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Job outlook for decision support analysts in the United States
Are decision support analyst jobs in demand?
Decision support analyst job and salary trends over time
Decision support analyst jobs over time
Decision support analyst job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,792 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 1,747 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 1,810 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 368 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 358 | 0.00% |
Average decision support analyst salary over time
Decision support analyst salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $81,227 | $39.05 | +3.4% |
| 2024 | $78,551 | $37.76 | +2.3% |
| 2023 | $76,772 | $36.91 | +1.5% |
| 2022 | $75,613 | $36.35 | +1.7% |
| 2021 | $74,378 | $35.76 | +1.6% |
Decision support analyst jobs by state
Most common states for decision support analysts
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 377 | 54% |
| 2 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 295 | 22% |
| 3 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 386 | 20% |
| 4 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 150 | 17% |
| 5 | Alaska | 739,795 | 123 | 17% |
| 6 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 1,203 | 16% |
| 7 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 889 | 15% |
| 8 | Hawaii | 1,427,538 | 207 | 15% |
| 9 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,161 | 14% |
| 10 | Arkansas | 3,004,279 | 429 | 14% |
| 11 | California | 39,536,653 | 5,063 | 13% |
| 12 | Delaware | 961,939 | 126 | 13% |
| 13 | Vermont | 623,657 | 80 | 13% |
| 14 | Michigan | 9,962,311 | 1,210 | 12% |
| 15 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 816 | 12% |
| 16 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 250 | 12% |
| 17 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 677 | 11% |
| 18 | Nevada | 2,998,039 | 320 | 11% |
| 19 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 144 | 11% |
| 20 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 118 | 11% |
Most common cities for decision support analysts
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Annapolis | 19 | 48% | $97,705 |
| 2 | Lansing | 18 | 16% | $81,513 |
| 3 | Juneau | 4 | 12% | $70,480 |
| 4 | Saint Paul | 11 | 4% | $64,702 |
| 5 | Baton Rouge | 6 | 3% | $80,446 |
| 6 | Topeka | 4 | 3% | $75,949 |
| 7 | Boston | 11 | 2% | $95,802 |
| 8 | Des Moines | 4 | 2% | $77,655 |
| 9 | Tallahassee | 4 | 2% | $78,927 |
| 10 | Hartford | 3 | 2% | $97,877 |
| 11 | Little Rock | 3 | 2% | $75,096 |
| 12 | Atlanta | 4 | 1% | $64,322 |
| 13 | Denver | 4 | 1% | $66,368 |
| 14 | Urban Honolulu | 4 | 1% | $76,489 |
| 15 | Washington | 4 | 1% | $98,193 |
| 16 | Montgomery | 3 | 1% | $66,956 |
| 17 | Baltimore | 3 | 0% | $97,791 |
| 18 | Los Angeles | 3 | 0% | $100,171 |
Decision Support Analyst job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of decision support analyst experts
UMass Lowell
Merrimack College
University of Washington
University of Southern Maine
Western Kentucky University
John Jay College of Criminal Justice of the City University of New York
University of California, Santa Cruz
University of Illinois at Chicago
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Drexel University
Molloy College
University of New Mexico
University of Wyoming
San Francisco State University
Wake Forest University
University of Oregon
Michael Ciuchta Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Program Coordinator, Masters of Science in EntrepreneurshipUMass Lowell
Department of Marketing, Entrepreneurship & Innovation
What Decision Support Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Michael Ciuchta Ph.D.: Obviously we are seeing a tremendous increase in AI and other digital technologies. These will become a more crucial skill set for many careers going forward. But I wouldn't downplay the role of what are traditionally seen as soft skills like empathy, communications, and judgment. Not only can these distinguish you from robots but from your human competitors as well.
What will help Decision Support Analysts increase their earning potential?
Michael Ciuchta Ph.D.: If all you want is the highest potential starting salary, then you should aim for careers that offer them. But that is a shortsighted way to view things. For example, many careers that have tournament-like pay structures (think entertainment) often have very low starting salaries but the so-called winners enjoy outsized financial gains. If you are thinking about a more traditional career, I think it's important to make sure you are more valuable to your employer than they are to you. This means you have to market yourself, both to your current employer as well as to potential ones. Of course, this approach may not be for everyone and maximizing your salary potential is only one thing you should be considering when assessing job and career opportunities.
What general advice would you give to a Decision Support Analyst?
