Operations research analysts
SOC Code: 15-2031
Operations research analysts carries a 48% AI exposure score (High automation risk), with a median annual wage of $91,290 and +21.5% projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034 (BLS), affecting approximately 112,100 workers. Full task breakdown, skills, and employer data are below.
Proportion of tasks susceptible to AI automation (O*NET analysis)
At 48% AI exposure, Operations research analysts sits 11 points above the 37.2% average across 832 U.S. occupations - more exposed than 85% of them. Most of its core tasks still require human judgment.
Career outlook score
68/100
Operations research analysts, weighted across 3 of 3 tracked dimensions
A weighted composite of median wage, projected growth, and AI-automation security (inverted exposure), each benchmarked against every other tracked occupation. It describes this occupation's standing across those three dimensions, not a guarantee of future outcomes.
- Median wage A- $91,290
Annual median wage, percentile rank vs all tracked occupations
- Projected growth A+ +21.5%
Projected employment change, 2024-2034, BLS Employment Projections
- AI exposure (inverted) F 48% exposure
Lower O*NET task-automability scores lower risk; this dimension scores security, not exposure
Home health and personal care aides is #1 of 832 occupations by employment (4.3M, AI exposure rank #392 at 35%) vs. Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks #1 by AI task exposure (95%, employment rank #17 at 1.6M).
Automation-risk inventory
Exclusive cut of 832 occupations by PlainWorkforce automation-risk band. Orthogonal to the continuous AI-exposure distribution chart below and to this occupation's single risk badge, this is the corpus band mix, with Operations research analysts in the High band.
Credential × growth standing
Bachelor's bar with above-average BLS growth
Operations research analysts sits in the Bachelor's entry band (178 of 832 occupations) and the Much faster pace bucket (31 of 832). That pairing is rarer than the HS / some-college + declining cluster that dominates the BLS map - treat the degree bar as the binding gate while the growth line stays supportive.
Where Operations research analysts sits among all occupations
AI-exposure score distribution across 832 U.S. occupations (O*NET task analysis). This occupation is marked in rose.
Where Operations research analysts sits by AI exposure
AI-exposure score distribution across U.S. occupations (O*NET task analysis)
48% Higher than most higher than 85% of 832 occupations
Occupations, banded by AI-exposure score
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source O*NET task data (U.S. Department of Labor) · BLS 2024–2034
Source: O*NET task data (U.S. Department of Labor); AI-exposure scores are PlainWorkforce's analysis. As of BLS 2024–2034.
Operations research analysts vs. its occupational neighbors
AI exposure (horizontal) vs projected 2024–2034 growth (vertical) for occupations in the same SOC group. Operations research analysts is marked in rose; the top-left corner is the most future-proof.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 (growth) and O*NET (AI-exposure analysis by PlainWorkforce).
Employment Projections
Where This Score Comes From
Operations research analysts's High automation-risk tier is computed from O*NET Database 30.0 task-level analysis, where each documented task the occupation performs is evaluated against current generative AI, robotic process automation, and machine-learning capabilities. A score in the 40–70% range indicates meaningful automation pressure on specific task categories, but the role as a whole still requires human judgment for coordination, exception handling, or client interaction.
The employment, wage, and education figures above come from a second, separate federal source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034, matched to the O*NET task data by Standard Occupational Classification (SOC 15-2031) code, with the wage figure cross-validated against the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024 survey. BLS figures are presented exactly as published, with no adjustment on our part; the SOC-code match is what lets Operations research analysts be compared directly against every other tracked occupation on the same basis, not just roles that happen to share a job title.
For career planners, this profile should be read alongside the task, skill, and knowledge breakdowns below and the list of employers whose workforce composition includes Operations research analysts. Adjacent occupations shown further down offer lateral moves that preserve industry knowledge while potentially reducing exposure.
Education & Entry Requirements
Top Tasks (O*NET)
- 1. Present the results of mathematical modeling and data analysis to management or other end users.
- 2. Define data requirements, and gather and validate information, applying judgment and statistical tests.
