Operations Research Analysts: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)

Operations Research Analysts fall under the Computer and Mathematical category in the U.S. occupational classification. Operations Research Analysts earn a median salary of $91,290 per year, ranking in the top 18% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +21.5% job growth through 2034, projected to grow far faster than the US average. Entry into this field typically requires a bachelor's degree, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.

What do operations research analysts earn?

The median annual wage for operations research analysts is $91,290. That puts operations research analysts at #144 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is above the U.S. median for individual workers and reflects a stable, credentialed occupation. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.

Is operations research analysts a growing career?

The 10-year outlook for operations research analysts is +21.5%, projected to grow far faster than the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 112K positions in 2024 to 136K in 2034, a net change of 24K. Very fast growth indicates significant talent shortages and unusually strong hiring momentum — often the most resilient outlook a teenager can plan toward.

What do operations research analysts do every day?

According to O*NET task surveys of working operations research analysts, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.

1. 1.Develop and apply time and cost networks to plan, control, and review large projects.
2. 2.Break systems into their components, assign numerical values to each component, and examine the mathematical relationships between them.
3. 3.Educate staff in the use of mathematical models.
4. 4.Perform validation and testing of models to ensure adequacy, and reformulate models, as necessary.
5. 5.Observe the current system in operation, and gather and analyze information about each of the component problems, using a variety of sources.
6. 6.Analyze information obtained from management to conceptualize and define operational problems.
7. 7.Specify manipulative or computational methods to be applied to models.
8. 8.Define data requirements, and gather and validate information, applying judgment and statistical tests.

Top skills for operations research analysts

O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.

What education does my child need to become operations research analyst?

The standard path into operations research analysts begins with a bachelor's degree in a related field, followed by entry-level experience or internships during college. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.

Related careers your child might also consider

• Computer and Information Research Scientists
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• Database Architects
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• Software Developers
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• Computer Network Architects
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• Actuaries
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• Information Security Analysts
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Common questions parents ask about operations research analysts