Operations Research Analysts
Career, Salary and Education Information
What They Do: Operations research analysts use advanced mathematical and analytical methods to help solve complex issues.
Work Environment: Operations research analysts spend most of their time in offices, although some travel may be necessary to meet with clients. Almost all operations research analysts work full time.
How to Become One: Although the typical educational requirement for entry-level positions is a bachelor’s degree, some employers may prefer to hire applicants with a master’s degree. Analysts typically have a degree in business, operations research, management science, analytics, mathematics, engineering, computer science, or another technical or quantitative field.
Salary: The median annual wage for operations research analysts is $82,360.
Job Outlook: Employment of operations research analysts is projected to grow 23 percent over the next ten years, much faster than the average for all occupations.
Related Careers: Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of operations research analysts with similar occupations.
Following is everything you need to know about a career as an operations research analyst with lots of details. As a first step, take a look at some of the following jobs, which are real jobs with real employers. You will be able to see the very real job career requirements for employers who are actively hiring. The link will open in a new tab so that you can come back to this page to continue reading about the career:
Top 3 Operations Research Analyst Jobs
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Security Operations Center Analyst
- Clark Creative Solutions
- Oxnard, CA
Conduct comprehensive technical analyses of computer evidence, research and integrate new security ... Knowledge of Operational Technology (OT) or Industrial Control Systems (ICS) * Strong analytical ...
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Market Intelligence & Strategy Analyst
- Taylor Morrison
- Scottsdale, AZ
Provide the "voice of the consumer" with sound data research on consumer preferences/wants/needs ... Office or non-manual work, which is directly related to management or general business operations
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Contracts and Grants Analyst
- University of California Santa Cruz
- Santa Cruz, CA
... in research , education and training in optical and infrared astronomy. In addition to managing the technical, physical plant and public outreach operations of the Lick Observatory on Mt. Hamilton ...
What Operations Research Analysts Do[About this section] [To Top]
Operations research analysts use advanced mathematical and analytical methods to help organizations solve problems and make better decisions.
Duties of Operations Research Analysts
Operations research analysts typically do the following:
- Identify and solve problems in areas such as business, logistics, healthcare, or other fields
- Collect and organize information from a variety of sources, such as computer databases, sales histories, and customer feedback
- Gather input from workers involved in all aspects of a problem or from others who have specialized knowledge, so that they can help solve the problem
- Examine information to figure out what is relevant to a problem and what methods might be used to analyze it
- Use statistical analysis, simulations, predictive modeling, or other methods to analyze information and develop practical solutions to business problems
- Advise managers and other decisionmakers on the effects of various courses of action to take in order to address a problem
- Write memos, reports, and other documents explaining their findings and recommendations for managers, executives, and other officials
Operations research analysts are involved in all aspects of an organization. They help managers decide how to allocate resources, develop production schedules, manage the supply chain, and set prices. For example, they may help decide how to organize products in supermarkets or help companies figure out the most effective way to ship and distribute products.
Analysts must first identify and understand the problem to be solved or the processes to be improved. Analysts typically collect relevant data from the field and interview clients or managers involved in the business processes being examined. Analysts show the implications of pursuing different actions and may assist in achieving a consensus on how to proceed.
Operations research analysts use sophisticated computer software, such as databases and statistical packages, to analyze and solve problems. Analysts use statistical software to simulate current and future events and evaluate alternative courses of action. Analysts break down problems into their various parts and analyze the effect that different changes and circumstances would have on each of these parts. For example, to help an airline schedule flights and decide what to charge for tickets, analysts may take into account the cities that have to be connected, the amount of fuel required to fly those routes, the expected number of passengers, pilots' schedules, maintenance costs, and fuel prices.
There is no one way to solve a problem, and analysts must weigh the costs and benefits of alternative solutions or approaches in their recommendations to managers.
Because problems are complex and often require expertise from many disciplines, most analysts work on teams. Once a manager reaches a final decision, these teams may work with others in the organization to ensure that the plan is successful.
Work Environment for Operations Research Analysts[About this section] [To Top]
Operations research analysts hold about 104,200 jobs. The largest employers of operations research analysts are as follows:
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 28% |
| Finance and insurance | 25% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 8% |
| Federal government | 6% |
| Manufacturing | 5% |
Some operations research analysts in the federal government work for the Department of Defense, which also employs analysts through private consulting firms.