Reshad Osmani PhD: As a new graduate starting your career, I recommend staying curious, being open to learning from others, seeking feedback, building networks, and being proactive in tackling challenges. Keep developing your analytical skills, stay adaptable, and remember that mistakes are opportunities for growth. Learning by doing should be your number one priority.
What will help Decision Support Analysts increase their earning potential?
Reshad Osmani PhD: In the next 3-5 years, skills like data analysis, digital literacy, adaptability, emotional intelligence, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills are likely to become even more important across various fields due to the increasing influence of technology, automation, and remote work trends. Additionally, skills related to cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and sustainability may also gain prominence.
What general advice would you give to a Decision Support Analyst?
Rebecca Bird MAS, BS MT(ASCP): Skills that will become more important in the future are understanding quality measures. Six Sigma Lean principles are very applicable to what we do and help to keep a balanced workflow. A second thing is to understand that you and your coworkers are human. Find resilience tools that help you to keep a calm focus and practice good communication. Stay connected to national organizations for articles and training to stay connected to the future.
What general advice would you give to a Decision Support Analyst?
Dr. Michael Zhang: In the coming years, turning data into insights and driving business innovation and success is the new compass.
What general advice would you give to a Decision Support Analyst?
Melissa Zimdars: To remember that you're going to learn a lot on the job and that failure is part of the learning process. It's okay to ask questions and to not know things, but you must be willing to take feedback, adjust, and grow.
What will help Decision Support Analysts increase their earning potential?
Melissa Zimdars: Recognize that your first career opportunity won't be your last. If the job you land after college does not have opportunities for growth or advancement, it's imperative that you keep an eye out for them elsewhere as you continue to gain experience in your field.
What general advice would you give to a Decision Support Analyst?
Victor Menaldo: Learn, learn and learn some more. Adopt a growth mindset where you never stop learning. Gain economic literacy and financial literacy and historical literacy and statistical literacy. This will allow you to complement AI: ask it good questions, contextualize and evaluate its answers, and ask good follow up questions.
What Decision Support Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Victor Menaldo: Interacting with AI and knowing how to best exploit it to get the most out of it: increase productivity and value added in whatever field one is in.
What will help Decision Support Analysts increase their earning potential?
Victor Menaldo: Develop oral communication skills that allow you to speak in an articulate manner and organize your thoughts to signal your competence, knowledge, work ethic, and willingness to keep learning and improving.
Tove Rasmussen
LecturerUniversity of Southern Maine
Specialized Sales, Merchandising And Marketing Operations
What general advice would you give to a Decision Support Analyst?
Tove Rasmussen: Tove Rasmussen advises graduates beginning their career in the field to...
What Decision Support Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Tove Rasmussen: Tove Rasmussen believes that the skills that will become more important and prevalent in the field in the next 3-5 years are...
What Decision Support Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Timothy Rich PhD: Think about the types of jobs that interest you and the skills necessary for those jobs early. So many students start thinking about post-graduation life spring their senior year, when it should be an incremental process much earlier. Another pieces of advice would be to talk to faculty and alum about your interests, find internship or research opportunities when possible, and try to figure out early your strengths and weaknesses. It's easy for students, especially high performing ones, to not fully consider what their weaknesses are. I encourage students to jot down what they see as their skills too and to share them with others. It helps them to identify what's a common skill versus something that might make them stick out.
Professor Shonna Trinch Ph.D.
ProfessorJohn Jay College of Criminal Justice of the City University of New York
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, And Group Studies
What general advice would you give to a Decision Support Analyst?
Professor Shonna Trinch Ph.D.: Being able to negotiate a salary is also a skill that students need to learn and one that is rarely taught in college. Students need to be able to ask for more than they are offered, but also take jobs at entry levels, prove themselves and then ask for an increase in pay six months into the job after they have shown that they are doing the work and achieving their goals.
What Decision Support Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Professor Shonna Trinch Ph.D.: Analysis and critical thinking, writing and making strong arguments are indispensable job market skills. Concepts such as 'ethnicity,' 'gender' and 'minority' are constructed in social and historical spaces and times, and students with college degrees can help de-naturalize these categories to make others understand how policy, programming and marketing might not be achieving their stated goals.
What general advice would you give to a Decision Support Analyst?
Stephanie Lain Ph.D.: Look for a unionized job, preferably in a large institution where there is room for job growth. For students trained in linguistics, there are also often opportunities to work in tech, so this might be something to explore.
