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.
Operations Research Analysts
SOC: 15-2031 O*NET: 15-2031.00
Median Salary
$91,290
per year
Job Growth
🚀 21.5%
Much Faster (2024-2034)
Annual Openings
9.6
projected jobs/year
Education Level
Bachelor's degree plus work experience, or graduate degree
Job Zone 5
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.
What does a Operations Research Analysts do?
How much can you earn?
Entry Level
$53,910
10th percentile
Early Career
$66,910
25th percentile
Median
$91,290
50th percentile
Experienced
$124,120
75th percentile
Top Earners
$159,280
90th percentile
National Salary Distribution
10th
$53,910
25th
$66,910
Middle 50%
MEDIAN
$91,290
Mean: $99,120
75th
$124,120
90th
$159,280
Middle 50% of earners
Median salary
Mean (average)
Key Insights
- •Salary range spans $105,370 from entry level to top earners
- •Middle 50% earn between $66,910 and $124,120
- •Salary spread is 62.7% around the median, showing high variation
- •Total national employment: 107,760 professionals
What's the job outlook?
Job Market Intelligence
Very High Demand
Market demand
Medium Risk
Automation risk
Current Employment
National Employment:112,100
Top Industries
Finance and Insurance23.2%
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services22.6%
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services22.6%
10-Year Outlook
Growth Rate:+21.5%
Annual Openings:9,600
Employment Projections
2024 (Current)112,100
Current
2034 (Projected)136,200
+21.5%
+24,100
Employment Change
+21.5%
Growth Rate
10
Year Projection
Growth Category: Much faster than average
Geographic Salary & Employment Data
Explore where Operations Research Analysts professionals work across the United States
Showing 15 of 49 locations
Texas
12,240 jobs$96,6601.26x
California
11,030 jobs$96,9200.87x
Florida
8,230 jobs$77,6701.20x
Virginia
6,320 jobs$123,0502.22x
New York
6,020 jobs$109,4400.90x
Illinois
5,020 jobs$102,7501.18x
Massachusetts
4,860 jobs$90,0301.91x
Georgia
4,450 jobs$73,8901.31x
Maryland
4,280 jobs$100,9902.23x
Wisconsin
4,080 jobs$74,9702.00x
Pennsylvania
3,030 jobs$75,7600.72x
Ohio
2,970 jobs$104,6100.77x
Washington
2,850 jobs$96,4901.15x
New Jersey
2,630 jobs$101,2200.89x
Oregon
2,590 jobs$99,2501.89x
Understanding the Data
Location Quotient (LQ):
- • LQ > 1.0: More jobs than national average
- • LQ = 1.0: Same as national average
- • LQ < 1.0: Fewer jobs than national average
Data Source:
Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024
Key Growth Factors
- •Much faster than average growth expected
- •High current market demand
What skills do you need?
Top 10 Most Important Skills
#1
Mathematics
100%
#2
Complex Problem Solving
94%
#3
Speaking
86%
#4
Critical Thinking
80%
#5
Writing
74%
#6
Active Listening
66%
#7
Reading Comprehension
60%
#8
Judgment and Decision Making
54%
#9
Active Learning
46%
#10
Systems Evaluation
40%
Skills Overview
Mathematics
advanced5.0
100%
Complex Problem Solving
advanced4.7
94%
Speaking
intermediate4.3
86%
Critical Thinking
intermediate4.0
80%
Writing
intermediate3.7
74%
Active Listening
intermediate3.3
66%
Reading Comprehension
basic3.0
60%
Judgment and Decision Making
basic2.7
54%
Skills are rated on a scale of 0-5, with 5 being the most important. The complexity level indicates how advanced the skill typically needs to be.
Filter:
Sort by:
Mathematics
advancedImportance100%
skills
5.0/5.0
Complex Problem Solving
advancedImportance94%
abilities
4.7/5.0
Speaking
intermediateImportance86%
skills
4.3/5.0
Critical Thinking
intermediateImportance80%
abilities
4.0/5.0
Writing
intermediateImportance74%
skills
3.7/5.0
Active Listening
intermediateImportance66%
skills
3.3/5.0
Reading Comprehension
basicImportance60%
abilities
3.0/5.0
Judgment and Decision Making
basicImportance54%
abilities
2.7/5.0
Active Learning
basicImportance46%
abilities
2.3/5.0
Systems Evaluation
basicImportance40%
skills
2.0/5.0
Highly Transferable Skills
These skills are valuable across multiple career paths, making career transitions easier:
Actuaries82%
5 shared skills
Agricultural Engineers82%
5 shared skills
Precision Agriculture Technicians82%
5 shared skills
Atmospheric and Space Scientists82%
5 shared skills
Statisticians82%
5 shared skills
Budget Analysts82%
5 shared skills
Skills by Career Stage
Entry Level
Must Have:
- ✓Speaking
Learn on the Job:
- →Active Listening
- →Reading Comprehension
- →Judgment and Decision Making
Mid Career
Expected:
- ✓Mathematics
- ✓Speaking
- ✓Complex Problem Solving
- ✓Critical Thinking
Senior Level
Mastery Required:
- ★Mathematics
- ★Speaking
- ★Complex Problem Solving
- ★Critical Thinking
- ★Writing
Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on developing the top 5 skills first - they have the highest impact on career success
- •Transferable skills open doors to related careers and provide flexibility
- •Balance technical skills with soft skills for well-rounded professional development
- •Entry-level positions prioritize foundational skills that can be built upon over time
What technology will you use?
Technology & Digital Skills
Essential technology proficiencies for Operations Research Analysts
Technology Intensity
Very High
Digital Literacy Requirements
This career requires expert digital literacy
1
Basic
2
Intermediate
3
Advanced
4
Expert
Key Digital Competencies:
Advanced software proficiencySystem architecture understandingAutomation and scriptingEmerging technology adaptationTechnical problem-solving
🔥
Hot Technologies in Demand
These technologies are currently trending and highly sought after in this field
IBM SPSS Statistics
🔥 Hot TechSAS
🔥 Hot TechThe MathWorks MATLAB
🔥 Hot TechGitHub
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Power BI
🔥 Hot TechTableau
🔥 Hot TechSplunk Enterprise
🔥 Hot TechSalesforce software
🔥 Hot TechApache Hadoop
🔥 Hot TechApache Hive
🔥 Hot TechTeradata Database
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft SQL Server Reporting Services SSRS
🔥 Hot TechTechnology Stack
Technology Stack Overview
Key technologies used in this career
IBM SPSS Statistics
SAS
The MathWorks MATLAB
GitHub
Microsoft Power BI
Tableau
Splunk Enterprise
Salesforce software
Apache Hadoop
Apache Hive
Teradata Database
Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services SSRS
📚 Technology Learning Resources
Recommended Certifications
- •Vendor-specific software certifications
- •Industry-recognized technology credentials
- •Professional development courses
Online Learning Platforms
- •LinkedIn Learning - Comprehensive technology courses
- •Coursera - University-level programs
- •Udemy - Practical skills training
💡 Technology Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on mastering hot technologies first - they're currently most in-demand
- •Build a portfolio demonstrating your proficiency with key tools and software
- •Stay current through continuous learning - technology evolves rapidly
- •Consider vendor certifications to validate your skills to employers
What's the work environment like?
🏢
Location
MOSTLY INDOOR
💪
Physical Demand
LOW
👥
Team Orientation
SOME TEAM
🤝
Customer Interaction
OCCASIONAL
💡Is This Work Environment Right for You?
Consider these factors when evaluating if you'll thrive in this work environment:
- •Are you comfortable working in mostly indoor environments?
- •Can you meet low physical demands?
- •Do you enjoy some team team environments?
- •Are you comfortable working with safety protocols and protective equipment?
What are the key tasks?
Tasks & Responsibilities
17
Core Tasks
8
Daily Tasks
20
Work Activities
0
Emerging Tasks
Filter:
Sort by:
General Responsibilities (6)Communication & Coordination (2)Analysis & Evaluation (3)Operations & Execution (1)Planning & Development (4)Management & Supervision (1)
1
Formulate mathematical or simulation models of problems, relating constants and variables, restrictions, alternatives, conflicting objectives, and their numerical parameters.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities100% perform100%
2
Collaborate with others in the organization to ensure successful implementation of chosen problem solutions.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Communication & Coordination97% perform98%
3
Analyze information obtained from management to conceptualize and define operational problems.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Analysis & Evaluation94% perform96%
4
Perform validation and testing of models to ensure adequacy, and reformulate models, as necessary.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Operations & Execution91% perform94%
5
Collaborate with senior managers and decision makers to identify and solve a variety of problems and to clarify management objectives.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Communication & Coordination88% perform92%
6
Define data requirements, and gather and validate information, applying judgment and statistical tests.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities85% perform90%
7
Study and analyze information about alternative courses of action to determine which plan will offer the best outcomes.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Planning & Development82% perform88%
8
Prepare management reports defining and evaluating problems and recommending solutions.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Analysis & Evaluation79% perform86%
9
Break systems into their components, assign numerical values to each component, and examine the mathematical relationships between them.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
General Responsibilities76% perform84%
10
Specify manipulative or computational methods to be applied to models.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
General Responsibilities73% perform82%
💡 Key Takeaways
- •Daily tasks focus primarily on general responsibilities activities
- •41% of tasks are performed by most workers in this occupation
- •Career advancement brings increased leadership and strategic responsibilities
What career paths are available?
Career Pathways
0
Advancement Opportunities
0
Lateral Move Options
0%
Avg. Salary Increase
Advancement Opportunities
Typical career progression paths from Operations Research Analysts
💡 Career Planning Tips
- •Most successful advancement happens after 3-5 years of experience
- •Lateral moves can provide valuable cross-functional experience for future leadership roles
- •Focus on developing skills that are transferable across multiple career paths
- •Consider industry trends when planning long-term career moves
Is this career right for you?
Personality & Values Fit
Is This Career Right for You?
Operations Research Analysts professionals typically have a ICE Holland code and highly value achievement
IInvestigative
CConventional
EEnterprising
Important Personality Traits
Work styles that contribute to success as a Operations Research Analysts
Analytical Thinking
CriticalAnalytical Thinking
Importance Level4.90
Attention to Detail
CriticalAttention to Detail
Importance Level4.62
Integrity
CriticalIntegrity
Importance Level4.52
Initiative
Very ImportantInitiative
Importance Level4.43
Persistence
Very ImportantPersistence
Importance Level4.29
Innovation
Very ImportantInnovation
Importance Level4.29
Complete Work Styles Profile
Analytical Thinking
4.9
Attention to Detail
4.6
Integrity
4.5
Initiative
4.4
Persistence
4.3
Innovation
4.3
Achievement/Effort
4.2
Adaptability/Flexibility
4.1
Dependability
4.0
Independence
4.0
💡 Tips for Career Fit Success
- •While personality fit is important, skills can be developed with practice and training
- •Consider informational interviews to better understand the day-to-day personality requirements
- •Work environments vary by employer - research specific companies for cultural fit
- •Your interests and values may evolve - reassess periodically throughout your career
What education is required?
Education Level
Bachelor's degree plus work experience, or graduate degree
Typical duration: 4 years
Preparation Level
Job Zone 5
Extensive Preparation Needed
Experience Needed
Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience needed
📚 Education Requirement
Required Level:Bachelor's degree plus work experience, or graduate degree
Most of these occupations require graduate school. These may include master's, doctoral, or professional degrees.
Training:
Extensive training and work experience required
💼 Experience Requirement
Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience needed
Common pathways to gain experience:
- • Master's or doctoral degree
- • Extensive work experience in the field
- • State licensure or professional certification
5
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
Most of these occupations require graduate school. These may include master's, doctoral, or professional degrees.
Master's or doctoral degreeExtensive work experience in the fieldState licensure or professional certification
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