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Salary comparison

Operations Research Analysts vs. Software Developers: Who Earns More?

Software Developers out-earn Operations Research Analysts by $47K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Operations Research Analysts land at $88,940 and Software Developers at $135,980. The education gap is real: operations research analyst programs typically require bachelor's degree, while software developer programs require bachelor's degree. Top-paying state for Operations Research Analysts is Colorado ($129,880); for Software Developers it's California ($174,410).

Operations Research Analysts
Software Developers
Median salary
$88,940
$135,980
Hourly rate
$42.76/hr
$65.38/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$57,060
$82,460
Senior level (90th %)
$159,910
$214,670
Education required
Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
U.S. employment
108,510
1,687,890
Job growth (10-year)
21.5%
15.8%
Category
Technology
Technology
Top-paying state
Colorado
California

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Operations Research Analysts median pay.

State
Operations Research Analysts
Software Developers
Colorado
$129,880
$138,390
Virginia
$129,460
$136,460
New York
$108,610
$166,180
Idaho
$103,600
$131,590
Oregon
$102,170
$142,720
California
$102,100
$174,410
Delaware
$101,070
$133,020
Washington
$98,030
$166,540
Maryland
$97,410
$138,680
North Carolina
$97,290
$134,710
Connecticut
$96,700
$134,120
Massachusetts
$96,500
$165,210
District of Columbia
$96,030
$136,880
Texas
$90,710
$132,150
Illinois
$89,800
$132,110

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Operations Research Analysts or Software Developers?

Software Developers earn more nationally. The median is $88,940 for Operations Research Analysts versus $135,980 for Software Developers, a difference of $47K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Operations Research Analysts or Software Developers?

Operations Research Analysts has the better 10-year outlook at 21.5% projected growth, compared to 15.8% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Operations Research Analysts or Software Developers?

Operations Research Analysts typically requires bachelor's degree. Software Developers requires bachelor's degree. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Operations Research Analysts get paid the most?

Colorado is the top-paying state for Operations Research Analysts at $129,880/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Operations Research Analysts vs. Software Developers pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Colorado, Operations Research Analysts earn $129,880 vs. $138,390 for Software Developers. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Operations Research Analysts salary breakdownView →Full Software Developers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Operations Research Analysts by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Software Developers by take-home payExplore →How to become a operations research analystsGuide →How to become a software developersGuide →