Operations Analyst Salary: Your 2025 Guide

You might think of operations analysts as the ultimate problem solver. They review data and develop ways to help an organization run more smoothly and efficiently. You might work as part of a team or individually, and you may find yourself working in practically any industry, from health care to finance. You may even work in government institutions like the Department of Defense, which often employs and contracts operations analysts.  

As data and technology become increasingly important in many business models, many predict that the need for operations analysts will rise over the next few years. That demand makes this a great career choice for anyone seeking a STEM career with job security. Keep reading to learn more about the operations analyst's salary, the job outlook, and what exactly someone in this role does daily.   

What is an operations analyst?

These professionals use an organization’s data, systems, and processes to find better business solutions, ways to cut costs, and ways to run more efficiently. As an operations analyst, you solve the organization's most significant problems and help management make big decisions. 

You might do this through data modeling, mathematical modeling, analytical software, quantitative reasoning, and other practices. You'll need an analytical mind, an ability to pay close attention to detail, and strong critical thinking skills. You'll typically also need an engineering, math, business, or computer science background. 

Some of your duties as an operations analyst might include: 

• Collect and organize various forms of data 

• Identify problems in areas like logistics and operations 

• Analyze and extract information from data

• Optimize processes and procedures 

• Develop models and ideas and use tools to test them 

• Write reports about your findings 

• Brief management, stakeholders, and other team members 

Depending on your interests and background, an operations analyst could work in any industry. For example, an operations analyst in health care might help design clinical trials for new medications. In manufacturing, an operations analyst might help a company develop a more energy-efficient way to manufacture a product.

How much does an operations analyst make?

According to Glassdoor, an operations analyst earns a median annual salary of $67,874 [2]. It also helps to look at data from various job listing sites to understand the average salary associated with this job in the United States. Doing so indicates that an operations analyst's average salary may range from $63,000 to more than $83,000. The average pay provided by five different sources is as follows [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]: 

While that can give you a good idea of what to expect, it’s essential to understand how factors like geographic location, industry, previous experience, education, and any certifications you earn can impact how much you will make.  

Factors that can impact operations analyst salary

Exactly how much you make as an operation analyst will have much to do with your company or organization. Other factors, like how much formal education you have, the geographic location where you live and work, and your experience, also affect your earnings. 

Education 

The career website Zippia reports that about 72 percent of operations analysts have a bachelor's degree [6]. About 12 percent have an associate degree, while 11 percent have a master's degree. Standard areas of study include business, finance, accounting, economics, and computer science. Either way, you'll likely need some formal education for this role, and the more advanced your degree, the more you may typically earn. Below are the average salaries for varied education levels [6]: 

• Associate degree: $56,832

• Bachelor's degree: $64,947

• Master's degree:  $72,492

• Doctorate: $75,736

Experience

In addition to formal education, having some experience in the field can also impact how much you'll make as an operations analyst. Many people gain experience and credentials while in school, working, or even enlisted in the US military. You may also work in a related field with job titles like data analyst, systems analyst, business analyst, or data architect.  

According to Glassdoor’s October 2024 data, years of experience could impact your total base pay [2]:  

Keep in mind that this table only shows base pay. It does not include additional income you may earn, like profit sharing, tips, commission, or bonuses.  

Industry

Operations analysts can work in practically any industry and any type of organization. The BLS reports that 22 percent of operations analysts work in finance and insurance [7]. Professional, scientific, and technical services;company and enterprise management; the federal government; and manufacturing follow it. Of those industries, the median annual wage for federal government employees was highest in 2023 at $130,670 per year [7]. 

Take a look at some sample average annual base pay salaries for operations analysts in other industries, according to Glassdoor [2]: 

• Aerospace and defense: $89,359

• Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology: $82,175

• Information technology: $82,44

• Manufacturing: $81,439

• Energy, Mining, & Utilities: $80,420

Location

Where you work geographically can also affect how much you make as an operations analyst. Zippia reports that certain states pay more than others. Since many operations analysts work for the federal government, you'll typically find that many of the highest-paying jobs are in the Washington, DC, area. The following lists the top 10 highest-paying states and districts for operations analyst jobs [3]: 

1. New Jersey: $75,654

2. Washington, DC: $75,454

3. Virginia: $74,013

4. Maine: $73,764

5. California: $72,345

6. New York: $69,455

7. West Virginia: $68,800

8. Maryland: $68,757

9. Delaware: $68,339

10. Illinois: $64,980

Certifications 

Certifications may not automatically lead to higher pay but can help you advance your career and earn more over time. For example, according to Zippia, the Chartered Financial Analyst certification can help you land a role as a senior operations analyst and raise your salary to a potential $81,420 [8]. They might also help you stand out against other candidates for jobs. 

Job outlook

The job outlook for operations research analysts, a similar role, is quite promising. The BLS reports a 23 percent growth rate between 2023 and 2033, growth considerably faster than the average for all careers [7]. Reasons for this growth include technological advances and a desire for organizations to find more cost-efficient ways of operating. Additionally, US News and World Report ranks operations research analyst as the sixth-best job in business, the 10th-best STEM job, and the 15th-best job overall [9]. 

Getting started with Coursera

Operations analyst jobs are well paid and have an excellent job outlook. If this career feels like a good fit for you, you can maximize your salary by gaining relevant experience and qualifications to allow for promotions. 

Consider taking a course on Coursera to learn more about data-centric jobs. You'll find introductory options offered by some of the top institutions in the world, like Business Analytics with Excel: Elementary to Advanced, provided by Johns Hopkins University; Introduction to Data Analytics, from IBM; and Foundations: Data, Data, Everywhere, offered by Google.