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Operations Research Analyst
Also called: Operations Analyst · Decision Scientist · Optimization Analyst · OR Analyst
What operations research analysts do, what they earn, how long training takes and how to get started, with official BLS pay data and practical, job-level detail.
What does an operations research analyst do?
Operations research analysts use advanced mathematical and analytical methods to help organizations solve problems and make better decisions. The median pay is $88,940 per year (BLS, May 2025), most people train for about Entry-level with a quantitative degree, and employment is projected to grow +11.9% from 2025–35.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
- Median pay$88,940$42.76/hour · May 2025
- Job growth+11.9%2025–35, much faster than average
- Openings per year7,500Average, 2025–35
- Typical entry educationBachelor's degreeBLS classification
- Time to trainEntry-level with a quantitative degreeTypical program length
- U.S. jobs113,100Employment, 2025
What operations research analysts do
Operations research analysts solve complex business problems with math. They build optimization and simulation models for scheduling, routing, inventory, staffing and pricing, test options and recommend the best course of action. Airlines, logistics companies, manufacturers, hospitals and the military hire them.
Most have a bachelor’s degree in operations research, math, engineering or a related field; many have a master’s. BLS projects much faster than average growth.
Typical duties
- Define business problems
- Gather data
- Build optimization models
- Run simulations
- Analyze results
- Recommend decisions
- Present to leaders
Work environment and schedule
Analysts work in offices, often remotely.
Schedule: Full-time business hours.
A day in the life
- Meet operations about delays.
- Clean scheduling data.
- Build an optimization model.
- Run scenarios.
See a full day in the life of an operations research analyst →
Operations Research Analyst salary
Half of operations research analysts earned more than $88,940 and half earned less in May 2025. Pay ranged from about $57,060 for the lowest 10% to $159,910 for the top 10%.
Full operations research analyst pay scale and hourly rates →
How to become an operations research analyst
- Earn a quantitative bachelor’s
- Learn Python and optimization
- Do internships
- Join as an analyst
- Earn a master’s
A bachelor’s degree in operations research, math, engineering or a related field is typical; many have a master’s.
Step-by-step guide to becoming an operations research analyst →
Skills and tools
Technical skills
- Optimization
- Simulation
- Statistics
- Programming
- Data analysis
People skills
- Problem-solving
- Communication
- Curiosity
- Business sense
All operations research analyst skills and tools →
Pros and cons
Pros
- Much faster-than-average growth
- Solve real problems
- Good pay
- Remote options
Cons
- Models depend on data quality
- Explaining math to non-experts
- Desk-heavy
- Deadlines
Certifications and licenses
- CAP: Certified Analytics Professional.
- Master’s in operations research: Common.
- Lean Six Sigma: Helpful.
- Optimization software training: Helpful.
Career path
- Analyst: Entry.
- Senior Analyst: Lead models.
- Manager: Lead teams.
- Director of Analytics: Lead strategy.
Learn the job before day one
Our Operations Research Analyst training (10 hours, $89.99) covers the role, 15+ key terms, step-by-step procedures such as build a simple staffing optimization model and run a monte carlo simulation, safety and how to land your first job.
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Compare: Operations Research Analyst vs. Management Analyst · Operations Research Analyst vs. Data Scientist · Operations Research Analyst vs. Statistician · Operations Research Analyst vs. Logistics Manager
Operations Research Analyst FAQ
What is operations research?
Using math to make better decisions.
Is it growing?
Yes, BLS projects much faster than average growth.
Do I need a master’s?
Not always, but many have one.
How much does an operations research analyst make?
The median annual wage for operations research analysts was $88,940 ($42.76 per hour) in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned less than $57,060 and the highest 10% earned more than $159,910.
How long does it take to become an operations research analyst?
Most people need about Entry-level with a quantitative degree of training. A bachelor’s degree in operations research, math, engineering or a related field is typical; many have a master’s.
Do you need a degree to be an operations research analyst?
Usually, yes. BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education, although skills, certifications and experience can sometimes substitute.
More operations research analyst questions →
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, SOC 15-2031 (Operations research analysts).
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 (2025–35).
- O*NET OnLine summary for Operations research analysts (U.S. Department of Labor).
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Reviewed by the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team. Pay figures are national estimates; local pay varies. See our editorial policy.