Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
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Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2021
15-2031 Operations Research Analysts
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.
National estimates for Operations Research Analysts
Industry profile for Operations Research Analysts
Geographic profile for Operations Research Analysts
National estimates for Operations Research Analysts:
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for Operations Research Analysts:
| Employment (1) |
Employment
RSE (3) |
Mean hourly
wage |
Mean annual
wage (2) |
Wage RSE (3) |
| 98,700 |
3.2 % |
$ 46.07 |
$ 95,830 |
2.1 % |
Percentile wage estimates for Operations Research Analysts:
| Percentile |
10% |
25% |
50%
(Median) |
75% |
90% |
| Hourly Wage |
$ 23.41 |
$ 29.78 |
$ 39.59 |
$ 57.33 |
$ 77.33 |
| Annual Wage (2) |
$ 48,690 |
$ 61,940 |
$ 82,360 |
$ 119,240 |
$ 160,850 |
Industry profile for Operations Research Analysts:
Industries with the highest published employment and wages for Operations Research Analysts are provided.
For a list of all industries with employment in Operations Research Analysts, see the Create Customized Tables function.
Industries with the highest levels of employment in Operations Research Analysts:
| Industry |
Employment (1) |
Percent of industry employment |
Hourly mean wage |
Annual mean wage (2) |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services |
11,510 |
0.74 |
$ 64.32 |
$ 133,790 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises |
9,550 |
0.38 |
$ 45.24 |
$ 94,100 |
| Computer Systems Design and Related Services |
8,970 |
0.40 |
$ 45.88 |
$ 95,420 |
| Credit Intermediation and Related Activities (5221 and 5223 only) |
7,700 |
0.38 |
$ 40.10 |
$ 83,410 |
| Insurance Carriers |
7,400 |
0.62 |
$ 41.58 |
$ 86,490 |
Industries with the highest concentration of employment in Operations Research Analysts:
| Industry |
Employment (1) |
Percent of industry employment |
Hourly mean wage |
Annual mean wage (2) |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services |
11,510 |
0.74 |
$ 64.32 |
$ 133,790 |
| Insurance Carriers |
7,400 |
0.62 |
$ 41.58 |
$ 86,490 |
| Nondepository Credit Intermediation |
3,410 |
0.55 |
$ 46.05 |
$ 95,790 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services |
4,260 |
0.54 |
$ 47.47 |
$ 98,730 |
| Cable and Other Subscription Programming |
210 |
0.45 |
$ 35.35 |
$ 73,520 |
Top paying industries for Operations Research Analysts:
| Industry |
Employment (1) |
Percent of industry employment |
Hourly mean wage |
Annual mean wage (2) |
| Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing |
270 |
0.17 |
$ 104.43 |
$ 217,210 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services |
11,510 |
0.74 |
$ 64.32 |
$ 133,790 |
| Business Schools and Computer and Management Training |
70 |
0.10 |
$ 63.83 |
$ 132,760 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) |
5,470 |
0.26 |
$ 58.51 |
$ 121,690 |
| Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing |
180 |
0.20 |
$ 54.15 |
$ 112,630 |
Geographic profile for Operations Research Analysts:
States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for Operations Research Analysts are provided.
For a list of all areas with employment in Operations Research Analysts, see the Create Customized Tables function.
