Share and intensity of work current AI systems can materially affect.
SOC 15-2031
Operations Research Analysts AI displacement risk
AI assistance accelerates model formulation, validation code, and management reporting. Problem definition, model judgment under conflicting objectives, and implementation collaboration with decision-makers keep this role augmentation-led.
Likely potential for exposed tasks to move to software after workflow integration.
Standardized optimization work is increasingly embedded in software. Analysts who frame the right problem and own adoption of recommendations remain scarce.
Distribution
Where Operations Research Analysts sits across 620 tracked roles
Displacement pressure 36 — higher than 61% of the 620 occupations tracked on displacement.ai.
Score version
This page uses Seed model v0.4 (seed-v0.4-2026-05), last reviewed 2026-08-08. Directional occupation-level planning model using hand-reviewed public research, task exposure estimates, wage context, and transition-pathway assumptions.
17 O*NET task statements matched to SOC 15-2031. The displayed task profile combines these official task statements with the current public score model.
Median wage context: $88,940 (May 2025, US national). The latest BLS row matched SOC 15-2031.
Scores are planning signals, not forecasts. Local hiring demand, employer-specific workflows, licensing, and credentials must be validated before making career decisions.
2030 economic stress test
How Anthropic's scenarios classify Operations Research Analysts
SOC 15-2031 places this role in the paper's cognitive occupation group. These group-level outcomes do not change the 36/100 role score and are not an occupation forecast.
+0.4% group wage
-0.5% cognitive employment since mid-2026; 2.9% cognitive unemployment.
Economy-wide: +1.6% GDP and 3.9% unemployment.
-0.3% group wage
-3.9% cognitive employment since mid-2026; 4.5% cognitive unemployment.
Economy-wide: +8.3% GDP and 4.6% unemployment.
-11.5% group wage
-21.5% cognitive employment since mid-2026; 17.9% cognitive unemployment.
Economy-wide: +32.4% GDP and 11.9% unemployment.
Compare the assumptions and limitations across all three scenarios. Source: The Anthropic Institute Working Paper No. 2026-02.
Official task evidence
O*NET task matches for Operations Research Analysts
The current evidence import matched 17 task statements from Task Statements 31.0 (August 2026). These rows are used as a grounding layer for judging which parts of the occupation are repeatable, language-heavy, analytical, social, physical, or compliance-sensitive.
Dataset31.0 (August 2026)
Matched tasks17
SOC15-2031
- Core task / ID 20952
Present the results of mathematical modeling and data analysis to management or other end users.
- Core task / ID 7382
Define data requirements, and gather and validate information, applying judgment and statistical tests.
- Core task / ID 7380
Perform validation and testing of models to ensure adequacy, and reformulate models, as necessary.
- Core task / ID 7384
Prepare management reports defining and evaluating problems and recommending solutions.
- Core task / ID 7378
Collaborate with others in the organization to ensure successful implementation of chosen problem solutions.
- Core task / ID 7377
Formulate mathematical or simulation models of problems, relating constants and variables, restrictions, alternatives, conflicting objectives, and their numerical parameters.
Source: O*NET Resource Center, Task Statements. Raw import target: data/raw/onet/task-statements-31-0.txt.
Task profile
Where AI changes the work
Formulate mathematical models
Exposure 56, automation 26%, augmentation 74%.
O*NET evidence: Formulate mathematical or simulation models of problems, relating constants and variabl... (ID 7377)
Validate and test models
Exposure 60, automation 32%, augmentation 72%.
O*NET evidence: Define data requirements, and gather and validate information, applying judgment and st... (ID 7382)
Prepare reports recommending solutions
Exposure 72, automation 40%, augmentation 74%.
O*NET evidence: Prepare management reports defining and evaluating problems and recommending solutions. (ID 7384)
Collaborate with decision makers
Exposure 26, automation 8%, augmentation 44%.
O*NET evidence: Collaborate with senior managers and decision makers to identify and solve a variety of... (ID 7381)
TaskExposureAutomationAugmentation
Formulate mathematical models5626%74%
Validate and test models6032%72%
Prepare reports recommending solutions7240%74%
Collaborate with decision makers268%44%
Transition pathways
Adjacent moves that preserve existing skills
adjacent role
ModerateDecision Scientist
Training horizon: 3-6 months. Skill overlap 76. Wage preservation signal 110.
- Learn experimentation methods
- Build decision frameworks
- Partner with product teams
role redesign
ModerateOperations Analytics Manager
Training horizon: 4-8 months. Skill overlap 72. Wage preservation signal 112.
