Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2016

15-2031 Operations Research Analysts

Formulate and apply mathematical modeling and other optimizing methods to develop and interpret information that assists management with decision making, policy formulation, or other managerial functions. May collect and analyze data and develop decision support software, service, or products. May develop and supply optimal time, cost, or logistics networks for program evaluation, review, or implementation.

National estimates for this occupation
Industry profile for this occupation
Geographic profile for this occupation

National estimates for this occupation: Top

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3) 		Mean hourly
wage		 Mean annual
wage (2) 		Wage RSE (3)
109,150 2.4 % $40.55 $84,340 0.7 %

Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median) 		75% 90%
Hourly Wage $20.87 $27.60 $38.08 $50.68 $63.78
Annual Wage (2) $43,400 $57,400 $79,200 $105,410 $132,660

Industry profile for this occupation: Top

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Management of Companies and Enterprises 11,020 0.48 $41.79 $86,910
Insurance Carriers 10,460 0.89 $39.37 $81,890
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services 9,960 0.75 $41.39 $86,100
Computer Systems Design and Related Services 8,910 0.45 $42.03 $87,410
Depository Credit Intermediation 5,660 0.34 $38.13 $79,310

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Insurance Carriers 10,460 0.89 $39.37 $81,890
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services 9,960 0.75 $41.39 $86,100
Data Processing, Hosting, and Related Services 1,940 0.65 $39.99 $83,180
Nondepository Credit Intermediation 3,750 0.63 $40.20 $83,610
Other Financial Investment Activities 2,850 0.62 $46.60 $96,940

Top paying industries for this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) 4,950 0.24 $53.66 $111,600
Basic Chemical Manufacturing 80 0.05 $51.46 $107,040
Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing (8) (8) $49.99 $103,980
Scientific Research and Development Services 2,410 0.36 $49.47 $102,900
Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing 80 0.08 $49.46 $102,870

Geographic profile for this occupation: Top

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.





States with the highest employment level in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California 14,590 0.91 1.18 $44.14 $91,800
Texas 10,620 0.90 1.16 $39.55 $82,260
Illinois 8,360 1.42 1.82 $41.84 $87,020
Virginia 7,930 2.11 2.71 $51.20 $106,490
Florida 6,340 0.77 0.99 $31.13 $64,750




States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Virginia 7,930 2.11 2.71 $51.20 $106,490
Delaware 860 1.94 2.50 $44.09 $91,710
Arizona 4,370 1.65 2.12 $32.44 $67,480
Maryland 3,880 1.47 1.89 $45.15 $93,910
Illinois 8,360 1.42 1.82 $41.84 $87,020




Top paying States for this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
District of Columbia 910 1.30 1.67 $55.29 $115,000
Virginia 7,930 2.11 2.71 $51.20 $106,490
New York 5,710 0.63 0.81 $51.09 $106,260
Alabama 720 0.38 0.49 $46.67 $97,080
New Jersey 1,640 0.41 0.53 $45.77 $95,200





Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division 6,700 2.69 3.46 $53.22 $110,690
New York-Jersey City-White Plains, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division 5,080 0.77 0.99 $53.39 $111,060
Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL Metropolitan Division 4,640 1.27 1.64 $41.07 $85,420
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ 3,970 2.05 2.64 $32.13 $66,820
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA NECTA Division 3,450 1.91 2.46 $37.43 $77,850
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 3,450 3.30 4.24 $51.54 $107,210
Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX Metropolitan Division 3,320 1.37 1.76 $39.28 $81,710
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division 2,660 0.63 0.81 $40.65 $84,550
Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA Metropolitan Division 2,310 1.45 1.87 $44.19 $91,920
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 2,290 0.78 1.00 $44.89 $93,370




Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Bloomington, IL 940 10.39 13.37 $42.52 $88,440
California-Lexington Park, MD 400 9.05 11.64 $48.10 $100,040
Dover-Durham, NH-ME 300 5.89 7.58 $41.66 $86,650
Framingham, MA NECTA Division 770 4.44 5.71 $48.63 $101,160
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 3,450 3.30 4.24 $51.54 $107,210
Tallahassee, FL 530 3.25 4.18 $23.51 $48,900
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division 6,700 2.69 3.46 $53.22 $110,690
Wilmington, DE-MD-NJ Metropolitan Division 850 2.44 3.13 $44.23 $92,010
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ 3,970 2.05 2.64 $32.13 $66,820
Huntsville, AL 440 2.02 2.60 $49.26 $102,460




Top paying metropolitan areas for this occupation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI 70 0.58 0.74 $54.63 $113,630
New York-Jersey City-White Plains, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division 5,080 0.77 0.99 $53.39 $111,060
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division 6,700 2.69 3.46 $53.22 $110,690
Springfield, MA-CT 80 0.25 0.32 $51.62 $107,370
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 3,450 3.30 4.24 $51.54 $107,210
Boulder, CO 60 0.34 0.44 $50.81 $105,690
Huntsville, AL 440 2.02 2.60 $49.26 $102,460
Colorado Springs, CO 220 0.82 1.05 $49.24 $102,420
San Francisco-Redwood City-South San Francisco, CA Metropolitan Division 1,450 1.36 1.75 $48.85 $101,600
Newark, NJ-PA Metropolitan Division 510 0.44 0.57 $48.69 $101,280

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in this occupation:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area 120 0.46 0.59 $39.39 $81,940
Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area 80 0.44 0.57 $35.82 $74,500
Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area 70 0.55 0.71 $30.93 $64,330
Northeast Mississippi nonmetropolitan area 60 0.25 0.32 $38.70 $80,490
Southeast Coastal North Carolina nonmetropolitan area 50 0.20 0.26 $30.78 $64,020

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area 70 0.55 0.71 $30.93 $64,330
West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area 120 0.46 0.59 $39.39 $81,940
Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area 80 0.44 0.57 $35.82 $74,500
Middle Georgia nonmetropolitan area 40 0.32 0.41 (8) (8)
Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area 50 0.26 0.33 (8) (8)

Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for this occupation:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area 120 0.46 0.59 $39.39 $81,940
Northeast Mississippi nonmetropolitan area 60 0.25 0.32 $38.70 $80,490
Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area (8) (8) (8) $37.37 $77,720
Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area 40 0.22 0.29 $37.23 $77,450
North Northeastern Ohio non-metropolitan area (non-contiguous) 40 0.13 0.17 $36.15 $75,190

About May 2016 National, State, Metropolitan, and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.

The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate--50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.


(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.

(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.

(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of t