INFORMS Career FAQ: Question 7

Q. What's the career outlook for operations researchers?

A. According to the U.S. Labor Department, there are about 50,000 people currently working as operations researchers in the United States. Tens of thousands more are employed in comparable jobs worldwide. But even these numbers do not represent the entire scope of the field.

Many people who begin their careers as operations researchers are promoted into management positions with broader responsibilities. And others who may be operations researchers by training gravitate into related areas and identify themselves as computer specialists, statisticians, marketing strategists, city planners, and the like.

Of the 13,000 members of the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS), approximately 35% work in private industry, 56% in academia, and 9% in government and military jobs.

Many of these people make a comfortable living. Recent surveys indicate an average salary of $65,000 to $85,000 per year in business and industry; $57,500 in federal government for those with at least a master's degree. Associate professors (doctorate level) earn about $60,000 per year.

In addition, established operations researchers often augment their salaries with consulting work that boosts total income even higher. And, of course, those who advance into top management roles encompassing other areas in addition to operations research frequently earn in the mid to upper six figure range.