The Operations Research major builds core foundations in this discipline and prepares students with practical, career-relevant skills. Use RoEDU™ to find programs that match your goals.
Within Engineering, students often explore key subfields and specializations that provide targeted expertise.
Graduates translate classroom knowledge into real-world impact across sectors through hands-on projects and internships.
As part of Engineering, this major connects to diverse, high-demand fields and interdisciplinary pathways.
Typical starting pay soon after graduation.
Estimated after a decade of experience.
Seasoned professionals at ~20 years.
CAGR (compound annual growth rate) summarizes average yearly change across the observed period.
Employment-weighted across mapped SOCs; entry ≈ 85% of median; historical CAGR shown for last 5y; projections capped at 3% CAGR; lifetime is 40-year present value at 3% discount.
Data from Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024) • Median wages, employment, and growth projections
| Occupation | Median Wage | Total Jobs | Growth Rate | Education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Operations Research Analysts SOC: 15-2031 Occupation: Operations Research Analysts | $91,290 | 107,760 | N/A | N/A |
Natural Sciences Managers SOC: 11-9121 Occupation: Natural Sciences Managers | $161,180 | 100,870 | N/A | N/A |
Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary SOC: 25-1032 Occupation: Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | $106,120 | 39,910 | N/A | N/A |
Historical data from Bureau of Labor Statistics (2020-2024) • Salary trends and employment growth over 5 years
| Year | Median Wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $91,290 | 107,760 |
| 2023 | $83,640 | 117,880 |
| 2022 | $85,720 | 105,080 |
| 2021 | $82,360 | 98,700 |
| 2020 | $86,200 | 96,220 |
| Year | Median Wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $161,180 | 100,870 |
| 2023 | $157,740 | 96,520 |
| 2022 | $144,440 | 82,570 |
| 2021 | $137,900 | 74,760 |
| 2020 | $137,940 | 75,870 |
| Year | Median Wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $106,120 | 39,910 |
| 2023 | $106,910 | 38,370 |
| 2022 | $103,550 | 36,010 |
| 2021 | $104,940 | 35,440 |
| 2020 | $103,600 | 38,520 |