Operations Research Analysts: salary, outlook & degrees
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.
Middle half $68,360–$125,990. 108,510 jobs.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
84% hold a bachelor's or higher. Those with one: $80,438.
Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata, workers with at least a high school diploma; EducationGuide calculation
About 7,500 openings a year, including replacements.
BLS Employment Projections 2025-35
Extensive preparation (usually a graduate degree).
BLS; O*NET 31.0 job zone
Degrees that lead to this career
What workers ages 25-34 in this job studied, among those with a bachelor's or higher. This is what people actually did, not a requirement.
| Field of bachelor's degree | Share | Degree pages |
|---|---|---|
| Political Science And Government | 8% | Political Science |
| Economics | 5% | Economics |
| Business Management And Administration | 5% | Business Administration |
| General Business | 4% | Business |
| Psychology | 4% | Psychology |
| Finance | 3% | Finance · Insurance |
| Biology | 3% | Biology |
| Criminal Justice And Fire Protection | 3% | Criminal Justice · Security / Homeland Security |
| Mathematics | 3% | Mathematics |
| Computer Science | 3% | Computer Science |
Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata (ages 25-34, employed, bachelor's or higher; top 10 fields); EducationGuide calculation.
Education workers say the job requires
O*NET 31.0 survey of workers (“required level of education”); small samples, so treat shares as approximate.
Pay by state and metro
| State | Median wage |
|---|---|
| Colorado | $129,880 |
| Virginia | $129,460 |
| Alabama | $115,630 |
| New York | $108,610 |
| Ohio | $103,620 |
| Idaho | $103,600 |
| Oregon | $102,170 |
| California | $102,100 |
| Delaware | $101,070 |
| Hawaii | $100,600 |
| Maine | $99,460 |
| Nebraska | $98,300 |
| Washington | $98,030 |
| Maryland | $97,410 |
| North Carolina | $97,290 |
| Connecticut | $96,700 |
| Massachusetts | $96,500 |
| District of Columbia | $96,030 |
| Minnesota | $95,550 |
| Mississippi | $92,310 |
| Kansas | $92,050 |
| Texas | $90,710 |
| Utah | $90,200 |
| Illinois | $89,800 |
| Vermont | $89,790 |
| Alaska | $88,750 |
| Nevada | $86,500 |
| Indiana | $85,280 |
| Kentucky | $83,850 |
| Michigan | $83,480 |
| North Dakota | $82,460 |
| Iowa | $80,580 |
| Montana | $80,400 |
| New Mexico | $80,360 |
| South Carolina | $80,240 |
| Pennsylvania | $79,640 |
| Rhode Island | $77,910 |
| Florida | $77,600 |
| Tennessee | $76,680 |
| Georgia | $76,220 |
| Arizona | $75,470 |
| Wisconsin | $71,820 |
| West Virginia | $64,100 |
| Louisiana | $63,210 |
| Missouri | $62,380 |
| Oklahoma | $61,520 |
| Arkansas | $59,030 |
| PR | $57,000 |
Florida metro areas
- Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater$79,940
- Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach$76,400
- Jacksonville$79,250
- Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford$75,990
- Tallahassee$46,570
- Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent$79,940
- Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin$115,920
- Lakeland-Winter Haven$71,680
Virginia metro areas
- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria$127,600
- Richmond$109,650
- Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk$114,070
- Roanoke$102,930
- Charlottesville$93,290
California metro areas
- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim$98,270
- San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont$110,560
- San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad$99,230
- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara$123,360
- Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom$104,210
- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario$86,510
- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura$104,640
- Fresno$101,780
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: median annual wage, all workers in the job. Metro areas: the largest by employment.
What the work takes
Top skills
- Mathematics
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Speaking
Knowledge used
- Mathematics
- Computers and Electronics
- Engineering and Technology
- Production and Processing
- English Language
Work styles
- Intellectual Curiosity
- Attention to Detail
- Achievement Orientation
- Dependability
- Innovation
People in this job tend to have Investigative (analytical), Conventional (organizing) interests.
O*NET 31.0 (U.S. Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0): skills and knowledge by importance; work styles; interest high points.
Operations Research Analysts: questions
How much do operations Research Analysts make?
Operations Research Analysts earn a U.S. median $88,940 a year; the middle half earn $68,360 to $125,990 (BLS, May 2025). Workers ages 25-34 in this job earn a median $78,710 (Census ACS 2020-2024).
Is operations Research Analysts a growing field?
BLS projects growth of 11.9% from 2025 to 2035, with about 7,500 openings a year, including replacements.
What degree do you need to be an operations Research Analyst?
BLS lists the typical entry education as bachelor's degree. In O*NET's survey, 100% of workers say a bachelor's or higher is required. Among workers ages 25-34 with a bachelor's, the most common field of degree is political Science And Government (8%).
How much do operations Research Analysts make in Florida?
The median in Florida is $77,600 a year (BLS, May 2025), compared with $88,940 nationally.
Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35); O*NET 31.0 (U.S. Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0); U.S. Census Bureau ACS microdata. SOC 15-2031. Method
Data: JSON · Markdown · all careers
Cite this: “Operations Research Analysts: salary, outlook and degrees,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/careers/operations-research-analysts.