States with the highest employment level in Operations Research Analysts:
| State |
Employment (1) |
Employment per thousand jobs |
Location quotient (9) |
Hourly mean wage |
Annual mean wage (2) |
| California |
7,250 |
0.44 |
0.63 |
$ 47.70 |
$ 99,220 |
| Virginia |
6,720 |
1.79 |
2.56 |
$ 56.48 |
$ 117,480 |
| Florida |
5,930 |
0.69 |
0.98 |
$ 34.02 |
$ 70,760 |
| New York |
5,420 |
0.63 |
0.89 |
$ 48.12 |
$ 100,100 |
| Maryland |
4,670 |
1.83 |
2.62 |
$ 50.50 |
$ 105,040 |
States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Operations Research Analysts:
| State |
Employment (1) |
Employment per thousand jobs |
Location quotient (9) |
Hourly mean wage |
Annual mean wage (2) |
| District of Columbia |
2,190 |
3.30 |
4.71 |
$ 43.58 |
$ 90,650 |
| Maryland |
4,670 |
1.83 |
2.62 |
$ 50.50 |
$ 105,040 |
| Virginia |
6,720 |
1.79 |
2.56 |
$ 56.48 |
$ 117,480 |
| Delaware |
710 |
1.62 |
2.31 |
$ 45.53 |
$ 94,700 |
| New Jersey |
3,900 |
1.01 |
1.44 |
$ 44.87 |
$ 93,330 |
Top paying states for Operations Research Analysts:
| State |
Employment (1) |
Employment per thousand jobs |
Location quotient (9) |
Hourly mean wage |
Annual mean wage (2) |
| Virginia |
6,720 |
1.79 |
2.56 |
$ 56.48 |
$ 117,480 |
| Alabama |
550 |
0.28 |
0.41 |
$ 50.53 |
$ 105,110 |
| Maryland |
4,670 |
1.83 |
2.62 |
$ 50.50 |
$ 105,040 |
| Hawaii |
390 |
0.71 |
1.01 |
$ 50.26 |
$ 104,540 |
| New York |
5,420 |
0.63 |
0.89 |
$ 48.12 |
$ 100,100 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in Operations Research Analysts:
| 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 |
7,770 |
2.65 |
3.78 |
$ 54.06 |
$ 112,450 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX |
7,310 |
2.04 |
2.91 |
(8) |
(8) |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA |
7,060 |
0.81 |
1.16 |
$ 48.78 |
$ 101,460 |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX |
3,630 |
1.25 |
1.79 |
$ 61.22 |
$ 127,330 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA |
3,580 |
1.38 |
1.98 |
$ 38.05 |
$ 79,140 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH |
3,050 |
1.18 |
1.68 |
$ 43.10 |
$ 89,660 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI |
2,740 |
0.65 |
0.93 |
$ 45.93 |
$ 95,540 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA |
2,400 |
0.42 |
0.60 |
$ 47.21 |
$ 98,190 |
| Austin-Round Rock, TX |
2,390 |
2.23 |
3.18 |
$ 57.07 |
$ 118,710 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI |
1,990 |
1.09 |
1.56 |
$ 44.85 |
$ 93,280 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Operations Research Analysts:
| Metropolitan area |
Employment (1) |
Employment per thousand jobs |
Location quotient (9) |
Hourly mean wage |
Annual mean wage (2) |
| California-Lexington Park, MD |
420 |
9.00 |
12.85 |
$ 54.78 |
$ 113,930 |
| Olympia-Tumwater, WA |
370 |
3.33 |
4.76 |
$ 36.65 |
$ 76,230 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV |
7,770 |
2.65 |
3.78 |
$ 54.06 |
$ 112,450 |
| Richmond, VA |
1,480 |
2.39 |
3.42 |
$ 49.11 |
$ 102,140 |
| Austin-Round Rock, TX |
2,390 |
2.23 |
3.18 |
$ 57.07 |
$ 118,710 |
| Tallahassee, FL |
370 |
2.16 |
3.08 |
$ 19.94 |
$ 41,460 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL |
230 |
2.05 |
2.92 |
$ 47.33 |
$ 98,440 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX |
7,310 |
2.04 |
2.91 |
(8) |
(8) |
| Las Cruces, NM |
100 |
1.53 |
2.19 |
$ 47.61 |
$ 99,020 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY |
390 |
1.52 |
2.17 |
$ 26.07 |
$ 54,220 |
Top paying metropolitan areas for Operations Research Analysts:
| Metropolitan area |
Employment (1) |
Employment per thousand jobs |
Location quotient (9) |
Hourly mean wage |
Annual mean wage (2) |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA |
600 |
0.56 |
0.80 |
$ 79.20 |
$ 164,730 |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX |
3,630 |
1.25 |
1.79 |
$ 61.22 |
$ 127,330 |
| Austin-Round Rock, TX |
2,390 |
2.23 |
3.18 |
$ 57.07 |
$ 118,710 |
| Huntsville, AL |
320 |
1.38 |
1.97 |
$ 56.37 |
$ 117,240 |
| Peoria, IL |
160 |
1.03 |
1.48 |
$ 56.14 |
$ 116,770 |
| California-Lexington Park, MD |
420 |
9.00 |
12.85 |
$ 54.78 |
$ 113,930 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV |
7,770 |
2.65 |
3.78 |
$ 54.06 |
$ 112,450 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT |
140 |
0.37 |
0.53 |
$ 53.44 |
$ 111,160 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA |
1,260 |
0.66 |
0.94 |
$ 51.80 |
$ 107,730 |
| Charlottesville, VA |
90 |
0.83 |
1.18 |
$ 51.72 |
$ 107,580 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in Operations Research Analysts:
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Operations Research Analysts:
Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for Operations Research Analysts:
About May 2021 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 the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.
(8) Estimate not released.
(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration.
A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.
Other OEWS estimates and related information:
May 2021 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2021 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2021 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2021 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2021 Occupation Profiles
Technical Notes
Last Modified Date: March 31, 2022
United States Department of Labor
