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What is an operations research analyst and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted experts
Cheryl Dorsey,
Dr. Anne Paulet Ph.D.
introduction image

An operation research analyst solves complex organizational problems through the use of advanced mathematical and analytical means. You are responsible for the collection and organization of data like sales histories or customers' feedback. You also have to examine and analyze the obtained information to decipher an effective way to deal with problems. A research analyst makes use of simulations, predictive models, and various statistical analyses to come up with practical business solutions. You have to regularly write reports to communicate your analysis and recommendations to your managers and the company's executives.

The least educational requirement for this role is a Bachelor's degree in business, engineering, management science, or any other related field. Although, some employers might prefer higher degrees like Masters. You need to have exceptional presentation skills in addition to good written and oral communication skills. It is also important that you are a critical analyzer and a problem solver. The average annual salary of an operations research analyst is $86,200.

What general advice would you give to an operations research analyst?

Cheryl DorseyCheryl Dorsey LinkedIn profile

Lecturer, Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology

Overall, for a new graduate starting their career, I would suggest that you be flexible and try to learn as much as possible to develop additional skills. This will make you more marketable in the future.
ScoreOperations Research AnalystUS Average
Salary
5.8

Avg. Salary $74,424

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
4.6

Growth rate 23%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
3.4
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.62%

Asian 12.89%

Black or African American 13.86%

Hispanic or Latino 12.38%

Unknown 5.89%

White 54.36%

Gender

female 31.75%

male 68.25%

Age - 44
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 44
Stress level
4.6

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level
9.9

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance
5.8

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Operations research analyst career paths

Key steps to become an operations research analyst

  1. Explore operations research analyst education requirements

    Most common operations research analyst degrees

    Bachelor's

    67.1 %

    Master's

    21.6 %

    Associate

    4.7 %
  2. Start to develop specific operations research analyst skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Operations Research19.54%
    DOD9.00%
    Python5.01%
    Statistical Analysis3.72%
    C++3.65%
  3. Complete relevant operations research analyst training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New operations research analysts learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an operations research analyst based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real operations research analyst resumes.
  4. Research operations research analyst duties and responsibilities

    • Manage strategic development initiatives in the branch banking area, using COBOL, TSO, and SAS.
    • Manage timely (business/technology) requirements gathering, project documentation, approvals from governance, QA testing and post-production validation.
    • Redesign the software architecture and develop the system with Java, CPLEX and SQL.
    • Establish price to win in compliance with DoD small business concerns.
  5. Get operations research analyst experience

  6. Prepare your operations research analyst resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your operations research analyst resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an operations research analyst resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable operations research analyst resume templates

    Build a professional operations research analyst resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your operations research analyst resume.
    Operations Research Analyst Resume
    Operations Research Analyst Resume
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    Operations Research Analyst Resume
    Operations Research Analyst Resume
    Operations Research Analyst Resume
    Operations Research Analyst Resume
    Operations Research Analyst Resume
    Operations Research Analyst Resume
  7. Apply for operations research analyst jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for an operations research analyst job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first operations research analyst job

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Average operations research analyst salary

The average operations research analyst salary in the United States is $74,424 per year or $36 per hour. Operations research analyst salaries range between $48,000 and $113,000 per year.

Average operations research analyst salary
$74,424 Yearly
$35.78 hourly

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Operations research analyst reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Apr 2019
Cons

Too much detail oriented


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2019
Cons

Lots of sitting.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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