Career comparison
Logistics Manager vs. Operations Research Analyst
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Logistics managers earn more at the median ($107,230 vs. $88,940), while operations research analysts usually get to work faster (Entry-level with a quantitative degree of training). Logistics managers run the warehouses and transportation that move goods to customers. Operations research analysts use math models to help organizations make better decisions.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Logistics Manager | Operations Research Analyst | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $107,230 ($51.55/hr) | $88,940 ($42.76/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $65,120 – $194,900 | $57,060 – $159,910 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +6.1% (faster than average) | +11.9% (much faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 18,300 | 7,500 |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent | Bachelor's degree |
| Training time | 5+ years of experience | Entry-level with a quantitative degree |
| Key credential | CSCP | CAP |
| Work setting | Logistics managers work in warehouses, distribution centers and offices.. | Analysts work in offices, often remotely.. |
What each job does
Logistics Manager
- Manage warehouse operations
- Manage carriers and fleets
- Plan labor
- Track costs
- Track on-time delivery
Operations Research Analyst
- Define business problems
- Gather data
- Build optimization models
- Run simulations
- Analyze results
How they’re similar
Both careers involve high-pay, problem-solving, and in-demand. They sit in different fields, transportation & logistics and business & office, but share transferable skills such as leadership and problem-solving.
Which should you choose?
Choose logistics manager if…
- I like fast-moving operations
- I solve problems quickly
- I can lead large teams
Choose operations research analyst if…
- I love math puzzles
- I like real-world problems
- I can code
Still torn? Take the Logistics Manager fit quiz and the Operations Research Analyst fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, logistics manager or operations research analyst?
Logistics Managers earn more at the median: $107,230 versus $88,940 for operations research analysts, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Operations Research Analysts typically train faster (Entry-level with a quantitative degree) than logistics managers (5+ years of experience).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects operations research analysts to grow +11.9% from 2025–35, compared with +6.1% for logistics managers.