Operations research analysts

Detailed Occupation

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2021 Workforce
160k
Average Age
44.1
Estimated Job Growth
24.9%
10-year projection
Average Salary
$91,954
Average Male Salary
$99,026
Average Female Salary
$84,646

About

Operations research analysts are most often employed by the National security & international affairs industry. The average yearly wage for Operations research analysts was $91,954 in 2021.

The locations that employ the most Operations research analysts are District of Columbia (Central) PUMA, DC, Severn, Odenton, Crofton, Maryland City & Fort Meade PUMA, MD, and Alexandria City PUMA, VA. The locations with a relatively high concentration of Operations research analysts are District of Columbia (Central) PUMA, DC, District of Columbia (Northeast) PUMA, DC, and Arlington County (South) PUMA, VA.

briefcaseEmployment

Employment and salary information for the Operations research analysts workforce. Operations research analysts workforce in 2021 was 159,930 people, of which 49.2% were women and 50.8% were men. Operations research analysts are paid most in Park Slope, Carroll Gardens & Red Hook PUMA, NY but are relatively concentrated in District of Columbia (Central) PUMA, DC.

Employment Over Time

Metric
Grouping
81,282
Male Workforce
± 7k
78,648
Female Workforce
± 6.88k

The Operations research analysts workforce in 2021 was 159,930 people (49.2% women and 50.8% men). This implies an average annual growth of 19.6% between 2014 (133,776) and 2021 (159,930).

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Employment by Location

Level
Metric

This map shows the states in the United States shaded by average wage for Operations research analysts.

During 2021, the states that concentrated the best average annual wage were New Mexico ($120,249), Maryland ($113,228), and Virginia ($109,784).

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Yearly Wage Ranking

$91,954
AVERAGE WAGE
#77 in the ranking (2021)
$59,596
NATIONAL AVERAGE WAGE
For all occupations across the US

In 2021, Operations research analysts earned an average of $91,954, $32,359 more than the average national salary of $59,596

The graph shows the ranking of Operations research analysts in relation to all Detailed Occupation in 2021.

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Wage Distribution

Gender
0.268
WAGE GINI

In 2021, Operations research analysts had a wage GINI coefficient of 0.268, which is lower than the national average of 0.478. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly for Operations research analysts (shown in red) than for the overall labor force (shown in gray).

The graphic shows the distribution of average salaries by buckets for Operations research analysts compared to the entire workforce in the country.

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rigIndustry

Information on the industries that employ Operations research analysts and on wages for those in the field. National security & international affairs is the industry that employs the most Operations research analysts, both by share and by number, though the highest paid industry for Operations research analysts, by average wage, is Internet publishing, broadcasting & web search portals ($174,935).

Occupations by Industries

Metric
Value
160k
2021 Workforce
± 9,813
5.6%
1 YEAR GROWTH
± 8.33%

This graphic shows the share of Operations research analysts employed by various industries. National security & international affairs employs the largest share of Operations research analysts at 49.1%, followed by Executive offices & legislative bodies with 27.4% and Justice, public order, & safety activities with 23.5%.

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geosearchDiversity

Demographic information on Operations research analysts in the US. The workforce of Operations research analysts in 2021 was 159,930 people, with 49.2% woman, and 50.8% men. The average age of male Operations research analysts in the workforce is 44.5 and of female Operations research analysts is 43.7, and the most common race/ethnicity for Operations research analysts is White.

Gender and Age

Metric

The workforce of Operations research analysts in 2021 was 159,930 people, with 49.2% woman, and 50.8% men.

The age ranges that concentrated the largest workforce were 35 to 39 years (22,064 people), 30 to 34 years (21,240  people), and 45 to 49 years (20,460 people). Among them they concentrated 39.9% of the total workforce.

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Ethnicity

Gender

In 2021, 11.3% of Operations research analysts workers were Hispanic and 88.7% non-Hispanic.

The treemap shows the distribution of Hispanic workers according to their origin, highlighting Mexican (74.2%), Puerto Rican (16.7)%, and All Other Spanish/Hispanic/Latino (9.17)%

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Races

In 2021, 66.6% of the Operations research analysts workforce were White, of which 47.2% were women and 52.8% men. Other races that concentrated a significant number of workers were Black (12.5%) and Asian (10.2%).

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learningEducation & Skills

Data on higher education choices for Operations research analysts from The Department of Education and Census Bureau. The most common major for Operations research analysts is Business but the most specialized major according to RCA in 2021 were Math & Statistics.

Among the necessary skills for Operations research analysts, Mathematics stands, but the revealed comparative advantage (RCA) shows that Operations research analysts need more than the average amount of Science.

Majors

ACS PUMS data only shows the major for bachelor's degrees. However, we can filter the data based on highest degree obtained.
Type of Majors
Degree

The most common majors achieved by Operations research analysts in 2021 (counting all academic degrees) were Business (27,690 people), Social Sciences (18,958 people), and Engineering (9,559 people).

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Education Levels

Metric

The main educational levels achieved by the Operations research analysts workers were Bachelors Degree (65,528 people), Graduate Degree (53,383 people), and Some college (20,246 people).

The graphic shows the Operations research analysts workforce by gender and educational level.

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Skills

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Value

Data on the critical and distinctive skills necessary for Operations research analysts from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Operations research analysts need many skills, but most especially Mathematics, Critical Thinking, Complex Problem Solving.

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timeline-line-chartProjections

Projections on job growth for Operations Research Analysts from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The 10-year national workforce is projected to grow 3.71%, but Operations Research Analysts are expected to see a growth of 24.9% over the same period. This occupation is expected to grow more than the national average.

Job Growth

24.9%
Estimated Job Growth
10-year Projection
3.71%
National Growth
10-year Projection

This line chart shows the projected 10-year growth in the number of jobs for Operations research analysts. This profession is expected to grow more than than 3.71%, the average rate of national job growth.

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