Operations Research Analysts: Job Description
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.
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What Do Operations Research Analysts Do?
Typical responsibilities of operations research analysts include:
- Present the results of mathematical modeling and data analysis to management or other end users.
- Define data requirements, and gather and validate information, applying judgment and statistical tests.
- Perform validation and testing of models to ensure adequacy, and reformulate models, as necessary.
- Prepare management reports defining and evaluating problems and recommending solutions.
- Collaborate with others in the organization to ensure successful implementation of chosen problem solutions.
- Formulate mathematical or simulation models of problems, relating constants and variables, restrictions, alternatives, conflicting objectives, and their numerical parameters.
- Observe the current system in operation, and gather and analyze information about each of the component problems, using a variety of sources.
- Analyze information obtained from management to conceptualize and define operational problems.
Skills and Knowledge
Top operations research analysts draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The competencies most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Other Operations Research Analysts Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Advanced Analytics Associate
- Analytical Strategist
- Analytics Consultant
- Business Analyst
- Business Operations Analyst
- Business Process Analyst
- Continuous Improvement Specialist
- Decision Analyst
Job Outlook
There are about 276,629 operations research analysts working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +3.1% over the projection horizon.
Operations Research Analysts Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $83,596 |
| Hourly median | $40.19 |
| 10th percentile | $51,924 |
| 25th percentile | $67,760 |
| 75th percentile | $99,432 |
| 90th percentile | $115,268 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Operations Research Analysts Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Virginia | $123,050 |
| Alabama | $117,540 |
| District of Columbia | $115,980 |
| New York | $109,440 |
| Vermont | $108,800 |
| Ohio | $104,610 |
| Colorado | $104,560 |
| Illinois | $102,750 |
| New Jersey | $101,220 |
| Delaware | $101,210 |
| Maryland | $100,990 |
| North Carolina | $100,630 |
| Alaska | $99,960 |
| Kansas | $99,740 |
| Oregon | $99,250 |
| Connecticut | $99,210 |
| Hawaii | $97,630 |
| Nebraska | $96,990 |
| California | $96,920 |
| Texas | $96,660 |
| Washington | $96,490 |
| Maine | $90,420 |
| Massachusetts | $90,030 |
| Minnesota | $89,240 |
| Mississippi | $87,550 |
| New Hampshire | $86,380 |
| Rhode Island | $86,120 |
| Indiana | $84,150 |
| Michigan | $84,100 |
| Arizona | $83,500 |
| Utah | $82,230 |
| Nevada | $82,120 |
| Kentucky | $81,760 |
| North Dakota | $80,080 |
| Iowa | $78,140 |
| New Mexico | $77,930 |
| Florida | $77,670 |
| Idaho | $77,460 |
| Pennsylvania | $75,760 |
| Arkansas | $75,650 |
| Tennessee | $75,370 |
| Wisconsin | $74,970 |
| South Carolina | $74,880 |
| Georgia | $73,890 |
| Montana | $71,350 |
| Louisiana | $64,240 |
| West Virginia | $63,760 |
| Oklahoma | $62,510 |
| Puerto Rico | $61,950 |
| Missouri | $55,640 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Earnings for operations research analysts vary by region. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Atlantic | $101,415 | 17.4% | 1.61 |
| Far Western US | $96,913 | 15.8% | 1.06 |
| Great Lakes | $92,041 | 13.7% | 1.22 |
| New England | $91,467 | 6.4% | 1.58 |
| Southwest | $91,210 | 15.2% | 1.21 |
| Southeast | $90,200 | 24.7% | 1.30 |
| Rocky Mountains | $88,318 | 2.5% | 0.71 |
| Plains States | $75,300 | 4.3% | 0.73 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Operations Research Analysts
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington Park, MD | MD | $135,390 | 380 |
| Peoria, IL | IL | $134,500 | 120 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | CO | $133,720 | 190 |
| Huntsville, AL | AL | $132,620 | 330 |
| Burlington-South Burlington, VT | VT | $127,030 | 60 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | DC | $124,090 | 7,610 |
| Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | FL | $121,700 | 70 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $118,320 | 6,350 |
Industry Breakdown
The largest employers of operations research analysts are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Finance and Insurance | 25,040 | $82,790 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 24,310 | $99,600 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 11,770 | $96,310 |
| Educational Services | 6,770 | $74,520 |
| Information | 6,140 | $97,970 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 5,080 | $80,040 |
| Manufacturing | 4,610 | $107,360 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 3,850 | $78,670 |
Below are examples of industries where operations research analysts work:
Tools and Technology
- Data base user interface and query software: Amazon Redshift (hot technology)
- Data base management system software: Apache Hadoop (hot technology)
- Data base management system software: Apache Hive (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Apple macOS (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Bash (hot technology)
- Development environment software: C (hot technology)
- Object or component oriented development software: C++ (hot technology)
- Geographic information system: ESRI ArcGIS software (hot technology)
- Enterprise application integration software: Extensible markup language XML (hot technology)
- Application server software: GitHub (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Google Docs (hot technology)
- Analytical or scientific software: IBM SPSS Statistics (hot technology)
Work Environment
The on-the-job environment of operations research analysts tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Spend Time Sitting
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
Getting Started in This Career
Typical operations research analysts positions require a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Extensive Preparation Needed (Job Zone 5), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Logistics Engineers (Supplemental)
- Project Management Specialists (Supplemental)
- Management Analysts (Primary-Short)
- Financial Risk Specialists (Supplemental)
- Financial Quantitative Analysts (Supplemental)
- Computer Systems Analysts (Primary-Short)
- Computer and Information Research Scientists (Primary-Long)
- Database Administrators (Supplemental)
Degree Programs
Students preparing for operations research analysts typically earn programs in:
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
1 programs across 1 majors
Engineering
1 programs across 1 majors
References
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 15-2031.00 (Operations Research Analysts).
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