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Operations Research Analyst

$91,290
median pay per year
full range coming in the next data update

What the job actually is

Use modeling, statistics, and optimization to help organizations make better decisions and cut waste.

Where you work

Offices across business and government

The hours

Regular weekday hours

By the numbers

May 2024–25 BLS wage data · 2024–34 BLS employment projections.

Median pay
$91,290
per year
What most earn
range coming soon
Openings a year
~9,600
projected, 2024–34
Outlook to 2034
+22%
Much faster than average
Working in the U.S.
112,100
people, nationwide

Openings a year counts new jobs plus the ones that open when people retire or move on — a truer picture of your odds than growth alone.

“Median” means half earn more and half earn less. Your city, employer, and years on the job move it a lot — that is what the 10th-to-90th range shows.

How you get in

Typical starting education

Bachelor's degree

Training path: Bachelor's degree, often a master's.

License or certification

No license required to start in most places.

What it takes

MathematicsData analysisProblem solvingProgramming

The honest take

One of the faster-growing analytical careers, using math to solve real business problems behind the scenes.

Standard Occupational Classification 15-2031. Pay, employment, and outlook from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wage survey and 2024–34 employment projections). See something off? Tell us.