How to Become an Operations Research Analyst
Use mathematical modeling and optimization to solve the hardest decisions in logistics, pricing, and planning. It typically requires a master's degree, with a median salary of $88,940 per year and much faster than average projected job growth.
Median pay
$88,940/yr
Middle half
$68,360 to $125,990
Job growth
Much faster than average
Openings / yr
9,600
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Optimization Modeling
- Mathematics
- Programming
- Critical Thinking
- Communication
Helpful certifications
- CAP (Certified Analytics Professional)
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
77/100
Work-life balance
56/100
Stress level
40/100
Related careers
- Economist$124,720 median
- Business Intelligence Analyst$120,230 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does an Operations Research Analyst make?
The median pay for an Operations Research Analyst is $88,940 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $68,360 and $125,990 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become an Operations Research Analyst?
The usual entry point is a master's degree. Common majors are Mathematics, Operations Research, Statistics, Industrial Engineering, and Economics.
Is Operations Research Analyst a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is much faster than average (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 9,600 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does an Operations Research Analyst use most?
Common skills for this role are Optimization Modeling, Mathematics, Programming, Critical Thinking, and Communication.
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).