# Operations Research Analysts

SOC 15-2031. Page: https://educationguide.com/careers/operations-research-analysts

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.

## Pay and outlook
- U.S. median wage $88,940 (middle half $68,360–$125,990; BLS May 2025)
- Ages 25-34: median $78,710; 84% hold a bachelor's or higher (Census ACS 2020-2024)
- Jobs 2025-35: 11.9%; ~7.5k openings a year; typical entry: Bachelor's degree

## Fields of degree of young workers (ages 25-34, bachelor's+)
- Political Science And Government: 8% (https://educationguide.com/degrees/political-science)
- Economics: 5% (https://educationguide.com/degrees/economics)
- Business Management And Administration: 5% (https://educationguide.com/degrees/business-administration)
- General Business: 4% (https://educationguide.com/degrees/business)
- Psychology: 4% (https://educationguide.com/degrees/psychology)
- Finance: 3% (https://educationguide.com/degrees/finance, https://educationguide.com/degrees/insurance)
- Biology: 3% (https://educationguide.com/degrees/biology)
- Criminal Justice And Fire Protection: 3% (https://educationguide.com/degrees/criminal-justice, https://educationguide.com/degrees/security-homeland-security)
- Mathematics: 3% (https://educationguide.com/degrees/mathematics)
- Computer Science: 3% (https://educationguide.com/degrees/computer-science)

## Median wage by state
- AK: $88,750
- AL: $115,630
- AR: $59,030
- AZ: $75,470
- CA: $102,100
- CO: $129,880
- CT: $96,700
- DC: $96,030
- DE: $101,070
- FL: $77,600
- GA: $76,220
- HI: $100,600
- IA: $80,580
- ID: $103,600
- IL: $89,800
- IN: $85,280
- KS: $92,050
- KY: $83,850
- LA: $63,210
- MA: $96,500
- MD: $97,410
- ME: $99,460
- MI: $83,480
- MN: $95,550
- MO: $62,380
- MS: $92,310
- MT: $80,400
- NC: $97,290
- ND: $82,460
- NE: $98,300
- NM: $80,360
- NV: $86,500
- NY: $108,610
- OH: $103,620
- OK: $61,520
- OR: $102,170
- PA: $79,640
- PR: $57,000
- RI: $77,910
- SC: $80,240
- TN: $76,680
- TX: $90,710
- UT: $90,200
- VA: $129,460
- VT: $89,790
- WA: $98,030
- WI: $71,820
- WV: $64,100

Method: https://educationguide.com/how-we-score#careers

Free to reuse with attribution: cite "EducationGuide.com" with a link to the page URL. Most figures are U.S. government data (public domain); loan default rates and athletics come from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-By 1.0, attribution required) and founding years from Wikidata (CC0). O*NET data: CC BY 4.0, O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA).