What Does an Operations Research Analyst Do?

Businesses collect tremendous volumes of data, from worker habits to daily operations processes and customer behavior. Operations research analysts analyze this data using mathematical modeling and advanced analysis to create insightful reports that help business leaders make more efficient and cost-effective decisions. These professionals are vital to optimizing business operations. 

With faster-than-average industry growth and high salaries, operations research analyst positions are a great option for professionals who enjoy math and statistics. Explore what this job involves and how to set yourself up for success.

What does an operations research analyst do?

Operations research analysts perform critical functions for companies interested in improving their processes and making more informed decisions. As an operations research analyst, you will use statistics, mathematical modeling, and optimization to develop solutions to issues causing less-than-ideal performance. For example, you might study customer behavior to provide insight into the best time of year to offer a particular sale or help streamline information sharing in a hospital to provide more time for doctors to spend with patients.

Operations research analysts take this raw data and analyze it without bias. In this role, you must use mathematical and analytical skills to discover the optimal solution for an issue, regardless of other people’s motivations or opinions. Your employer will trust you to find the best solutions for everyone based on what the data reflects.

Read more: What Is an Operations Analyst?

Tasks and responsibilities

The tasks in this role vary based on a business’s needs. Some typical responsibilities may include: 

• Use data to identify issues in processes, logistics, customer behavior, and other areas

• Collect and sort information from various sources, such as databases or interviews

• Analyze the data using models, simulations, and other techniques

• Develop and test possible solutions

• Write reports and effectively communicate proposed recommendations

• Formulate appropriate models and analysis processes

• Collaborate with decision-makers about issues and solutions

• Communicate changes in process to staff and colleagues

• Mine big data to identify patterns

Read more: Operations Management: What Is It and Why Does It Matter?

What are some in-demand operations research analyst skills? 

To be successful as an operations research analyst, you’ll need strong analytical and mathematical skills to fulfill your job’s expectations. Some other technical and workplace skills that are helpful in this role include the following:

Technical skills

• Quantitative analysis

• Computer programming

• Predictive modeling

• Advanced mathematics

• Conducting tests using  simulations

• Strong writing, research, and presentation skills

Read more: What Is Statistical Modeling?

Workplace skills

• Critical thinking

• Problem-solving

• Collaborative skills

• Persistence

What tools do operations research analysts use?

Operations research analysts use a wide range of software and other tools to gather, analyze successfully, and model data sets. 

Some examples of this software include: 

• Analytical software, like IBM SPSS Statistics

• Database user interface and query software, like Microsoft SQL Server

• Operating system software, like UNIX Shell

• Object-oriented development software, like Scala

• Word processing software, like Google Docs

Knowledge of computing languages, like C++ and SQL, is helpful since operations research analysts sometimes need to code.

Qualifications needed for operations research analyst jobs

Operations research analysts typically need a strong math and computer programming background to succeed. You might acquire these skills through a four-year degree, an advanced degree, online certifications, and on-the-job training.

Education

According to Zippia, 67 percent of operations research analysts have a bachelor’s degree, while 22 percent have a master’s degree [1]. Degrees in mathematics, business, engineering, or computer science are all strong options. Any coursework in advanced mathematics, like calculus or statistics, is also beneficial. 

If you’d like to advance in this career beyond an entry-level role, you might consider a master’s in a field like data science.

Experience

Operations research analysts typically need some professional experience working with data. Even an internship or part-time job in a related field can help prepare you for the role. Some employers may offer on-the-job training. You can also gain relevant experience in the US military. 

Read more: How to Get a Job with No Experience: A Job Seeker’s Guide

Salary and job outlook for an operations research analyst

According to Glassdoor, the estimated total pay for an operations research analyst in the US is $$158,222 per year. This figure includes an average base salary of $109,286 and $48,936 in additional pay [2]. Additional pay may represent profit-sharing, commissions, or bonuses.

The job outlook for operations research analysts is positive, with the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimating 23 percent industry growth through 2032 [3]. This growth outpaces the average across all jobs and points to increasing demand.

Possible paths to becoming an operations research analyst

Once you’ve gained the education and experience necessary to meet the expectations of an operations research analyst role, the next step is to prepare your resume and seek out an entry-level position. Professionals in adjacent careers with mathematics and computer programming backgrounds might move into this role as part of their career progression. Some adjacent jobs include data scientists, business analysts, and business intelligence analysts.  

Operations research analyst career advancement

As an operations research analyst, you can advance your career by gaining new responsibilities, like supervisory or management roles. For example, you might progress from an operations research analyst role into a job as a finance analyst role before becoming a project manager or senior analyst. Often, these advancements come with the requirement to further your education, so it’s something to keep in mind as you consider which degrees to pursue.

Similar careers

Many other careers use the same education, experience, and skill set as an operations research analyst. Some of these roles and their total average US salaries, include the following: 

• Data scientist: $160,679 [4]

• Industrial engineer: $114,823 [5]  

• Logisticians: $87,638 [6]

• Management analysts: $108,721 [7]

*All salary data is sourced from Glassdoor as of October 2024

Next steps

The job outlook for operations research analysts is growing significantly, offering solid earning potential. If you enjoy using math and working with data, it could be a good fit for you. Sharpen your data analysis skills and learn more about an operations research analyst role with courses and certifications on Coursera. Options like National Taiwan University’s Operations Research (1): Models and Applications or IBM's Introduction to Data Analytics provide insight into the foundational knowledge needed to be competitive in this role.