SalariesWhat the occupation covers
Formulate and apply mathematical modeling and other optimizing methods to develop and interpret information that assists management with decisionmaking, policy formulation, or other managerial functions. May collect and analyze data and develop decision support software, services, or products. May develop and supply optimal time, cost, or logistics networks for program evaluation, review, or implementation.
Official definition from the Standard Occupational Classification, code 15-2031.
The pay range
Pay differs a lot inside one occupation, with experience, employer and place. The table shows where the lines fall.
| Share of workers | A year | A month* | A week* | An hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn less than | $57,060 | $4,755 | $1,097 | $27.43 |
| Lowest 25% earn less than | $68,360 | $5,697 | $1,315 | $32.86 |
| Median (half earn less, half more) | $88,940 | $7,412 | $1,710 | $42.76 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $125,990 | $10,499 | $2,423 | $60.57 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $159,910 | $13,326 | $3,075 | $76.88 |
* Month and week are the yearly figure divided by 12 and by 52, worked out here for convenience. BLS publishes the yearly and hourly figures.
How it compares
The median for all occupations in the United States was $50,980 a year. The median for Operations Research Analysts is $88,940, which is 74% higher. Among the 21 occupations of the field Computer and Mathematical, it ranks number 18 by median pay. With 108,510 jobs, it makes up about 7.0 of every 10,000 jobs in the country. The average ($99,730) is well above the median, a sign that a smaller group of high earners pulls the average up.
Operations Research Analysts pay by state
The highest median pay was in Colorado ($129,880), Virginia ($129,460) and Alabama ($115,630). The lowest was in Puerto Rico ($57,000), Arkansas ($59,030) and Oklahoma ($61,520). The most jobs were in Texas (11,890), California (10,620) and Florida (9,120). The occupation is most concentrated in District of Columbia, where its share of all jobs is 4.6 times the national share.
No state matches.
| State | Jobs | Median a year | Average a year | Median an hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | 770 | $129,880 | $130,610 | $62.44 |
| Virginia | 6,980 | $129,460 | $130,720 | $62.24 |
| Alabama | 550 | $115,630 | $117,850 | $55.59 |
| New York | 5,890 | $108,610 | $117,790 | $52.22 |
| Ohio | 2,600 | $103,620 | $101,050 | $49.82 |
| Idaho | 500 | $103,600 | $100,360 | $49.81 |
| Oregon | 2,710 | $102,170 | $103,980 | $49.12 |
| California | 10,620 | $102,100 | $110,860 | $49.09 |
| Delaware | 660 | $101,070 | $101,810 | $48.59 |
| Hawaii | 120 | $100,600 | $111,180 | $48.37 |
| Maine | 220 | $99,460 | $102,300 | $47.82 |
| Nebraska | 330 | $98,300 | $101,330 | $47.26 |
| Washington | 3,050 | $98,030 | $107,340 | $47.13 |
| Maryland | 4,710 | $97,410 | $106,620 | $46.83 |
| North Carolina | 2,520 | $97,290 | $98,000 | $46.78 |
| Connecticut | 950 | $96,700 | $97,910 | $46.49 |
| Massachusetts | 4,200 | $96,500 | $104,450 | $46.39 |
| District of Columbia | 2,250 | $96,030 | $115,120 | $46.17 |
| Minnesota | 1,240 | $95,550 | $99,230 | $45.94 |
| Mississippi | 120 | $92,310 | $92,040 | $44.38 |
| Kansas | not published | $92,050 | $96,580 | $44.26 |
| Texas | 11,890 | $90,710 | $100,070 | $43.61 |
| Utah | 810 | $90,200 | $93,310 | $43.37 |
| Illinois | 5,180 | $89,800 | $104,580 | $43.17 |
| Vermont | 170 | $89,790 | $90,840 | $43.17 |
| Alaska | 70 | $88,750 | $89,070 | $42.67 |
| Nevada | 370 | $86,500 | $97,130 | $41.59 |
| Indiana | 1,380 | $85,280 | $93,070 | $41.00 |
| Kentucky | 660 | $83,850 | $89,930 | $40.31 |
| Michigan | 980 | $83,480 | $94,890 | $40.13 |
| North Dakota | 130 | $82,460 | $89,080 | $39.65 |
| Iowa | 300 | $80,580 | $90,760 | $38.74 |
| Montana | 150 | $80,400 | $78,530 | $38.66 |
| New Mexico | 510 | $80,360 | $93,860 | $38.63 |
| South Carolina | 1,380 | $80,240 | $87,170 | $38.58 |
| Pennsylvania | 3,220 | $79,640 | $88,210 | $38.29 |
| Rhode Island | 360 | $77,910 | $92,390 | $37.46 |
| Florida | 9,120 | $77,600 | $84,250 | $37.31 |
| Tennessee | 1,200 | $76,680 | $80,330 | $36.87 |
| Georgia | 4,600 | $76,220 | $85,530 | $36.64 |
| Arizona | 2,600 | $75,470 | $83,290 | $36.28 |
| Wisconsin | 4,270 | $71,820 | $73,790 | $34.53 |
| West Virginia | 200 | $64,100 | $71,320 | $30.82 |
| Louisiana | 550 | $63,210 | $72,320 | $30.39 |
| Missouri | 1,190 | $62,380 | $74,620 | $29.99 |
| Oklahoma | 1,840 | $61,520 | $63,770 | $29.58 |
| Arkansas | 210 | $59,030 | $65,060 | $28.38 |
| Puerto Rico | 50 | $57,000 | $71,720 | $27.40 |
| New Hampshire | 290 | not published | not published | not published |
| New Jersey | 3,280 | not published | not published | not published |
Sorted by median pay, highest first. "Not published" means BLS did not release that figure for the state, usually because too few employers were surveyed. "$239,200 or more" is the highest value BLS reports in the state tables.
Similar occupations by pay
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- Computer User Support Specialists$61,860 a year
Common questions
How much do Operations Research Analysts earn in the United States?
The median pay was $88,940 a year in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $57,060 and the highest-paid 10% more than $159,910.
How many people work as Operations Research Analysts?
About 108,510 jobs in the United States in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Checked in November 2026. Figures are for employees, before tax, and leave out overtime pay and benefits. They are official statistics, not advice or a pay offer; see bls.gov/oes for the original tables.