Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2017

15-2031 Operations Research Analysts

Formulate and apply mathematical modeling and other optimizing methods to develop and interpret information that assists management with decision making, policy formulation, or other managerial functions. May collect and analyze data and develop decision support software, service, or products. May develop and supply optimal time, cost, or logistics networks for program evaluation, review, or implementation.


National estimates for this occupation
Industry profile for this occupation
Geographic profile for this occupation

National estimates for this occupation: Top

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3)
Mean hourly
wage
Mean annual
wage (2)
Wage RSE (3)
106,050 2.2 % $41.59 $86,510 0.6 %

Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $21.77 $28.74 $39.13 $51.79 $64.65
Annual Wage (2) $45,270 $59,780 $81,390 $107,720 $134,470


Industry profile for this occupation: Top

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Management of Companies and Enterprises 10,320 0.44 $42.61 $88,630
Insurance Carriers 10,220 0.88 $40.32 $83,870
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services 9,910 0.72 $42.92 $89,270
Computer Systems Design and Related Services 9,210 0.46 $42.09 $87,540
Credit Intermediation and Related Activities (5221 And 5223 only) 6,990 0.35 $40.39 $84,000

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Insurance Carriers 10,220 0.88 $40.32 $83,870
Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil 100 0.84 $31.55 $65,630
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services 9,910 0.72 $42.92 $89,270
Nondepository Credit Intermediation 3,930 0.62 $43.97 $91,450
Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities 5,250 0.57 $44.43 $92,420

Top paying industries for this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) 5,000 0.25 $54.72 $113,820
Scientific Research and Development Services 2,350 0.36 $49.01 $101,950
Converted Paper Product Manufacturing 50 0.02 $48.26 $100,380
Communications Equipment Manufacturing (8) (8) $48.22 $100,290
Chemical Manufacturing (3255 and 3256 only) 40 0.02 $46.59 $96,910


Geographic profile for this occupation: Top

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.





States with the highest employment level in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California 12,670 0.76 1.02 $43.99 $91,510
Texas 11,400 0.96 1.29 $41.04 $85,360
Virginia 9,200 2.43 3.26 $50.33 $104,680
Illinois 6,200 1.05 1.40 $43.42 $90,310
New York 5,450 0.59 0.80 $48.02 $99,880




States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Virginia 9,200 2.43 3.26 $50.33 $104,680
Delaware 960 2.16 2.91 $44.43 $92,410
Maryland 4,060 1.52 2.05 $47.19 $98,160
Arizona 3,810 1.41 1.89 $34.58 $71,930
District of Columbia 840 1.18 1.59 $53.67 $111,630




Top paying States for this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
District of Columbia 840 1.18 1.59 $53.67 $111,630
New Jersey 2,580 0.64 0.87 $51.57 $107,270
Virginia 9,200 2.43 3.26 $50.33 $104,680
New York 5,450 0.59 0.80 $48.02 $99,880
Maryland 4,060 1.52 2.05 $47.19 $98,160



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Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:

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 Metropolitan Division 7,640 3.03 4.08 $52.03 $108,220
New York-Jersey City-White Plains, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division 4,880 0.73 0.98 $51.14 $106,360
Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX Metropolitan Division 3,580 1.44 1.93 $42.31 $88,010
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ 3,480 1.76 2.36 $34.28 $71,300
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA NECTA Division 3,180 1.73 2.32 $36.41 $75,740
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division 2,660 0.60 0.81 $43.61 $90,720
Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL Metropolitan Division 2,610 0.71 0.96 $42.96 $89,350
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 2,550 0.87 1.17 $44.96 $93,520
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 2,240 0.86 1.15 $32.33 $67,240
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 2,230 1.15 1.55 $43.99 $91,500


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Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California-Lexington Park, MD 620 13.61 18.29 $52.53 $109,260
Bloomington, IL 900 10.10 13.57 $43.75 $90,990
Dover-Durham, NH-ME 210 4.12 5.54 $43.42 $90,310
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division 7,640 3.03 4.08 $52.03 $108,220
Wilmington, DE-MD-NJ Metropolitan Division 870 2.51 3.38 $44.37 $92,280
Huntsville, AL 530 2.37 3.19 $46.68 $97,090
Silver Spring-Frederick-Rockville, MD Metropolitan Division 1,180 2.02 2.72 $47.44 $98,670
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ 3,480 1.76 2.36 $34.28 $71,300
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA NECTA Division 3,180 1.73 2.32 $36.41 $75,740
Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA 800 1.65 2.22 $31.46 $65,430


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Top paying metropolitan areas for this occupation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Newark, NJ-PA Metropolitan Division 1,110 0.95 1.28 $57.19 $118,960
San Francisco-Redwood City-South San Francisco, CA Metropolitan Division 1,540 1.38 1.86 $54.02 $112,360
Boulder, CO 80 0.43 0.58 $53.88 $112,080
Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT 440 1.05 1.41 $52.70 $109,610
California-Lexington Park, MD 620 13.61 18.29 $52.53 $109,260
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division 7,640 3.03 4.08 $52.03 $108,220
Springfield, MA-CT 80 0.23 0.31 $52.01 $108,180
Winston-Salem, NC 80 0.28 0.38 $51.93 $108,010
New York-Jersey City-White Plains, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division 4,880 0.73 0.98 $51.14 $106,360
Colorado Springs, CO 190 0.70 0.93 $49.98 $103,950

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in this occupation:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area 220 0.85 1.15 $35.88 $74,640
Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area 140 2.82 3.79 (8) (8)
Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area 80 0.62 0.84 $31.92 $66,380
Southwest New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area 80 2.20 2.96 (8) (8)
Southeast Coastal North Carolina nonmetropolitan area 70 0.27 0.37 $27.99 $58,210

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area 140 2.82 3.79 (8) (8)
Southwest New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area 80 2.20 2.96 (8) (8)
West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area 220 0.85 1.15 $35.88 $74,640
Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area 80 0.62 0.84 $31.92 $66,380
Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area 30 0.35 0.48 $31.45 $65,410

Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for this occupation:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
West Texas Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area 40 0.20 0.27 $41.73 $86,800
Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area 60 0.33 0.44 $40.49 $84,210
Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area 40 0.19 0.25 $38.07 $79,190
Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area (8) (8) (8) $38.00 $79,030
North Northeastern Ohio non-metropolitan area (non-contiguous) 50 0.14 0.19 $36.75 $76,450


About May 2017 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 OES estimates and related information:

May 2017 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2017 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2017 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2017 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2017 Occupation Profiles

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: March 30, 2018