Operations Research Analysts
Operations Research Analysts (SOC 15-2031) earn a median $88,940 a year ($42.76 an hour) in the United States, with 108,510 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Colorado.
What operations research analysts do
Operations research analysts apply mathematical modeling and other optimization methods to help managers make decisions, set policy, and solve operational problems. A project begins by defining the problem and the data requirements, then gathering and validating information, applying judgment where data are incomplete. Analysts build and test models, check that they are adequate, and reformulate them as needed. They report what the models and data show to managers or customers, laying out the options and their recommendations in writing. Some also develop optimal time, cost, or logistics networks for program evaluation, review, or implementation. Some also develop decision support software or services. Titles include business operations analyst, analytics consultant, and analytical strategist. The occupation differs from management analysts, who study organizational structure and procedures, from statisticians, who focus on statistical theory and data collection, and from data scientists. It also differs from mathematicians. They also observe the current system in operation and collaborate with others in the organization so that the chosen solution is carried out.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report a master's degree as the typical level of education for this occupation.
Also called: Advanced Analytics Associate, Analytical Strategist, Analytics Consultant, Business Analyst, Business Operations Analyst.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $27.43 | $32.86 | $42.76 | $60.57 | $76.88 | $47.95 | 108,510 |
| Annual | $57,060 | $68,360 | $88,940 | $125,990 | $159,910 | $99,730 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where operations research analysts earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Colorado | Hourly | $38.26 | $49.38 | $62.44 | $77.03 | $87.75 | $62.79 | 770 | 0.27 | 0.39 |
| Annual | $79,570 | $102,710 | $129,880 | $160,220 | $182,530 | $130,610 | ||||
| Virginia | Hourly | $34.53 | $47.92 | $62.24 | $79.92 | $93.39 | $62.85 | 6,980 | 1.70 | 2.43 |
| Annual | $71,820 | $99,660 | $129,460 | $166,230 | $194,260 | $130,720 | ||||
| Alabama | Hourly | $31.17 | $39.52 | $55.59 | $70.66 | $83.61 | $56.66 | 550 | 0.26 | 0.37 |
| Annual | $64,830 | $82,210 | $115,630 | $146,970 | $173,910 | $117,850 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $30.18 | $37.53 | $52.22 | $71.71 | $84.52 | $56.63 | 5,890 | 0.61 | 0.87 |
| Annual | $62,780 | $78,060 | $108,610 | $149,160 | $175,800 | $117,790 | ||||
| Ohio | Hourly | $25.00 | $31.91 | $49.82 | $61.57 | $68.31 | $48.58 | 2,600 | 0.47 | 0.67 |
| Annual | $52,000 | $66,380 | $103,620 | $128,060 | $142,080 | $101,050 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Texas | Hourly | $27.81 | $33.97 | $43.61 | $57.63 | $79.12 | $48.11 | 11,890 | 0.85 | 1.21 |
| Annual | $57,840 | $70,650 | $90,710 | $119,860 | $164,570 | $100,070 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $31.50 | $38.46 | $49.09 | $63.09 | $80.78 | $53.30 | 10,620 | 0.58 | 0.84 |
| Annual | $65,510 | $79,990 | $102,100 | $131,220 | $168,030 | $110,860 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $22.28 | $28.33 | $37.31 | $49.36 | $63.22 | $40.51 | 9,120 | 0.92 | 1.32 |
| Annual | $46,340 | $58,920 | $77,600 | $102,680 | $131,490 | $84,250 | ||||
| Virginia | Hourly | $34.53 | $47.92 | $62.24 | $79.92 | $93.39 | $62.85 | 6,980 | 1.70 | 2.43 |
| Annual | $71,820 | $99,660 | $129,460 | $166,230 | $194,260 | $130,720 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $30.18 | $37.53 | $52.22 | $71.71 | $84.52 | $56.63 | 5,890 | 0.61 | 0.87 |
| Annual | $62,780 | $78,060 | $108,610 | $149,160 | $175,800 | $117,790 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Colorado Springs, CO | Hourly | $40.41 | $53.19 | $67.59 | $78.72 | $83.85 | $65.76 | 170 | 0.52 | 0.75 |
| Annual | $84,060 | $110,630 | $140,590 | $163,730 | $174,400 | $136,770 | ||||
| Lexington Park, MD | Hourly | $36.19 | $51.45 | $65.05 | $78.42 | $89.05 | $64.93 | 390 | 5.51 | 7.89 |
| Annual | $75,270 | $107,020 | $135,300 | $163,110 | $185,220 | $135,050 | ||||
| Huntsville, AL | Hourly | $37.58 | $48.12 | $63.46 | $77.48 | $90.45 | $62.94 | 350 | 1.33 | 1.91 |
| Annual | $78,170 | $100,090 | $132,000 | $161,160 | $188,140 | $130,920 | ||||
| Peoria, IL | Hourly | $30.21 | $38.03 | $62.16 | $79.15 | $82.03 | $60.55 | 130 | 0.76 | 1.09 |
| Annual | $62,830 | $79,110 | $129,300 | $164,630 | $170,620 | $125,950 | ||||
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | Hourly | $40.12 | $48.88 | $61.45 | $75.55 | $87.76 | $62.41 | 490 | 0.31 | 0.44 |
| Annual | $83,450 | $101,670 | $127,810 | $157,150 | $182,530 | $129,810 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $33.61 | $41.08 | $61.35 | $80.21 | $93.70 | $62.10 | 8,080 | 2.58 | 3.69 |
| Annual | $69,910 | $85,450 | $127,600 | $166,840 | $194,900 | $129,160 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $30.85 | $33.22 | $49.57 | $67.23 | $83.81 | $54.35 | 6,890 | 0.73 | 1.04 |
| Annual | $64,170 | $69,100 | $103,110 | $139,840 | $174,310 | $113,050 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $29.68 | $38.22 | $51.14 | $65.61 | $96.67 | $54.62 | 4,270 | 1.05 | 1.51 |
| Annual | $61,740 | $79,490 | $106,380 | $136,470 | $201,080 | $113,610 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $30.04 | $36.67 | $41.59 | $57.33 | $71.44 | $47.94 | 3,680 | 0.82 | 1.17 |
| Annual | $62,470 | $76,280 | $86,500 | $119,240 | $148,600 | $99,710 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $30.01 | $36.19 | $47.25 | $61.05 | $77.72 | $50.28 | 3,480 | 0.56 | 0.80 |
| Annual | $62,420 | $75,270 | $98,270 | $126,990 | $161,660 | $104,580 | ||||
Top industries employing operations research analysts
Management of Companies and Enterprises employ 9.7% of operations research analysts nationally (10,550 jobs) at a median $97,610 a year ($46.93 an hour), followed by Credit Intermediation and Related Activities (5221 and 5223 only) (9.5%) and Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (8.6%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Management of Companies and Enterprises NAICS 551100 | 10,550 | 9.7% | $97,610 | $46.93 |
| Credit Intermediation and Related Activities (5221 and 5223 only) NAICS 5220A1 | 10,360 | 9.5% | $86,500 | $41.59 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services NAICS 541600 | 9,310 | 8.6% | $100,590 | $48.36 |
| Insurance Carriers NAICS 524100 | 7,810 | 7.2% | $77,620 | $37.32 |
| Computer Systems Design and Related Services NAICS 541500 | 7,560 | 7.0% | $88,380 | $42.49 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (108,510). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $82,360 for operations research analysts in May 2021 and $88,940 in May 2025, with employment of 98,700 and 108,510.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $82,360 | $39.59 | 98,700 |
| May 2022 | $85,720 | $41.21 | 105,080 |
| May 2023 | $83,640 | $40.21 | 117,880 |
| May 2024 | $91,290 | $43.89 | 107,760 |
| May 2025 | $88,940 | $42.76 | 108,510 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
49 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colorado profile | $62.44 | $129,880 | $79,570 | $182,530 | 770 | 0.27 | 0.39 |
| 2 | Virginia profile | $62.24 | $129,460 | $71,820 | $194,260 | 6,980 | 1.70 | 2.43 |
| 3 | Alabama profile | $55.59 | $115,630 | $64,830 | $173,910 | 550 | 0.26 | 0.37 |
| 4 | New York profile | $52.22 | $108,610 | $62,780 | $175,800 | 5,890 | 0.61 | 0.87 |
| 5 | Ohio profile | $49.82 | $103,620 | $52,000 | $142,080 | 2,600 | 0.47 | 0.67 |
| 6 | Idaho profile | $49.81 | $103,600 | $60,640 | $138,510 | 500 | 0.59 | 0.84 |
| 7 | Oregon profile | $49.12 | $102,170 | $65,600 | $145,710 | 2,710 | 1.38 | 1.97 |
