Operations Research Analysts

Low Risk
Low High

Explore safer careers (2)

Lower estimated automation risk

Management Analysts
19% automation risk | Minimal Risk
Pays better More jobs
6.1 pts lower View career
Why it fits

Applies process analysis, decision models, stakeholder interviews, metrics, recommendations, and implementation support.

Mathematicians
19% automation risk | Minimal Risk
Pays better
6.1 pts lower View career
Why it fits

Uses mathematical modeling, algorithms, proofs, optimization, abstraction, and quantitative research.

Alternative careers

Related career paths that build on similar skills and experience

Business Intelligence Analysts
33% automation risk | Low Risk
Pays better Higher growth
View career
Why it fits

Transfers metrics, dashboards, SQL, trend analysis, data quality, stakeholder questions, and recommendations.

Software Developers
27% automation risk | Low Risk
Pays better More jobs
View career
Why it fits

Fits analysts who build decision tools using algorithms, coding, data pipelines, testing, and documentation.

Compare this job with others
or search for another job
Share your results with friends and family.

Occupation snapshot

What does this snowflake show?
The Snowflake is a visual summary of the five badges: Automation Risk (calculated), Risk (polled), Growth, Wages and Volume. It gives you an instant snapshot of an occupations profile. The colour of the Snowflake relates to its size. The better the occupation scores in relation to others, the larger and greener the Snowflake becomes.
JOB SCORE
6.9/10
What's this?
Job Score (higher is better):

We rate jobs using four factors. These are:

- Chance of being automated
- Job growth
- Wages
- Volume of available positions

These are some key things to think about when job hunting.

Risk & user votes

Calculated automation risk

25% (Low Risk)

Low Risk (21-40%): This occupation has a lower risk of full replacement by AI, software, or robotic systems. Some tasks may be automated or assisted, but the role usually still relies on human judgement, communication, responsibility, physical adaptability, or practical decision-making.

More information on what this score is, and how it is calculated is available here.

Human strengths important in this job

These are human abilities and work contexts that are important in this occupation. They may help explain why parts of the role are harder to replace end-to-end, but they are not the only inputs into the automation score.

Thinking creatively

Very important
Why this matters
Coming up with original ideas and designs—creating new concepts, products, systems, or artistic work. This kind of open-ended invention and taste-based judgment is harder to automate end-to-end than routine, rule-based tasks.
Jobs that also use this strength

Decision-making and problem solving

Very important
Why this matters
Analyze information, weigh tradeoffs, and choose the best solution—especially when situations are ambiguous, high-stakes, or have real-world consequences.
Jobs that also use this strength

Communicating with people outside the organization

Quite important
Why this matters
Represents the organization to customers, the public, or government—handling questions, concerns, and relationship-building through conversations, writing, calls, or email.
Jobs that also use this strength

Consulting and advising others

Quite important
Why this matters
Provide guidance and expert advice to managers or teams on technical, system, or process decisions—explaining options, tradeoffs, and recommended actions.
Jobs that also use this strength

Active learning

Quite important
Why this matters
Keeps learning from new information and applying it to make better decisions now and in the future, especially when situations change.
Jobs that also use this strength
Show 2 more strengths

Operations analysis

Quite important
Why this matters
Figure out what people need and what a product must do, then translate those requirements into a workable design.
Jobs that also use this strength

Education and training expertise

Quite important
Why this matters
Designing and delivering instruction—adapting lessons to different learners and measuring whether training actually works.
Jobs that also use this strength

What users think

Based on 98 votes

38% chance of full automation within the next two decades

Our visitors have voted there's a low chance this occupation will be automated. This assessment is further supported by the calculated automation risk level, which estimates 25% chance of automation.

What do you think the risk of automation is?

What is the likelihood that Operations Research Analysts will be replaced by robots or artificial intelligence within the next 20 years?

Sentiment

Based on user votes over time

View sentiment trend

How opinions have changed over time

Pay & outlook

Wages

High paid relative to other professions

In 2024, the median annual wage for Operations Research Analysts was $91,290 ($44 per hour).

The median annual wage for Operations Research Analysts was 84.4% higher than the national median annual wage, which stood at $49,500.

View wage trend

Wages over time

* Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics

Growth

Very fast growth relative to other professions

The number of 'Operations Research Analysts' job openings is expected to rise 21.5% by 2034

View employment trend

Total employment, and estimated job openings

* Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics for the period between 2023 and 2033
Updated projections are due 09-2025.

Volume

Greater range of job opportunities compared to other professions

As of 2024 there were 107,760 people employed as 'Operations Research Analysts' within the United States.

This represents around 0.07% of the employed workforce across the country

Put another way, around 1 in 1 thousand people are employed as 'Operations Research Analysts'.

People also viewed

Business Intelligence Analysts Computer Programmers Lawyers Statisticians Financial and Investment Analysts

What people are saying (1)

Ian (Low)
08 May 2023 15:54
The computer programming/technical work is half or less of this job's function, and successful OR analysts must work closely with other business partners
Leave a reply about this occupation
0/8000

Job description

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.

O*NET-SOC code: 15-2031.00