Operations research analysts

Detailed Occupation

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2024 Workforce

188k

Average Age

43.9

Estimated Job Growth

21.5%

10-year projection

Average Salary

$104,081

Average Male Salary

$112,239

Average Female Salary

$95,752

About

Operations research analysts are most often employed by the National security & international affairs industry. The average yearly wage for Operations research analysts was $104,081 in 2024.

The locations that employ the most Operations research analysts are District of Columbia (South Central) PUMA, DC, Arlington County (North) PUMA, VA, and Arlington County (South) PUMA, VA. The locations with a relatively high concentration of Operations research analysts are District of Columbia (South Central) PUMA, DC, Arlington County (North) PUMA, VA, and Arlington County (South) PUMA, VA.

Management, business, science, & arts occupations Computer & mathematical occupations Computer, engineering, & science occupations

Employment

Employment and salary information for the Operations research analysts workforce. Operations research analysts workforce in 2024 was 187,821 people, of which 49.5% were women and 50.5% were men.

Operations research analysts are paid most in Lake County (Southeast)--Vernon, Moraine & West Deerfield Townships PUMA, IL but are relatively concentrated in District of Columbia (South Central) PUMA, DC.

Employment Over Time

Metric

Grouping

94,887

Male Workforce

± 7.56k

92,934

Female Workforce

± 7.48k

The Operations research analysts workforce in 2024 was 187,821 people (49.5% women and 50.5% men). This implies an average annual growth of 40.2% between 2014 (134,008) and 2024 (187,821).

Employment by Location

Level

Metric

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

During 2024, the states that concentrated the best average annual wage were Virginia ($129,204), Maryland ($128,941), and Massachusetts ($124,758).

Yearly Wage Ranking

$104,081

AVERAGE WAGE

#57 in the ranking (2014)

$69,878

NATIONAL AVERAGE WAGE

For all occupations across the US

In 2024, Operations research analysts earned an average of $104,081, $34,204 more than the average national salary of $69,878

The graph shows the ranking of Operations research analysts in relation to all Detailed Occupation in 2014.

In 2024, Operations research analysts had a wage GINI coefficient of 0.276, which is lower than the national average of 0.474. 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.

Industry

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 Printing & related support activities ($227,906).

Occupations by Industries

Metric

Value

188k

2024 Workforce

± 10,634

4.71%

1 YEAR GROWTH

± 7.74%

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 40%, followed by Executive offices & legislative bodies with 26.1% and Justice, public order, & safety activities with 18.3%.

Diversity

Demographic information on Operations research analysts in the US. The workforce of Operations research analysts in 2024 was 187,821 people, with 49.5% woman, and 50.5% men. The average age of male Operations research analysts in the workforce is 44.1 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 2024 was 187,821 people, with 49.5% woman, and 50.5% men.

The age ranges that concentrated the largest workforce were 35 to 39 years (26,512 people), 40 to 44 years (25,407 people), and 30 to 34 years (24,074 people). Among them they concentrated 40.6% of the total workforce.

Ethnicity

Gender

In 2024, 12.1% of Operations research analysts workers were Hispanic and 87.9% non-Hispanic.

The treemap shows the distribution of Hispanic workers according to their origin, highlighting Mexican (49%), Puerto Rican (12.4)%, and All Other Spanish/Hispanic/Latino (5.72)%

You can review this information by gender using the selectors above.

Races

In 2024, 62.2% of the Operations research analysts workforce were White, of which 45.9% were women and 54.1% men. Other races that concentrated a significant number of workers were Black (13.2%) and Asian (10.3%).

Education & 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 2024 were MILITARY SCIENCE, LEADERSHIP AND OPERATIONAL ART.

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 Operations Analysis.

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 2024 (counting all academic degrees) were Business (33,972 people), Social Sciences (21,225 people), and Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (12,234 people).

You can review this information for different academic grades by modifying the option selected in the selector above.

Education Levels

Metric

The main educational levels achieved by the Operations research analysts workers were Bachelors Degree (81,535 people), Graduate Degree (60,531 people), and Some college (22,347 people).

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

Skills

Chart

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, Complex Problem Solving, Reading Comprehension.

Projections

Projections on job growth for Operations Research Analysts from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The 10-year national workforce is projected to grow 3.07%, but Operations Research Analysts are expected to see a growth of 21.5% over the same period. This occupation is expected to grow more than the national average.

Job Growth

21.5%

Estimated Job Growth

10-year Projection

3.07%

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 3.07%, the average rate of national job growth.