Computer & Math

Operations Research Analysts

SOC 15-2031

Use math models to help organizations make better operational decisions.

The job

Median pay

$89k

$68k to $126k typical range

Outlook, 2025 to 2035

Growing fast

+12% projected

Openings a year

7.5k

BLS projection

Typical education

Bachelor's

Our model

AI displacement risk

Very high

How much of this job AI may do instead of the person

Works with AI

4/100

AI alongside the person rather than instead of them

AI exposure

97th pct

More exposed than 97% of occupations · modeled estimate · 89th pct in Microsoft's data

Future-proof

52/100

At a glance

For Operations Research Analysts, modeled exposure lands at the 97th percentile, displacement risk very high, works-with-AI 4/100, leaning toward displacement. At $88,940 a year, median pay runs 32% above the typical occupation we cover (16% below the Computer & Math median). Projected employment change for 2025 to 2035 is +12%, 8.2 points above the typical occupation we cover. Hiring volume is roughly 7,500 openings a year. Entry into Operations Research Analysts usually takes a bachelor's degree. Compared with Cloud Engineers at -4.1%, projected growth here is +12%.

Take the next step

Weigh it against MathematiciansPay, outlook, entry and AI exposure side by side See where it pays mostColorado leads at $130k; all states are listed below Find careers like itOpen the map at Operations Research Analysts and explore its neighbours See open jobsOperations Research Analysts roles hiring now Learn the skillsCourses for Operations Research Analysts, who lean most on mathematics Real pay & reviewsSelf-reported pay and reviews on Glassdoor

Similar pay in Computer & Math

Key skills

Mathematics
Reading Comprehension
Active Listening
Writing
Speaking
Critical Thinking

Pay and jobs by state

BLS OEWS May 2025, 50 states and DC. Sorted by jobs; per 1,000 is jobs per thousand workers in the state; vs national compares that rate with the country's. A tilde marks a figure estimated from the parent occupation group where BLS publishes none.

State	Jobs	Per 1,000	vs national	Median pay
Texas	11,890	0.8	1.2×	$91k
California	10,620	0.6	0.8×	$102k
Florida	9,120	0.9	1.3×	$78k
Virginia	6,980	1.7	2.4×	$129k
New York	5,890	0.6	0.9×	$109k
Illinois	5,180	0.8	1.2×	$90k
Maryland	4,710	1.7	2.4×	$97k
Georgia	4,600	0.9	1.4×	$76k
Wisconsin	4,270	1.5	2.1×	$72k
Massachusetts	4,200	1.2	1.6×	$97k

All 50 states and DC

State	Jobs	Per 1,000	vs national	Median pay
New Jersey	3,280	0.8	1.1×	$101k (estimated)
Pennsylvania	3,220	0.5	0.8×	$80k
Washington	3,050	0.9	1.2×	$98k
Oregon	2,710	1.4	2.0×	$102k
Arizona	2,600	0.8	1.1×	$75k
Ohio	2,600	0.5	0.7×	$104k
North Carolina	2,520	0.5	0.7×	$97k
Washington DC	2,250	3.2	4.6×	$96k
Oklahoma	1,840	1.1	1.5×	$62k
Indiana	1,380	0.4	0.6×	$85k
South Carolina	1,380	0.6	0.9×	$80k
Minnesota	1,240	0.4	0.6×	$96k
Tennessee	1,200	0.4	0.5×	$77k
Missouri	1,190	0.4	0.6×	$62k
Michigan	980	0.2	0.3×	$83k
Connecticut	950	0.6	0.8×	$97k
Utah	810	0.5	0.7×	$90k
Kansas	782 (estimated)	0.5 (estimated)	0.8× (estimated)	$92k
Colorado	770	0.3	0.4×	$130k
Delaware	660	1.4	1.9×	$101k
Kentucky	660	0.3	0.5×	$84k
Alabama	550	0.3	0.4×	$116k
Louisiana	550	0.3	0.4×	$63k
New Mexico	510	0.6	0.8×	$80k
Idaho	500	0.6	0.8×	$104k
Nevada	370	0.2	0.3×	$87k
Rhode Island	360	0.7	1.0×	$78k
Nebraska	330	0.3	0.5×	$98k
Iowa	300	0.2	0.3×	$81k
New Hampshire	290	0.4	0.6×	$87k (estimated)
Maine	220	0.3	0.5×	$99k
Arkansas	210	0.2	0.2×	$59k
West Virginia	200	0.3	0.4×	$64k
South Dakota	199 (estimated)	0.4 (estimated)	0.6× (estimated)	$66k (estimated)
Vermont	170	0.6	0.8×	$90k
Montana	150	0.3	0.4×	$80k
North Dakota	130	0.3	0.4×	$82k
Hawaii	120	0.2	0.3×	$101k
Mississippi	120	0.1	0.1×	$92k
Wyoming	91 (estimated)	0.3 (estimated)	0.5× (estimated)	$69k (estimated)
Alaska	70	0.2	0.3×	$89k

Top metro areas

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV8,080 jobs · $128k median
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ6,890 jobs · $103k median
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX4,270 jobs · $106k median
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN3,680 jobs · $87k median
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA3,480 jobs · $98k median
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH3,420 jobs · $101k median
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA3,250 jobs · $78k median
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX2,500 jobs · $86k median

Where this ranks

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Pay and outlook from BLS (OEWS 2025, Employment Projections 2025-2035). Skills and work activities from O*NET 30.3. AI exposure and future-proof scores are modeled estimates. How these numbers are made.