What Decision Support Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Stephanie Lain Ph.D.: I would advise graduates to be open to considering jobs in lots of different fields. The skills acquired through their major- such as problem-solving, critical thinking, and writing- are ones that transfer well to a variety of situations.
Spyros Kitsiou Ph.D.
Associate ProfessorUniversity of Illinois at Chicago
Medical Illustration And Informatics
What general advice would you give to a Decision Support Analyst?
Spyros Kitsiou Ph.D.: In terms of hard skills: Data analytics, Machine learning and artificial intelligence techniques, Mobile health informatics. In terms of soft skills: Problem-solving, Motivation and drive driven by curiosity, Communication skills.
What general advice would you give to a Decision Support Analyst?
Dr. Paige Novak P.E. (Minnesota), BCEE: Ask questions, stay curious and open minded, take opportunities to learn and develop new skills.
What Decision Support Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Paige Novak P.E. (Minnesota), BCEE: The so-called 'soft skills' have already become more important and will continue to be important for successfully interacting with clients, the public, and other stakeholders. A familiarity and comfort with AI is also likely to be more and more important in the field.
What general advice would you give to a Decision Support Analyst?
Mark Stehr PhD: Having skill in programming, data manipulation, prediction, and causal inference will set you apart from many other economics majors.
Develop good people skills. Moving into higher level roles as your career progresses requires working with, motivating, and managing professional relationships.
What Decision Support Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Mark Stehr PhD: At the start of your career, it's very important to land a role where you learn a lot and find good mentors. The additional skills will pay dividends as your career progresses.
What will help Decision Support Analysts increase their earning potential?
Michael Rosino PhD: One thing that I always emphasize to students is to confidently craft your story when applying for jobs and preparing materials. While it may feel uncomfortable to come off as confident, it is important not to downplay your skills and experience. So, my advice is to think deeply about why you would be a good fit for each job and to highlight the concrete skills and experiences you have gained - especially in terms of topical background, technical acumen with specific software or methodologies or research/writing skills. Secondly, I suggest looking at which fields are in high demand. While it is not always possible because people may have geographic constraints, considering as many wide opportunities in all kinds of places can also be beneficial. Two other pieces of advice which may be more relevant to those a bit further on would be to negotiate when you are offered a mid-level or professional job and to ask for benefits and salary and to consider going back to gain additional education such as a Master's degree to qualify for higher-paying and more prestigious jobs.
What will help Decision Support Analysts increase their earning potential?
Mary Rodena-Krasan Ph.D.: A degree in German Studies is extraordinarily flexible, giving you a skill set that makes you suitable to a variety of fields. Be open to every opportunity and never underestimate the skill sets learning a new language has afforded you - cross-cultural competence, interlinguistic technological adeptness, problem solving, information analysis, and critical thinking. Employers want someone they don't have to hand-hold. Studying a foreign language requires a lot of self-initiative - apply that to every assignment at the job and don't be afraid to suggest approaches! Your ability to undertake something new and be successful has already been proven by your German studies degree!
Dr. Maggie Siebert Ph.D.
Epidemiologist, NMDOHUniversity of New Mexico
Health/Medical Preparatory Programs
What will help Decision Support Analysts increase their earning potential?
Dr. Maggie Siebert Ph.D.: Programming languages for reporting, querying, and optimizing/automating
What Decision Support Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Lars Kotthoff: Anything and everything related to AI, but in particular being able to cut through the hype and being able to assess new technologies realistically.
What Decision Support Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Jennifer Shea Ph.D.: Most fundamentally, remember that in the public and nonprofit sectors in may be difficult to realize big salary jumps (more difficult than in private sector industries). That means, your starting salary will likely impact your future earnings potential. For civil service jobs, make sure you are aware what the salary range in any rank is and how initial salaries and raises are determined. The situation in the nonprofit sector is more varied, depending on the size of the nonprofit and position in the organization. In any case, don’t be afraid to ask questions and advocate for yourself, no matter the sector.
What will help Decision Support Analysts increase their earning potential?
Jennifer Shea Ph.D.: Data analytics and visualization (already important but will likely increase)
Effective use of AI technologies
Ability to develop and evaluate meaningful and robust programs and policies that center equity in ways that recognize intersectionality and multiple dimensions of equity
What general advice would you give to a Decision Support Analyst?
Dr. Mark Evans: Add value beyond what you are asked to do. Take ownership of your work. Volunteer for the most difficult jobs and clients.
What Decision Support Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Mark Evans: Don't stop learning. Treat your first job like more graduate school. Learn everything you can.