Operations research analysts
May 2005 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers
Operations Research Analysts: Formulate and apply mathematical modeling and other optimizing methods using a computer to develop and interpret information that assists management with decision making, policy formulation, or other managerial functions. May develop related software, service, or products. Frequently concentrates on collecting and analyzing data and developing decision support software. May develop and supply optimal time, cost, or logistics networks for program evaluation, review, or implementation.
Operations research analysts held about 58,000 jobs in 2004. Major employers include computer systems design firms; insurance carriers and other financial institutions; telecommunications companies; management, scientific, and technical consulting services firms; and Federal, State, and local governments. More than 4 out of 5 operations research analysts in the Federal Government work for the Department of Defense, and many in private industry work directly or indirectly on national defense.
Median annual earnings of operations research analysts were $60,190 in May 2004. The middle 50 percent earned between $45,640 and $78,420. The lowest 10 percent had earnings of less than $36,180, while the highest 10 percent earned more than $95,990.
The average annual salary for operations research analysts in the Federal Government in nonsupervisory, supervisory, and managerial positions was $89,882 in 2005.
(from the Occupational Outlook Handbook: Operations Research Analysts)
See more recent statistics for employed workers below.
May 2005 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers
National Occupational Employment and Earnings by Industry (NAICS sector and 3-digit industry group)
| Operations research analysts | |||||
| Percentile earnings distribution | |||||
| 10th | 25th | 50th | 75th | 90th | |
| Mining employment: 60 mean earnings: $72,720 (EC) (def) (IG) | $48,200 | $58,800 | $66,450 | $75,100 | $109,370 |
| Oil and Gas Extraction employment: 60 mean earnings: $73,050 | $47,570 | $58,010 | $66,100 | $75,640 | $111,770 |
| Utilities employment: 900 mean earnings: $59,310 (EC) (def) (IG) | $36,130 | $45,690 | $57,870 | $71,410 | $86,980 |
| Utilities employment: 900 mean earnings: $59,310 | $36,130 | $45,690 | $57,870 | $71,410 | $86,980 |
| Construction employment: 90 mean earnings: $63,140 (EC) (def) (IG) | $39,230 | $46,630 | $60,480 | $75,130 | $98,400 |
| Specialty Trade Contractors employment: 30 mean earnings: $69,830 | $48,870 | $57,860 | $67,450 | $75,540 | $106,410 |
| Manufacturing employment: 3,730 mean earnings: $68,520 (EC) (def) (IG) | $38,940 | $49,110 | $65,230 | $84,700 | $104,880 |
| Food Manufacturing employment: 40 mean earnings: $71,180 | $38,110 | $54,290 | $70,690 | $86,500 | $99,060 |
| Printing and Related Support Activities employment: 40 mean earnings: $58,540 | $38,040 | $42,900 | $52,990 | $75,210 | $90,070 |
| Chemical Manufacturing employment: 360 mean earnings: $72,790 | $40,270 | $51,610 | $69,190 | $94,430 | $113,700 |
| Primary Metal Manufacturing employment: 40 mean earnings: $52,920 | $38,540 | $46,270 | $52,560 | $59,060 | $70,470 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing employment: 150 mean earnings: $74,280 | $37,330 | $48,180 | $61,720 | $81,640 | >$145K |
| Machinery Manufacturing employment: 140 mean earnings: $61,730 | $33,070 | $45,970 | $57,830 | $79,830 | $93,890 |
| Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing employment: 1,560 mean earnings: $71,520 | $38,720 | $50,780 | $69,360 | $88,180 | $109,340 |
| Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing employment: 60 mean earnings: $61,290 | $35,430 | $49,910 | $60,600 | $74,160 | $87,770 |
| Transportation Equipment Manufacturing employment: 1,040 mean earnings: $66,610 | $40,350 | $49,650 | $63,550 | $81,770 | $99,380 |
| Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing employment: 50 mean earnings: $53,590 | $34,230 | $39,060 | $45,960 | $69,790 | $85,680 |
| Miscellaneous Manufacturing employment: 110 mean earnings: $58,520 | $39,390 | $46,210 | $56,020 | $69,390 | $84,970 |
| Wholesale Trade employment: 1,700 mean earnings: $71,160 (EC) (def) (IG) | $44,550 | $55,200 | $67,960 | $86,360 | $106,600 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods employment: 1,390 mean earnings: $72,320 | $45,530 | $57,190 | $69,130 | $87,900 | $107,910 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods employment: 210 mean earnings: $62,210 | $40,400 | $49,840 | $59,020 | $74,990 | $89,340 |
| Wholesale Electronic Markets and Agents and Brokers employment: 100 mean earnings: $74,120 | $42,860 | $52,010 | $65,700 | $93,880 | $113,100 |
| Retail Trade employment: 170 mean earnings: $60,180 (EC) (def) (IG) | $34,610 | $43,300 | $56,930 | $74,240 | $92,180 |
| Electronics and Appliance Stores employment: 30 mean earnings: $54,180 | $30,530 | $34,440 | $48,250 | $72,220 | $90,000 |
| Nonstore Retailers employment: 60 mean earnings: $64,980 | $35,390 | $47,060 | $63,770 | $81,420 | $101,790 |
| Transportation and Warehousing employment: 1,990 mean earnings: $66,700 (EC) (def) (IG) | $47,270 | $57,160 | $65,590 | $77,150 | $90,080 |
| Air Transportation employment: 90 mean earnings: $63,970 | $41,880 | $52,580 | $64,750 | $74,430 | $88,030 |
| Pipeline Transportation employment: 40 mean earnings: $69,530 | $40,660 | $56,760 | $71,250 | $86,060 | $94,390 |
| Support Activities for Transportation employment: 120 mean earnings: $61,330 | $36,750 | $45,480 | $58,730 | $77,100 | $90,730 |
| Postal Service employment: 1,490 mean earnings: $69,010 | $52,050 | $59,430 | $66,960 | $78,860 | $90,610 |
| Couriers and Messengers employment: 110 mean earnings: $58,090 | $38,550 | $46,110 | $57,210 | $67,830 | $78,130 |
| Warehousing and Storage employment: 70 mean earnings: $55,730 | $32,890 | $39,640 | $53,650 | $69,130 | $85,180 |
| Information employment: 6,410 mean earnings: $65,560 (EC) (def) (IG) | $38,930 | $49,540 | $63,280 | $81,110 | $94,710 |
| Publishing Industries (except Internet) employment: 830 mean earnings: $65,620 | $37,590 | $46,780 | $62,450 | $80,620 | $100,780 |
| Broadcasting (except Internet) employment: 40 mean earnings: $70,670 | $46,210 | $53,780 | $73,870 | $86,430 | $97,110 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting employment: n.a. mean earnings: $83,520 | $33,410 | $48,670 | $93,470 | $111,580 | $130,280 |
| Telecommunications employment: 2,490 mean earnings: $64,740 | $45,330 | $51,680 | $61,320 | $77,400 | $91,410 |
| Internet Service Providers, Web Search Portals, and Data Processing Service employment: 3,000 mean earnings: $65,900 | $36,790 | $46,710 | $65,310 | $83,320 | $96,140 |
| Finance and Insurance employment: 10,160 mean earnings: $59,030 (EC) (def) (IG) | $34,040 | $41,530 | $54,190 | $71,270 | $91,220 |
| Monetary Authorities - Central Bank employment: 230 mean earnings: $58,690 | $38,250 | $43,590 | $52,540 | $66,720 | $87,630 |
| Credit Intermediation and Related Activities employment: 4,400 mean earnings: $56,190 | $32,980 | $39,660 | $51,490 | $69,300 | $88,430 |
| Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities employment: 980 mean earnings: $72,050 | $40,280 | $50,160 | $64,050 | $86,630 | $112,990 |
