Operations Research Analysts
SOC 15-2031 • View wages by state
The median annual wage for Operations Research Analysts is $83,640, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. The mean annual wage is $95,600, and an estimated 117,880 workers are employed in this occupation nationally. Between 2020 and 2023, pay rose -3% while consumer prices rose 17.7% — a real change of -17.6% (pay did not keep up with inflation). BLS projects employment will grow 21.5% between 2024 and 2034.
Wage Trend & Inflation Adjustment
How the national median wage for Operations Research Analysts has moved across BLS OEWS release years, and what each year's wage is worth in 2023 dollars after adjusting for CPI inflation. "Real" change strips out inflation — the truest measure of whether pay is actually rising.
| Year | Median (nominal) | In 2023 $ (real) | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $83,640 | $83,640 | 117,880 |
| 2022 | $85,720 | $89,249 | 105,080 |
| 2021 | $82,360 | $92,613 | 98,700 |
| 2020 | $86,200 | $101,485 | 96,220 |
Nominal change
-3%
Inflation (CPI)
+17.7%
Real change
-17.6%
Job Outlook (2024–2034 BLS projection)
The BLS Employment Projections program estimates how each occupation's employment will change over the coming decade, and how many job openings to expect each year (from both growth and the need to replace workers who leave).
Projected Growth
+21.5%
Much faster than average
Employment 2024
112,100
Projected 2034
136,200
Annual Openings
9,600
Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
Highest-Paying Areas (2023)
Where Operations Research Analysts earn the most, and how each area's median compares to the national median of $83,640. A positive premium means the area pays above the national rate.
| Area | Median Annual | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $145,970 | +74.5% | 170 |
| Virginia | $117,350 | +40.3% | 7,720 |
| Maryland | $111,080 | +32.8% | 3,730 |
| District of Columbia | $109,990 | +31.5% | 2,230 |
| Alabama | $107,470 | +28.5% | 570 |
| Delaware | $104,220 | +24.6% | 670 |
| Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $103,940 | +24.3% | 50 |
| Alaska | $102,450 | +22.5% | 90 |
| New Jersey | $102,140 | +22.1% | 3,890 |
| Hawaii | $102,080 | +22% | 230 |
Wage Distribution (National, 2023)
10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages from BLS OEWS — the full spread, not just an average.
10th Pct
$52,930
25th Pct
$66,250
Median
$83,640
75th Pct
$115,190
90th Pct
$148,920
H-1B Employer Filings
Employer-certified wages from DOL H-1B LCA filings — competitive market benchmark, not approved visas.
| Employer | State | Filings | Median Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMAZON.COM SERVICES LLC | WA | 106 | $110,000 |
| Amazon.com Services LLC | CA | 50 | $140,878 |
| Deloitte Consulting LLP | PA | 26 | $100,214 |
| Intuit Inc. | CA | 22 | $177,680 |
| Amazon Web Services, Inc. | WA | 17 | $95,139 |
| Amazon Web Services, Inc. | CA | 17 | $174,117 |
| Amazon.com Services LLC | TN | 17 | $84,400 |
| PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS ADVISORY SERVICES LLC | CA | 15 | $200,000 |
| Discover Products, Inc. | IL | 15 | $110,300 |
| The Gap, Inc. | CA | 14 | $125,000 |
| American Airlines, Inc. | TX | 13 | $98,564 |
| Ernst & Young U.S. LLP | TX | 13 | $169,278 |
| Home Depot Management Company LLC | GA | 13 | $181,125 |
| ZS Associates, Inc. | NJ | 13 | $160,000 |
| UBER TECHNOLOGIES, INC. | CA | 13 | $165,500 |
| Meta Platforms, Inc. | CA | 12 | $199,920 |
| Ernst & Young U.S. LLP | CA | 12 | $233,600 |
| VIPHEMERAL INC. | CA | 11 | $96,792 |
| Ernst & Young U.S. LLP | FL | 11 | $158,025 |
| Amazon.com Services LLC | TX | 10 | $100,000 |
Source: DOL Office of Foreign Labor Certification, H-1B LCA data.
Related Occupations in Computer & Mathematical
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