.
Work Schedules
Most operations research analysts work full time.
 How to Become an Operations Research Analyst

			Operations research analystsOperations research analysts typically need at least a bachelor’s degree to enter the occupation.			
Operations research analysts typically need at least a bachelor’s degree to enter the occupation. Some employers require or prefer that applicants have a master’s degree. Analysts may need a degree in operations research or a related field, such as applied mathematics.
Education
Operations research analysts typically need at least a bachelor’s degree, but some jobs require a master’s degree. Fields of degree may include operations research or a related field, such as business, mathematics, engineering, or computer science.
Because operations research is based on quantitative analysis, students need extensive coursework in mathematics. Coursework in computer science is important because analysts rely on statistical and database software to assess and model data.
Other Experience
Some operations research analysts are veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. Certain positions may require applicants to undergo a background check in order to obtain a security clearance.
Important Qualities
***Analytical skills.*** Operations research analysts use a range of methods, including forecasting and data mining, to examine and interpret data.
***Communication skills.*** Operations research analysts write memos, reports, and other documents and often present their data and conclusions to managers and other executives. They must be able to convey technical information in a way that is understandable to nontechnical audiences.
***Critical-thinking skills.*** Operations research analysts must be able to organize information and make connections between ideas and facts.
***Interpersonal skills.*** Operations research analysts typically work on teams. They also need to be able to persuade managers and executives to accept their recommendations.
***Math skills.*** The models and methods used by operations research analysts are rooted in statistics, calculus, linear algebra, and other mathematics disciplines.
***Problem-solving skills.*** Operations research analysts need to be able to diagnose problems and study relevant information to solve them.
 Pay

			



	
 
                                                     
            
    
                Operations Research AnalystsMedian annual wages, May 2023Mathematical science occupations$101,460  Operations research analysts$83,640  Total, all occupations$48,060Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
 

	
	



		
	
	
	
The median annual wage for operations research analysts was $83,640 in May 2023. 


The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $52,930, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $148,920.





		
	    					 In May 2023, the median annual wages for operations research analysts in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        Federal government
                $130,670Manufacturing
                108,410Professional, scientific, and technical services
                101,270Management of companies and enterprises
                91,670Finance and insurance
                83,240Most operations research analysts work full time.
 Job Outlook

   
        
    
          
        
    
                Operations Research AnalystsPercent change in employment, projected 2022-32Mathematical science occupations29%  Operations research analysts23%  Total, all occupations3%Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
            
            
			 
	
	
	

			Employment				of operations research analysts is projected to grow				 23 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.
			
			About 9,800 openings for operations research analysts are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
			
			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
			Employment
	
			
As technology advances and companies and government agencies seek efficiency and cost savings, demand for operations research analysis should continue to grow. In addition, increasing demand should occur for these workers in the field of analytics to improve business planning and decision making.
Technological advances have made it faster and easier for organizations to get data. Operations research analysts manage and evaluate data to improve business operations, supply chains, pricing models, and marketing. In addition, improvements in analytical software have made operations research more affordable and applicable to a wider range of areas. More companies are expected to employ operations research analysts to help them turn data into information that managers use to make decisions about all aspects of their business.
			

                        Employment projections data for     operations research analysts, 2022-32
                Occupational Title
                        SOC Code
                        Employment, 2022
                        Projected Employment, 2032
                        Change, 2022-32
                        Employment by IndustryPercent
                        NumericSOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program**Operations research analysts**
			15-2031
			109,900
			134,700
			23
			24,700
			Get data
 State & Area Data **Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)** The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OES data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Operations research analysts **Projections Central** Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved. **CareerOneStop** CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.
 Similar Occupations This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of operations research analysts. Occupation
                Job Duties
                ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION
                2023     MEDIAN PAY**Data Scientists**
            Data scientists use analytical tools and techniques to extract meaningful insights from data.
            Bachelor's degree
            $108,020**Economists**
            Economists conduct research, prepare reports, and evaluate issues related to monetary and fiscal policy. They also may collect and analyze statistical data.
            Master's degree
            $115,730**Industrial Engineers**
            Industrial engineers devise efficient systems that integrate workers, machines, materials, information, and energy to make a product or provide a service.
            Bachelor's degree
            $99,380**Logisticians**
            Logisticians analyze and coordinate an organization’s supply chain.
            Bachelor's degree
            $79,400**Management Analysts**
            Management analysts recommend ways to improve an organization’s efficiency.
            Bachelor's degree
            $99,410**Market Research Analysts**
            Market research analysts study consumer preferences, business conditions, and other factors to assess potential sales of a product or service.
            Bachelor's degree
            $74,680**Mathematicians and Statisticians**
            Mathematicians and statisticians analyze data and apply computational techniques to solve problems.
            Master's degree
            $104,860**Software Developers, Quality Assurance Analysts, and Testers**
            Software developers design computer applications or programs. Software quality assurance analysts and testers identify problems with applications or programs and report defects.
            Bachelor's degree
            $130,160
 Contacts for More Information
								
For more information about operations research analysts, visit
Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences
Military Operations Research Society

                                                
                                                        
                                                                                                    O*NET
                                        Operations Research Analysts
 Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.  Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Operations Research Analysts, 
        	 at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/math/operations-research-analysts.htm (visited *May 21, 2024*).
 **Last Modified Date:**
                        Wednesday, April 17, 2024


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