| Insurance Carriers and Related Activities employment: 4,480 mean earnings: $59,040 | $34,590 | $42,250 | $54,880 | $70,730 | $90,270 |
| Funds, Trusts, and Other Financial Vehicles employment: 70 mean earnings: $55,200 | $31,330 | $33,910 | $49,440 | $77,920 | $89,740 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing employment: n.a. mean earnings: $54,330 (EC) (def) (IG) | $29,780 | $32,950 | $47,570 | $69,250 | $92,990 |
| Real Estate employment: n.a. mean earnings: $61,920 | $34,610 | $41,780 | $54,930 | $80,660 | $102,340 |
| Rental and Leasing Services employment: n.a. mean earnings: $43,100 | $29,050 | $30,490 | $32,880 | $35,270 | $75,200 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employment: 12,320 mean earnings: $70,470 (EC) (def) (IG) | $40,320 | $50,790 | $65,990 | $86,120 | $109,400 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employment: 12,320 mean earnings: $70,470 | $40,320 | $50,790 | $65,990 | $86,120 | $109,400 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises employment: 2,640 mean earnings: $67,370 (EC) (def) (IG) | $37,860 | $46,960 | $61,500 | $81,540 | $108,470 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises employment: 2,640 mean earnings: $67,370 | $37,860 | $46,960 | $61,500 | $81,540 | $108,470 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services employment: 2,520 mean earnings: $65,720 (EC) (def) (IG) | $37,520 | $48,110 | $63,260 | $81,190 | $96,910 |
| Administrative and Support Services employment: n.a. mean earnings: $65,760 | $37,170 | $47,480 | $62,710 | $82,180 | $97,720 |
| Educational Services employment: 1,380 mean earnings: $57,410 (EC) (def) (IG) | $32,400 | $41,200 | $55,130 | $71,760 | $87,950 |
| Educational Services employment: 1,380 mean earnings: $57,410 | $32,400 | $41,200 | $55,130 | $71,760 | $87,950 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance employment: 1,130 mean earnings: $53,990 (EC) (def) (IG) | $33,070 | $40,880 | $51,690 | $64,420 | $77,720 |
| Ambulatory Health Care Services employment: 260 mean earnings: $56,640 | $29,160 | $37,730 | $53,200 | $69,480 | $86,730 |
| Hospitals employment: 840 mean earnings: $53,260 | $34,460 | $41,850 | $51,620 | $62,590 | $74,800 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation employment: 80 mean earnings: $52,410 (EC) (def) (IG) | $35,260 | $41,290 | $49,720 | $57,520 | $72,670 |
| Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries employment: 70 mean earnings: $52,720 | $36,430 | $41,820 | $49,720 | $57,030 | $72,920 |
| Accomodation and Food Service employment: 90 mean earnings: $56,290 (EC) (def) (IG) | $34,860 | $40,410 | $49,660 | $68,340 | $92,720 |
| Accommodation employment: 80 mean earnings: $50,880 | $34,100 | $39,330 | $46,070 | $61,230 | $75,080 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) employment: 150 mean earnings: $79,040 (EC) (def) (IG) | $39,240 | $49,660 | $68,100 | $89,680 | >$145K |
| Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations employment: 120 mean earnings: $67,600 | $39,160 | $48,110 | $65,870 | $82,860 | $100,470 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) employment: 6,670 mean earnings: $70,330 (def) (IG) | $36,540 | $48,750 | $67,910 | $90,080 | $109,880 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) employment: 6,670 mean earnings: $70,330 | $36,540 | $48,750 | $67,910 | $90,080 | $109,880 |
source: Occupational Employment Statistics Program; about these estimates
The (EC) links lead to data from the Economic Census from the Census Bureau.
The (def) links lead to 2002 NAICS industry definitions from the Census Bureau.
The (IG) links lead to Industry at a Glance industry profiles from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.