Pay, demand and where to work, from BLS data with the year on every table.
low → high: location quotient
Click a state. States: Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · District of Columbia · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming.
By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Operations research analysts (SOC 15-2031) employed 108,510 people in May 2025. The median pay is $88,940 a year ($42.76 an hour); the lowest-paid 10% earn under $57,060 and the highest-paid 10% more than $159,910. BLS projects its employment to change by +11.9% between 2025 and 2035 (about 7,500 openings a year including replacements). The typical way in: Bachelor's degree.
Highest median pay: Colorado ($129,880), Virginia ($129,460), Alabama ($115,630). Most jobs: Texas (11,890), California (10,620), Florida (9,120).
| Measure ⇅ | Annual ⇅ | Hourly equivalent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $57,060 | $27.43 |
| 25th percentile | $68,360 | $32.87 |
| Median | $88,940 | $42.76 |
| Mean | $99,730 | $47.95 |
| 75th percentile | $125,990 | $60.57 |
| 90th percentile (experienced) | $159,910 | $76.88 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
Hourly equivalents divide by 2,080 hours. Pay above $239,200 is shown as "≥ $239,200" (BLS top code).
| Measure ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Jobs 2025 | 113,100 |
| Jobs 2035 (projected) | 126,600 |
| Change in jobs | 13,500 |
| Percent change | +11.9% |
| Openings a year (growth + replacements) | 7,500 |
| Self-employed share | n/a |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | None |
Licences and certifications are set by states and employers; the education shown is the usual entry requirement, not a legal one.
| State ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ | Yearly rent as % of median pay ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 550 | 0.37 | $115,630 | $64,830 | $173,910 | +30% | 11% |
| Alaska | 70 | 0.30 | $88,750 | $50,230 | $128,910 | -0% | 20% |
| Arizona | 2,600 | 1.15 | $75,470 | $58,430 | $124,230 | -15% | 27% |
| Arkansas | 210 | 0.24 | $59,030 | $47,350 | $96,920 | -34% | 20% |
| California | 10,620 | 0.84 | $102,100 | $65,510 | $168,030 | +15% | 25% |
| Colorado | 770 | 0.39 | $129,880 | $79,570 | $182,530 | +46% | 17% |
| Connecticut | 950 | 0.80 | $96,700 | $61,300 | $131,030 | +9% | 19% |
| Delaware | 660 | 1.96 | $101,070 | $62,510 | $132,780 | +14% | 18% |
| District of Columbia | 2,250 | 4.59 | $96,030 | $65,550 | $195,190 | +8% | 24% |
| Florida | 9,120 | 1.32 | $77,600 | $46,340 | $131,490 | -13% | 28% |
| Georgia | 4,600 | 1.35 | $76,220 | $52,000 | $132,610 | -14% | 24% |
| Hawaii | 120 | 0.28 | $100,600 | $68,450 | $156,210 | +13% | 23% |
| Idaho | 500 | 0.84 | $103,600 | $60,640 | $138,510 | +16% | 16% |
| Illinois | 5,180 | 1.22 | $89,800 | $62,500 | $164,990 | +1% | 18% |
| Indiana | 1,380 | 0.62 | $85,280 | $59,850 | $133,480 | -4% | 16% |
| Iowa | 300 | 0.27 | $80,580 | $47,520 | $140,960 | -9% | 15% |
| Kentucky | 660 | 0.47 | $83,850 | $58,970 | $129,860 | -6% | 14% |
| Louisiana | 550 | 0.41 | $63,210 | $49,940 | $111,160 | -29% | 20% |
| Maine | 220 | 0.49 | $99,460 | $66,520 | $141,050 | +12% | 15% |
| Maryland | 4,710 | 2.44 | $97,410 | $55,880 | $180,750 | +10% | 21% |
| Massachusetts | 4,200 | 1.66 | $96,500 | $71,550 | $146,000 | +9% | 23% |
| Michigan | 980 | 0.32 | $83,480 | $61,650 | $139,880 | -6% | 17% |
| Minnesota | 1,240 | 0.60 | $95,550 | $60,350 | $133,170 | +7% | 16% |
| Mississippi | 120 | 0.15 | $92,310 | $59,830 | $130,120 | +4% | 13% |
| Missouri | 1,190 | 0.58 | $62,380 | $49,180 | $116,980 | -30% | 21% |
| Montana | 150 | 0.42 | $80,400 | $61,750 | $99,930 | -10% | 18% |
| Nebraska | 330 | 0.46 | $98,300 | $60,550 | $149,760 | +11% | 13% |
| Nevada | 370 | 0.34 | $86,500 | $65,210 | $139,920 | -3% | 24% |
| New Hampshire | 290 | 0.60 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| New Jersey | 3,280 | 1.10 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| New Mexico | 510 | 0.84 | $80,360 | $49,940 | $150,030 | -10% | 17% |
| New York | 5,890 | 0.87 | $108,610 | $62,780 | $175,800 | +22% | 18% |
| North Carolina | 2,520 | 0.73 | $97,290 | $60,180 | $130,980 | +9% | 17% |
| North Dakota | 130 | 0.44 | $82,460 | $57,930 | $119,400 | -7% | 14% |
| Ohio | 2,600 | 0.67 | $103,620 | $52,000 | $142,080 | +17% | 13% |
| Oklahoma | 1,840 | 1.55 | $61,520 | $41,680 | $88,280 | -31% | 20% |
| Oregon | 2,710 | 1.97 | $102,170 | $65,600 | $145,710 | +15% | 19% |
| Pennsylvania | 3,220 | 0.76 | $79,640 | $55,220 | $129,420 | -10% | 19% |
| Rhode Island | 360 | 1.04 | $77,910 | $61,110 | $183,030 | -12% | 22% |
| South Carolina | 1,380 | 0.86 | $80,240 | $52,500 | $125,700 | -10% | 19% |
| Tennessee | 1,200 | 0.52 | $76,680 | $46,150 | $125,480 | -14% | 20% |
| Texas | 11,890 | 1.21 | $90,710 | $57,840 | $164,570 | +2% | 20% |
| Utah | 810 | 0.67 | $90,200 | $57,990 | $130,910 | +1% | 21% |
| Vermont | 170 | 0.78 | $89,790 | $65,100 | $123,740 | +1% | 18% |
| Virginia | 6,980 | 2.43 | $129,460 | $71,820 | $194,260 | +46% | 15% |
| Washington | 3,050 | 1.23 | $98,030 | $68,580 | $155,790 | +10% | 22% |
| West Virginia | 200 | 0.42 | $64,100 | $51,630 | $96,500 | -28% | 17% |
| Wisconsin | 4,270 | 2.08 | $71,820 | $50,380 | $102,090 | -19% | 19% |
Location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in the state than in the nation. "n/a" means BLS suppressed the figure. Rent uses the state median gross rent (ACS).