- 3. Perform validation and testing of models to ensure adequacy, and reformulate models, as necessary.
- 4. Prepare management reports defining and evaluating problems and recommending solutions.
- 5. Collaborate with others in the organization to ensure successful implementation of chosen problem solutions.
- 6. Formulate mathematical or simulation models of problems, relating constants and variables, restrictions, alternatives, conflicting objectives, and their numerical parameters.
- 7. Observe the current system in operation, and gather and analyze information about each of the component problems, using a variety of sources.
- 8. Analyze information obtained from management to conceptualize and define operational problems.
- 9. Study and analyze information about alternative courses of action to determine which plan will offer the best outcomes.
- 10. Collaborate with senior managers and decision makers to identify and solve a variety of problems and to clarify management objectives.
Key Skills Required
- Mathematics
- Complex Problem Solving
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Systems Analysis
Knowledge Areas
- Mathematics
- Computers and Electronics
- Engineering and Technology
- Production and Processing
- English Language
- Design
- Education and Training
- Administration and Management
- Economics and Accounting
- Customer and Personal Service
Frequently Asked Questions
Will AI replace Operations research analysts?
Operations research analysts has an AI exposure score of 48%, indicating a high level of automation risk. Some tasks in this role can be augmented or partially automated by AI, but core responsibilities require human judgment.
What is the job outlook for Operations research analysts?
According to BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034, Operations research analysts is projected to grow by 21.5% over the decade. Current employment stands at approximately 112,100 workers.
What skills are needed for Operations research analysts?
Key skills for Operations research analysts include Mathematics, Complex Problem Solving, Reading Comprehension, and others. Typical entry-level education is Bachelor's degree.
How much do Operations research analysts earn?
The median annual wage for Operations research analysts is $91,290, according to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2024). Actual earnings vary by location, experience, industry, and employer. The BLS publishes detailed wage percentiles by region in its Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program.
What education is required for Operations research analysts?
The typical entry-level education for Operations research analysts is Bachelor's degree. Employers generally expect None of related work experience. On-the-job training typically involves None. Requirements can vary by employer and specialization.
Which companies employ Operations research analysts?
Operations research analysts roles exist across many industries and employers. Workforce composition is estimated from BLS industry-occupation employment distributions matched to SEC-registered public companies.
AI Exposure Rating
High automation risk based on 10 analyzed tasks. A moderate share of tasks may be augmented by AI tools.
Nationwide occupations with similar workforce profiles
Two data-derived peer sets for Operations research analysts: AI-exposure neighbors and BLS 2034 growth neighbors (distinct comparison neighborhoods, cross-occupation).
Similar AI exposure score
Nearest O*NET task-automability scores nationwide (48% here).
- Biological scientists, all other · AI exposure 48%
- Disc jockeys, except radio · AI exposure 48%
- Film and video editors · AI exposure 48%
- Graphic designers · AI exposure 48%
Similar projected growth (2024–2034)
Nearest BLS employment change rates nationwide (+21.5% here).
- Actuaries · growth +21.8%
- Physical therapist assistants · growth +22.0%
- Physician assistants · growth +20.4%
- Psychiatric technicians · growth +20.0%
Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on published BLS + O*NET metrics among occupations with ≥10,000 workers in 2024; corpus ranks above sort the full tracked set.
Related Occupations
Showing 6 of 10 occupations with a comparable automation-risk profile.
What to do with this
Use Operations research analysts' numbers above to compare, not just read in isolation.
- Compare Operations research analysts side by side against another occupation on wage, growth, and AI exposure. Workforce comparison tool
- Understand how the AI exposure score above is actually calculated before treating it as a verdict. Reading AI exposure scores
- See the full ranked list of occupations with the lowest automation exposure nationwide. Safest occupations from AI
AI exposure scores estimate task automatability from O*NET data; they are not a certainty of job loss, and BLS growth projections are estimates, not guarantees.
Data sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024–2034 and O*NET Database 30.0. Employment figures are rounded. Wage data from BLS Occupational Employment Statistics (OES).