Operations Research Analysts Salary - BLS OEWS Wage Benchmarks
SOC 15-2031 · National · May 2025 OEWS Data
Median Annual Salary
$88,941
$42.76/hr
Verified BLS OEWS data · Updated May 18, 2026
Source: BLS OEWS · Published May 15, 2026
Next refresh: May 2027
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The national median salary for Operations Research Analysts is $88,941 per year ($42.76/hr) according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025. The middle 50% of earners make between $68,349 and $125,986 annually. Top earners at the 90th percentile reach $159,910 per year. There are approximately 108,510 operations research analysts employed in the United States.
About This Role
BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018
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.
Career Outlook
BLS Employment Projections · 2024-2034
10-year growth
+21.5%
Much faster than average
Annual openings
10K
per year, on avg
Workforce today
112K
as of 2024
Why those openings exist
25% from new growth75% from people leaving the role
Mixed: openings come from both new growth and people exiting the role.
Typical entry requirements
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Industry Wage Breakdown
Top 5 industries by employment · median annual wage, sector-specific
Industry
Workforce
Median Pay
Management of Companies and Enterprises
NAICS 551100
11K
$97,610
Credit Intermediation and Related Activities (5221 and 5223 only)
NAICS 5220A1
10K
$86,500
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services
NAICS 541600
9K
$100,590
Insurance Carriers
NAICS 524100
8K
$77,620
Computer Systems Design and Related Services
NAICS 541500
8K
$88,380
Wage range across top 5 industries: $77,620 to $100,590 (30% spread)
Wage Percentiles
Hourly & annualized (2,080 hours)
Percentile
Hourly Rate
Annual Salary
P10
$27.43
$57,054
P25
$32.86
$68,349
P50MEDIAN
$42.76
$88,941
P75
$60.57
$125,986
P90
$76.88
$159,910
Market Context Signal
JOLTS · tech sector
Cooling
Openings Rate
2.8%
Quits Rate
1.1%
Information sector openings held flat at 81K in March, but layoffs jumped to 66K (+13K, rate 2.4%) -- the highest layoff rate among major sectors. Quit rates dropped to 1.1%. Tech employers retain maximum leverage; cuts continue in pockets.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average operations research analysts salary?
The national median salary for Operations Research Analysts is $88,941 per year ($42.76/hr) according to BLS OEWS May 2025 data. The middle 50% earn between $68,349 and $125,986 annually.
How much do top-earning operations research analysts make?
The 90th percentile salary for Operations Research Analysts is $159,910 per year ($76.88/hr). The 75th percentile is $125,986 per year.
What is the entry-level salary for operations research analysts?
Entry-level Operations Research Analysts (10th percentile) earn approximately $57,054 per year ($27.43/hr). The 25th percentile is $68,349 per year.
Wage figures on this page come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release. OEWS surveys roughly 1.1 million establishments annually. It is the most comprehensive employer-reported wage dataset in the United States.
P10 through P90 percentiles represent the wage distribution across all surveyed employers (not self-reported by workers). Geographic adjustments use BLS-derived cost multipliers calibrated from regional wage variation.
Wages are estimates. Individual compensation depends on experience, education, employer size, industry, and negotiation. Use this as benchmark context, not absolute ground truth.
CompSignal is a free labor market intelligence tool built for HR, compensation, and talent acquisition teams. We make BLS data, the same primary source Mercer and Radford cross-reference in their paid surveys, searchable and actionable without an enterprise subscription.
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