Operations research analysts spend much of their time in office settings. They may travel to gather information, observe business processes, work with clients, or attend conferences.
Operations Research Analyst Work Schedules
Most operations research analysts work full time.
How to Become an Operations Research Analyst[About this section] [To Top]
Get the education you need: Find schools for Operations Research Analysts near you!
Although the typical educational requirement for entry-level positions is a bachelor's degree, some employers may prefer to hire applicants with a master's degree. Because few schools offer bachelor's and advanced degree programs in operations research, analysts typically have degrees in other related fields.
Education for Operations Research Analysts
Many entry-level positions are available for those with a bachelor's degree. However, some employers may prefer to hire applicants with a master's degree.
Although some schools offer bachelor's and advanced degree programs in operations research, some analysts have degrees in other technical or quantitative fields, such as engineering, computer science, analytics, or mathematics.
Because operations research is based on quantitative analysis, students need extensive coursework in mathematics. Courses include statistics, calculus, and linear algebra. Coursework in computer science is important because analysts rely on advanced statistical and database software to analyze and model data. Courses in other areas, such as engineering, economics, and political science, are useful because operations research is a multidisciplinary field with a wide variety of applications.
Continuing education is important for operations research analysts. Keeping up with advances in technology, software tools, and improved analytical methods is vital.
Other Experience for Operations Research Analysts
Some operations research analysts are veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. Certain positions may require applicants to undergo a background check in order to obtain a security clearance.
Important Qualities for Operations Research Analysts
Analytical skills. Operations research analysts use a wide range of methods, such as forecasting, data mining, and statistical analysis, to examine and interpret data. They must determine the appropriate software packages and understand computer programming languages to design and develop new techniques and models.
Communication skills. Operations research analysts often present their data and conclusions to managers and other executives. They also need to communicate technical information to people without a technical background.
Critical-thinking skills. Operations research analysts must be able to figure out what information is relevant to their work. They also must be able to evaluate the costs and benefits of alternative solutions before making a recommendation.
Interpersonal skills. Operations research analysts typically work on teams. They also need to be able to convince managers and top executives to accept their recommendations.
Math skills. The models and methods used by operations research analysts are rooted in statistics, calculus, linear algebra, and other advanced mathematical disciplines.
Problem-solving skills. Operations research analysts need to be able to diagnose problems on the basis of information given to them by others. They then analyze relevant information to solve the problems.
Writing skills. Operations research analysts write memos, reports, and other documents explaining their findings and recommendations.
Operations Research Analyst Salaries[About this section] [More salary/earnings info] [To Top]
The median annual wage for operations research analysts is $82,360. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $48,690, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $160,850.
The median annual wages for operations research analysts in the top industries in which they work are as follows:
| Federal government | $120,950 |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | $99,790 |
| Manufacturing | $98,040 |
| Management of companies and enterprises | $94,070 |
| Finance and insurance | $79,450 |
Most operations research analysts work full time.
Job Outlook for Operations Research Analysts[About this section] [To Top]
Employment of operations research analysts is projected to grow 23 percent over the next ten years, much faster than the average for all occupations.
About 10,300 openings for operations research analysts are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Employment of Operations Research Analysts
As technology advances and companies and government agencies seek efficiency and cost savings, demand for operations research analysis should continue to grow. In addition, increasing demand should occur for these workers in the field of analytics to improve business planning and decision making.
Technological advances have made it faster and easier for organizations to get data. Operations research analysts manage and evaluate data to improve business operations, supply chains, pricing models, and marketing. In addition, improvements in analytical software have made operations research more affordable and applicable to a wider range of areas. More companies are expected to employ operations research analysts to help them turn data into information that managers use to make decisions about all aspects of their business.
| Occupational Title | Employment, 2021 | Projected Employment, 2031 | Change, 2021-31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Percent | Numeric | |||
| Operations research analysts | 104,200 | 128,300 | 23 | 24,200 |
More Operations Research Analyst Information[About this section] [To Top]
For more information about operations research analysts, visit
Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences
A portion of the information on this page is used by permission of the U.S. Department of Labor.