| 8 | California profile | $49.09 | $102,100 | $65,510 | $168,030 | 10,620 | 0.58 | 0.84 |
| 9 | Delaware profile | $48.59 | $101,070 | $62,510 | $132,780 | 660 | 1.37 | 1.96 |
| 10 | Hawaii profile | $48.37 | $100,600 | $68,450 | $156,210 | 120 | 0.20 | 0.28 |
| 11 | Maine profile | $47.82 | $99,460 | $66,520 | $141,050 | 220 | 0.34 | 0.49 |
| 12 | Nebraska profile | $47.26 | $98,300 | $60,550 | $149,760 | 330 | 0.32 | 0.46 |
| 13 | Washington profile | $47.13 | $98,030 | $68,580 | $155,790 | 3,050 | 0.86 | 1.23 |
| 14 | Maryland profile | $46.83 | $97,410 | $55,880 | $180,750 | 4,710 | 1.70 | 2.44 |
| 15 | North Carolina profile | $46.78 | $97,290 | $60,180 | $130,980 | 2,520 | 0.51 | 0.73 |
| 16 | Connecticut profile | $46.49 | $96,700 | $61,300 | $131,030 | 950 | 0.56 | 0.80 |
| 17 | Massachusetts profile | $46.39 | $96,500 | $71,550 | $146,000 | 4,200 | 1.16 | 1.66 |
| 18 | District of Columbia profile | $46.17 | $96,030 | $65,550 | $195,190 | 2,250 | 3.21 | 4.59 |
| 19 | Minnesota profile | $45.94 | $95,550 | $60,350 | $133,170 | 1,240 | 0.42 | 0.60 |
| 20 | Mississippi profile | $44.38 | $92,310 | $59,830 | $130,120 | 120 | 0.11 | 0.15 |
| 21 | Kansas profile | $44.26 | $92,050 | $58,570 | $137,820 | ** | ** | ** |
| 22 | Texas profile | $43.61 | $90,710 | $57,840 | $164,570 | 11,890 | 0.85 | 1.21 |
| 23 | Utah profile | $43.37 | $90,200 | $57,990 | $130,910 | 810 | 0.47 | 0.67 |
| 24 | Illinois profile | $43.17 | $89,800 | $62,500 | $164,990 | 5,180 | 0.85 | 1.22 |
| 25 | Vermont profile | $43.17 | $89,790 | $65,100 | $123,740 | 170 | 0.54 | 0.78 |
| 26 | Alaska profile | $42.67 | $88,750 | $50,230 | $128,910 | 70 | 0.21 | 0.30 |
| 27 | Nevada profile | $41.59 | $86,500 | $65,210 | $139,920 | 370 | 0.24 | 0.34 |
| 28 | Indiana profile | $41.00 | $85,280 | $59,850 | $133,480 | 1,380 | 0.43 | 0.62 |
| 29 | Kentucky profile | $40.31 | $83,850 | $58,970 | $129,860 | 660 | 0.33 | 0.47 |
| 30 | Michigan profile | $40.13 | $83,480 | $61,650 | $139,880 | 980 | 0.22 | 0.32 |
| 31 | North Dakota profile | $39.65 | $82,460 | $57,930 | $119,400 | 130 | 0.31 | 0.44 |
| 32 | Iowa profile | $38.74 | $80,580 | $47,520 | $140,960 | 300 | 0.19 | 0.27 |
| 33 | Montana profile | $38.66 | $80,400 | $61,750 | $99,930 | 150 | 0.29 | 0.42 |
| 34 | New Mexico profile | $38.63 | $80,360 | $49,940 | $150,030 | 510 | 0.59 | 0.84 |
| 35 | South Carolina profile | $38.58 | $80,240 | $52,500 | $125,700 | 1,380 | 0.60 | 0.86 |
| 36 | Pennsylvania profile | $38.29 | $79,640 | $55,220 | $129,420 | 3,220 | 0.53 | 0.76 |
| 37 | Rhode Island profile | $37.46 | $77,910 | $61,110 | $183,030 | 360 | 0.73 | 1.04 |
| 38 | Florida profile | $37.31 | $77,600 | $46,340 | $131,490 | 9,120 | 0.92 | 1.32 |
| 39 | Tennessee profile | $36.87 | $76,680 | $46,150 | $125,480 | 1,200 | 0.37 | 0.52 |
| 40 | Georgia profile | $36.64 | $76,220 | $52,000 | $132,610 | 4,600 | 0.94 | 1.35 |
| 41 | Arizona profile | $36.28 | $75,470 | $58,430 | $124,230 | 2,600 | 0.80 | 1.15 |
| 42 | Wisconsin profile | $34.53 | $71,820 | $50,380 | $102,090 | 4,270 | 1.45 | 2.08 |
| 43 | West Virginia profile | $30.82 | $64,100 | $51,630 | $96,500 | 200 | 0.29 | 0.42 |
| 44 | Louisiana profile | $30.39 | $63,210 | $49,940 | $111,160 | 550 | 0.29 | 0.41 |
| 45 | Missouri profile | $29.99 | $62,380 | $49,180 | $116,980 | 1,190 | 0.40 | 0.58 |
| 46 | Oklahoma profile | $29.58 | $61,520 | $41,680 | $88,280 | 1,840 | 1.08 | 1.55 |
| 47 | Arkansas profile | $28.38 | $59,030 | $47,350 | $96,920 | 210 | 0.16 | 0.24 |
| – | New Hampshire profile | * | * | * | * | 290 | 0.42 | 0.60 |
| – | New Jersey profile | * | * | * | * | 3,280 | 0.77 | 1.10 |
Part of Computer and Mathematical Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 15-2031 Operations Research Analysts.
*- Wage estimate not available.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 15-2031, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 15-2031.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.