Operations Research Analysts
Also called: Analytical Strategist, Operations Research Analyst (Ops Research Analyst), Operations Research Scientist (Ops Research Scientist), ResearcherFormulate 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.
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What the data says: AI could halve the time on all 16 of its rated tasks, yet jobs are projected to grow 11.9% by 2035. In the most exposed occupations, the squeeze shows up first among early-career workers. How to think about this →
About this projection
BLS builds AI into its projections where the research supports it: “BLS generally applies adjustments based on this research conservatively, where there is convincing evidence for a change.”
It also notes a limit: “BLS projection methods are not designed to capture extremely rapid technological change.”
On its AI exposure groups, BLS says exposure “does not imply job loss.”
Recent conditions
- In 2024, 2.3% of people in this work were unemployed, against 3.8% across all occupations Census ACS 2024
- From Sep 2025 to Aug 2026, 7.9 hires for every 10 job openings in professional and business services, which employs about 37% of people in this work, against 7.3 across all industries BLS JOLTS
One box per opening, filled for each hire; hires beyond the openings are added in a lighter shade. Higher can mean openings get filled, or that people leave often; lower, that jobs go unfilled, or hiring is slow.7.9 this industry7.3 all industries
Median pay by state BLS OEWS May 2025, state estimates
Tap a state for its figures.
Median pay in every state
| State | Median | Middle half earn | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $115,630 | $82,210 to $146,970 | 550 |
| Alaska | $88,750 | $60,940 to $104,010 | 70 |
| Arizona | $75,470 | $64,430 to $96,120 | 2,600 |
| Arkansas | $59,030 | $48,520 to $80,510 | 210 |
| California | $102,100 | $79,990 to $131,220 | 10,620 |
| Colorado | $129,880 | $102,710 to $160,220 | 770 |
| Connecticut | $96,700 | $79,330 to $110,170 | 950 |
| Delaware | $101,070 | $77,520 to $130,100 | 660 |
| District of Columbia | $96,030 | $76,680 to $151,990 | 2,250 |
| Florida | $77,600 | $58,920 to $102,680 | 9,120 |
| Georgia | $76,220 | $60,110 to $101,810 | 4,600 |
| Hawaii | $100,600 | $81,210 to $143,020 | 120 |
| Idaho | $103,600 | $71,740 to $124,440 | 500 |
| Illinois | $89,800 | $75,490 to $126,920 | 5,180 |
| Indiana | $85,280 | $67,340 to $108,930 | 1,380 |
| Iowa | $80,580 | $61,590 to $125,880 | 300 |
| Kansas | $92,050 | $75,130 to $117,810 | not published |
| Kentucky | $83,850 | $68,340 to $105,570 | 660 |
| Louisiana | $63,210 | $56,150 to $76,680 | 550 |
| Maine | $99,460 | $81,790 to $124,350 | 220 |
| Maryland | $97,410 | $71,290 to $135,300 | 4,710 |
| Massachusetts | $96,500 | $80,100 to $130,330 | 4,200 |
| Michigan | $83,480 | $72,970 to $110,590 | 980 |
| Minnesota | $95,550 | $77,640 to $119,740 | 1,240 |
| Mississippi | $92,310 | $67,270 to $106,330 | 120 |
| Missouri | $62,380 | $54,830 to $91,030 | 1,190 |
| Montana | $80,400 | $62,560 to $80,400 | 150 |
| Nebraska | $98,300 | $70,640 to $128,280 | 330 |
| Nevada | $86,500 | $73,030 to $112,080 | 370 |
| New Hampshire | not published | not published | 290 |
| New Jersey | not published | not published | 3,280 |
| New Mexico | $80,360 | $61,580 to $118,360 | 510 |
| New York | $108,610 | $78,060 to $149,160 | 5,890 |
| North Carolina | $97,290 | $69,700 to $126,890 | 2,520 |
| North Dakota | $82,460 | $70,130 to $102,170 | 130 |
| Ohio | $103,620 | $66,380 to $128,060 | 2,600 |
| Oklahoma | $61,520 | $53,730 to $66,230 | 1,840 |
| Oregon | $102,170 | $80,620 to $127,690 | 2,710 |
| Pennsylvania | $79,640 | $63,680 to $102,250 | 3,220 |
| Puerto Rico | $57,000 | $46,540 to $91,480 | 50 |
| Rhode Island | $77,910 | $64,370 to $100,640 | 360 |
| South Carolina | $80,240 | $62,890 to $102,540 | 1,380 |
| Tennessee | $76,680 | $54,990 to $94,610 | 1,200 |
| Texas | $90,710 | $70,650 to $119,860 | 11,890 |
| Utah | $90,200 | $72,880 to $107,290 | 810 |
| Vermont | $89,790 | $75,070 to $101,980 | 170 |
| Virginia | $129,460 | $99,660 to $166,230 | 6,980 |
| Washington | $98,030 | $80,980 to $133,260 | 3,050 |
| West Virginia | $64,100 | $59,930 to $78,840 | 200 |
| Wisconsin | $71,820 | $59,400 to $81,340 | 4,270 |
Nationally: $88,940. Shades run from the lowest state median to the highest; a territory below that range takes the lightest. How to read this
How AI touches the work
What AI could speed up, task by task, and where people already use it.
AI could halve the time on all 16 of its rated tasks
| AI rating | Its main tasks | Share of Claude conversations May 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| AI + software | Present the results of mathematical modeling and data analysis to management or other end users. | under 0.01% |
| AI + software | Perform validation and testing of models to ensure adequacy, and reformulate models, as necessary. | 0.01% |
| AI + software | Collaborate with others in the organization to ensure successful implementation of chosen problem solutions. | Not published |
| AI + software | Formulate mathematical or simulation models of problems, relating constants and variables, restrictions, alternatives, conflicting objectives, and their numerical parameters. | 0.05% |
| AI + software | Observe the current system in operation, and gather and analyze information about each of the component problems, using a variety of sources. | 0.09% |
| AI alone | Define data requirements, and gather and validate information, applying judgment and statistical tests. | 0.01% |
See all 17 tasks
| AI + software | Analyze information obtained from management to conceptualize and define operational problems. | 0.04% |
| AI + software | Study and analyze information about alternative courses of action to determine which plan will offer the best outcomes. | 0.09% |
| AI alone | Prepare management reports defining and evaluating problems and recommending solutions. | under 0.01% |
| AI + software | Collaborate with senior managers and decision makers to identify and solve a variety of problems and to clarify management objectives. | Not published |
| AI alone | Specify manipulative or computational methods to be applied to models. | 0.01% |
| AI + software | Design, conduct, and evaluate experimental operational models in cases where models cannot be developed from existing data. | Not published |
| AI + software | Break systems into their components, assign numerical values to each component, and examine the mathematical relationships between them. | 0.04% |
| Not rated | Review research literature. | Not published |
| AI alone | Educate staff in the use of mathematical models. | Not published |
| AI + software | Develop and apply time and cost networks to plan, control, and review large projects. | under 0.01% |
| AI + software | Develop business methods and procedures, including accounting systems, file systems, office systems, logistics systems, and production schedules. | under 0.01% |
Ordered by how important O*NET's respondents rate each task (1 to 5) times the share who say it is part of their job. The ordering is ours. 12 of the 17 have a published share of Claude conversations; “not published” means too few conversations for Anthropic to publish a figure.
Where people already use AI
The tasks above say what AI could speed up. This shows what people are using it for. Its 17 tasks fall under 16 work activities that many occupations share, and Microsoft counted how often each one came up in 200,000 conversations with its Copilot assistant in 2024.
- #4 Maintain current knowledge in area of expertise
- #20 Present research or technical information
- #27 Research technology designs or applications
- and 3 more, in the table below
| Work activity | This occupation's tasks under it | People asked AI for help in 10,000 conversations |
AI did it for them in 10,000 conversations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Analyze scientific or applied data using mathematical principles | |||
| Determine operational methods or procedures | |||
| Coordinate with others to resolve problems | |||
| Design computer or information systems or applications | |||
| Develop scientific or mathematical theories or models | |||
| Maintain current knowledge in area of expertise | |||
| Present research or technical information | |||
| Research technology designs or applications |
Show all 16 activities
| Resolve computer problems | |||
| Evaluate the quality or accuracy of data | |||
| Plan work activities | |||
| Evaluate designs, specifications, or other technical data | |||
| Manage budgets or finances | |||
| Analyze data to improve operations | |||
| Maintain operational records | |||
| Train others on operational or work procedures |
How people in this work use Claude
What people in this work made with Claude % of conversations
- A document or report16%
- An explanation or answer12%
- An analysis or summary11%
- Math or a calculation8%
- Code fixes or debugging7%
How they worked with Claude
58% of these conversations were about work. Anthropic Economic Index, May 2026.
How to read this
Work activities come from O*NET, which links every task to the broader activities it involves. Microsoft's figures are for the activity across everyone who used Copilot, not for operations research analysts specifically. Copilot is a general chat assistant; dedicated coding tools are not included, so programming help is under-counted here. Activities are listed by how many of this occupation's tasks fall under them.
The task ratings say whether AI could halve the time a task takes: on its own (“AI alone”), or with software built on it (“AI + software”). They were made by people in 2023 (Eloundou et al.). Claude's share is the task's share of all Claude.ai conversations in May 2026; Anthropic doesn't publish a task with too few conversations. None of these add up to the BLS exposure group, which combines five research measures.
More in the Guide: task ratings · task order · work activities · Copilot figures · Claude
High exposure doesn't mean fewer jobs
BLS projects most occupations in its two most exposed groups to grow: 141 of 206 rated Very high and 165 of 206 rated High. Each dot is one of the 831 occupations BLS rates.
Career moves into and out of this occupation
From moves between occupations found in online resumes, 2002–2016. Career changes only: a first job after school isn't a move.
Where people moved next
of 556,340 moves out
- 1 Postsecondary Teachers, All Other Very high +2.0% 6%
- 2 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 5%
- 3 Teacher Assistants (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 5%
- 4 Management Analysts Very high +10.1% 4%
- 5 General and Operations Managers High +5.0% 3%
Where people moved in from
of 519,506 moves in
- 1 Teacher Assistants (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 6%
- 2 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 4%
- 3 Office Clerks, General Very high -6.0% 3%
- 4 Teachers and Instructors, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 3%
- 5 Postsecondary Teachers, All Other Very high +2.0% 3%
Resumes over-represent younger, white-collar job-seekers and moves into management. Schubert, Stansbury and Taska (resume data).
Education and training for the occupation
O*NET survey of workers in this occupation
- 33% bachelor's
- 10% post-bachelor's certificate
- 43% master's
- 14% research doctorate
O*NET 31.0 survey of workers in this occupation · 21 people answered.
Census survey (American Community Survey)
- 1% less than high school
- 6% high school
- 12% some college
- 6% associate's
- 45% bachelor's
- 26% master's
- 2% professional degree
- 2% doctorate
Census ACS 2024, all workers in this occupation · 2,192 people surveyed.
Why the two can differ
O*NET asks about 20 people in each occupation, which makes its shares uncertain, but it reports the exact occupation and counts certificates. The Census survey reaches thousands, but it groups some occupations together and counts degrees only. More in the Guide
Median pay by highest degree full-time, year-round · Census ACS 2024, all workers in this occupation
2 programs: Operations Research and Management Science.
Jobs that require a credential BLS Occupational Requirements Survey 2023
4.9% this occupation
45.3% all occupations
| By kind | This occupation | All occupations |
|---|---|---|
| a license | <0.5% | 19.1% |
| an educational certificate | <0.5% | 2.8% |
| a certification | not published |
Share of jobs whose employer requires it. BLS doesn't say which credential. How to read this
Look up certifications, training and licenses U.S. Department of Labor
- Certification Finder ↗ certifications CareerOneStop lists for this occupation
- Training Finder ↗ schools and programs, nationwide; narrow the place there
- License Finder ↗ licenses by state
- Apprenticeships: DOL's list of apprenticeable occupations doesn't include this one.
These open in a new tab and send only the occupation's public code. More in the Guide
BLS AI exposure categories (Aug 2026) · BLS Employment Projections 2025–35 · O*NET 31.0 · Task ratings: Eloundou et al., Science (2024) · Microsoft "Working with AI" v1.1 · Anthropic Economic Index (2026-06-26) · Schubert, Stansbury and Taska · NCES CIP–SOC · Census ACS 2024 · BLS JOLTS · Brynjolfsson, Chandar and Chen, Stanford (Aug 2026)
See it online, and explore any career: https://www.pathmosaic.com/card/15-2031.00