The 60 highest-paying metropolitan areas among those with at least 300 jobs in this occupation.
| Metropolitan area ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington Park, MD | 390 | $135,300 | $75,270 | $185,220 | 7.89 |
| Huntsville, AL | 350 | $132,000 | $78,170 | $188,140 | 1.91 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 490 | $127,810 | $83,450 | $182,530 | 0.44 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 8,080 | $127,600 | $69,910 | $194,900 | 3.69 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 920 | $123,360 | $80,290 | $201,930 | 1.16 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | 410 | $122,570 | $66,580 | $174,300 | 1.56 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | 470 | $114,070 | $65,040 | $164,280 | 0.89 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 2,050 | $110,560 | $76,090 | $176,850 | 1.24 |
| Richmond, VA | 1,020 | $109,650 | $53,810 | $159,410 | 2.22 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 4,270 | $106,380 | $61,740 | $201,080 | 1.51 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 410 | $105,360 | $56,250 | $159,440 | 0.54 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 1,360 | $105,180 | $62,100 | $131,730 | 1.43 |
| Columbus, OH | 670 | $104,970 | $52,000 | $135,500 | 0.87 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | 340 | $104,220 | $69,080 | $136,990 | 1.24 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 510 | $104,210 | $72,030 | $163,040 | 0.68 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 6,890 | $103,110 | $64,170 | $174,310 | 1.04 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 2,110 | $102,930 | $70,070 | $165,870 | 1.45 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 2,100 | $102,480 | $70,680 | $155,390 | 2.48 |
| Cleveland, OH | 330 | $101,560 | $52,970 | $137,960 | 0.45 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 3,420 | $100,700 | $73,600 | $153,190 | 1.81 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 1,700 | $100,460 | $63,030 | $142,010 | 0.84 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 1,280 | $99,230 | $68,220 | $170,460 | 1.19 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 3,480 | $98,270 | $62,420 | $161,660 | 0.80 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 1,140 | $95,450 | $60,350 | $133,170 | 0.84 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | 550 | $94,710 | $64,210 | $128,730 | 1.32 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 2,350 | $94,440 | $55,790 | $184,100 | 2.48 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 1,600 | $88,190 | $63,800 | $137,380 | 1.77 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 640 | $86,660 | $59,950 | $156,290 | 0.83 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 470 | $86,510 | $60,510 | $133,450 | 0.39 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 3,680 | $86,500 | $62,470 | $148,600 | 1.17 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 2,500 | $86,380 | $60,120 | $171,580 | 1.09 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | 580 | $85,840 | $58,500 | $129,290 | 1.01 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | 600 | $84,500 | $62,880 | $110,930 | 6.59 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | 430 | $84,140 | $54,210 | $126,420 | 1.37 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 430 | $82,560 | $52,920 | $123,920 | 0.55 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 530 | $81,590 | $65,180 | $150,530 | 0.40 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 1,940 | $79,940 | $47,530 | $131,490 | 1.92 |
| Columbia, SC | 300 | $79,560 | $49,080 | $103,540 | 1.10 |
| Jacksonville, FL | 1,120 | $79,250 | $50,620 | $128,890 | 2.10 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 1,880 | $79,190 | $52,620 | $129,650 | 1.13 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 450 | $79,140 | $46,150 | $129,840 | 0.59 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | 400 | $77,900 | $61,110 | $155,150 | 0.81 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 3,250 | $77,510 | $52,350 | $134,790 | 1.61 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 1,910 | $76,400 | $47,220 | $125,650 | 0.97 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 910 | $75,990 | $45,830 | $128,460 | 0.92 |
| Madison, WI | 880 | $75,650 | $51,360 | $117,990 | 3.10 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | 1,310 | $74,850 | $52,000 | $102,960 | 2.29 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 1,290 | $72,890 | $57,840 | $128,900 | 1.64 |
| Green Bay, WI | 340 | $67,340 | $53,390 | $94,150 | 2.75 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 900 | $63,650 | $49,180 | $125,800 | 0.96 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 360 | $63,210 | $50,310 | $79,410 | 1.25 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 1,670 | $53,730 | $41,680 | $84,330 | 3.53 |
| Tallahassee, FL | 400 | $46,570 | $37,090 | $72,470 | 3.05 |
The median is $88,940 a year ($42.76 an hour); the lowest-paid tenth earn under $57,060 and the highest-paid tenth over $159,910 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
108,510 in May 2025, and BLS projects +11.9% growth to 2035.
The typical entry education is: Bachelor's degree (BLS).
Colorado, with a median of $129,880 (among states with published figures).