Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Bachelor's degree
None
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These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Operations research analysts use quantitative thinking, technology, and problem-solving to help organizations make better decisions. This career combines critical and analytical thinking, mathematics, and computers and information technology, supported by strong skills in writing, reading, speaking, and listening. With a national median salary of $91,290 and national employment of 112,000, it offers both scale and substantial earning potential. The projected employment growth rate of 21.5%, along with about 10,000 annual openings, points to strong ongoing demand. The role also values creativity and innovation, adaptability, project management, and science, giving you multiple ways to contribute and grow professionally. Career options are not limited to one location: several states and metro areas show high CareerGPS opportunity scores and strong salaries. For people who enjoy data, logic, and solving complex problems, operations research analyst roles offer a compelling mix of quantitative work, communication, and long-term opportunity.
Operations research analysts earn a national median salary of $91,290, with higher typical pay in some states and metro areas. Among the top states by CareerGPS opportunity score, median salaries range from $96,500 in Massachusetts to $129,880 in Colorado. New York shows a median salary of $108,610, California $102,100, and Washington $98,030, giving candidates several strong options across regions. At the metro level, median salaries are even higher in certain areas. The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro reports a median of $127,600, and San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA reports $123,360. Other leading metros include San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA at $110,560 and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ at $103,110. These figures suggest that, while the national median is strong, location choices can significantly influence earning potential for operations research analysts.
Operations research analysts have a sizable national employment base of 112,000 and are projected to grow by 21.5%. This projected growth rate, paired with about 10,000 annual openings, indicates a robust pipeline of opportunities over time. The combination of existing employment and future expansion suggests both replacement needs and new roles becoming available. Because the same 21.5% projected growth rate appears in the top states and metro areas listed, individuals interested in this career can expect consistent projected growth across multiple key locations. The number of annual openings relative to current employment also points to regular hiring activity. For students and career changers, this outlook means the field is not only established but also expanding, which can support long-term career planning and the potential for progression into more advanced roles over time, depending on skills and experience.
Geography can play a major role in shaping your experience as an operations research analyst. At the state level, California, Massachusetts, New York, Colorado, and Washington all show strong CareerGPS opportunity scores, combining salary, employment, and growth. New York has a median salary of $108,610 and employment of 5,890, while California offers a median of $102,100 with 10,620 employed. Colorado stands out with a median salary of $129,880, though with a smaller employment base of 770. Washington and Massachusetts provide medians of $98,030 and $96,500, respectively, with several thousand employed in each. Metro areas reveal even more concentrated opportunities. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ have the highest opportunity scores, with median salaries of $123,360 and $103,110. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV combines a high median salary of $127,600 with large employment of 8,080. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH also offer strong combinations of pay and employment, giving candidates multiple attractive urban options.
The typical education requirement for operations research analysts is a bachelor’s degree. Within that framework, several core skill areas stand out as particularly important. Strong critical and analytical thinking and solid grounding in mathematics are central to this career. Comfort with computers and information technology is also key, reflecting the importance of working with quantitative tools and systems. In addition to technical strengths, this role relies heavily on communication and broader cognitive skills. Writing and reading, along with speaking and listening, help analysts convey findings and collaborate effectively. Problem solving and decision making, creativity and innovation, and adaptability support work on complex, evolving challenges. Project management skills help organize tasks and timelines, while science knowledge rounds out the analytical profile. Together, these skills show that success in this field draws on both quantitative education and well-developed communication and thinking abilities.
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