- Own an analytics roadmap
- Measure model business impact
- Mentor analyst teams
Comparison guides
Compare the next move before you commit
3-6 months
Operations Research Analysts to Decision Scientist
Compare AI displacement pressure, wage preservation, skill overlap, training time, and first proof project for moving from Operations Research Analysts into Decision Scientist.
4-8 months
Operations Research Analysts to Operations Analytics Manager
Compare AI displacement pressure, wage preservation, skill overlap, training time, and first proof project for moving from Operations Research Analysts into Operations Analytics Manager.
What the AI risk score means for Operations Research Analysts
The displacement pressure score for Operations Research Analysts is 36. That score blends task exposure, automation pressure, augmentation potential, wage vulnerability, transition feasibility, and source confidence. It is designed to help workers and workforce teams decide where to act first, not to claim a specific date when a job will disappear.
For this role, the clearest risk pattern is visible at the task level. Prepare reports recommending solutions carries 40% automation pressure, while Formulate mathematical models carries 74% augmentation potential. That means the best response is usually a targeted redesign of work: move away from repeatable production tasks and toward judgment, exception handling, coordination, stakeholder context, and accountable use of AI tools.
Labor-market context and wage risk
Median wage: $88,940 (May 2025, US national). Employment context: Modeling-heavy analytics role with strong growth. Typical education: Bachelor's degree common.
Wage vulnerability is 24, while transition feasibility is 76. A high wage-vulnerability score means workers should pay close attention to salary preservation before making a move. A high transition-feasibility score means there are adjacent paths that can reuse existing skills without requiring a complete career reset.
- Low to moderate displacement pressure
- High augmentation upside
- Framing skills differentiate analysts
Upskilling priorities
Skills that make this role more resilient
The safest upskilling plan starts with skills already close to the work. For Operations Research Analysts, the strongest near-term skill priorities are listed below. These are useful whether the goal is to stay in the role, move to a redesigned version of the role, or transition into an adjacent occupation.
Optimization modeling
Build proof of this skill through a work sample, checklist, dashboard, case note, workflow map, or portfolio artifact tied to the transition paths on this page.
Model validation
Build proof of this skill through a work sample, checklist, dashboard, case note, workflow map, or portfolio artifact tied to the transition paths on this page.
AI-assisted analysis
Build proof of this skill through a work sample, checklist, dashboard, case note, workflow map, or portfolio artifact tied to the transition paths on this page.
Decision facilitation
Build proof of this skill through a work sample, checklist, dashboard, case note, workflow map, or portfolio artifact tied to the transition paths on this page.
90-day transition plan
The most practical next step is not to wait for a layoff or a full role redesign. Use the next 90 days to create evidence that you can operate in a safer, more AI-augmented version of the work.
- In the first 30 days, document the repetitive tasks in your current work and identify where AI can reduce drafting, lookup, classification, or reporting time.
- By 60 days, complete one small project connected to Decision Scientist, such as learn experimentation methods.
- By 90 days, compare internal openings and external postings for Decision Scientist or Operations Analytics Manager and update your resume around measurable workflow outcomes.
FAQ
Questions about AI and Operations Research Analysts
Will AI replace Operations Research Analysts?
AI assistance accelerates model formulation, validation code, and management reporting. Problem definition, model judgment under conflicting objectives, and implementation collaboration with decision-makers keep this role augmentation-led. The better planning signal is not full replacement, but which tasks become automated, which tasks become AI-assisted, and which responsibilities still need human judgment.
Which parts of Operations Research Analysts work are most exposed to AI?
Prepare reports recommending solutions and Validate and test models show the strongest automation pressure in this model. Formulate mathematical models and Prepare reports recommending solutions are better treated as AI-augmented work.
What should Operations Research Analysts learn next?
Start with Optimization modeling, Model validation, AI-assisted analysis. The most practical adjacent paths in this model are Decision Scientist and Operations Analytics Manager.
How should this score be used?
Use it as a planning signal, not a prediction. Confirm local hiring demand, wages, licensing, credentials, and employer adoption before making a career move.
Sources
Evidence trail
International Labour Organization / 20 May 2025Generative AI and Jobs: A Refined Global Index of Occupational ExposureMcKinsey Global Institute / 26 July 2023Generative AI and the Future of Work in AmericaO*NET Resource Center / Database 31.0 (August 2026)Occupation, Task, Skill, and Work-Activity DataUS Bureau of Labor Statistics / May 2025 estimates (released 15 May 2026)Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics