# Will operations research analysts be replaced by AI? Updated October 2026 Operations research analysts score 58 of 100 for AI exposure. The largest share of their task time, 70%, is work AI speeds up while they stay in charge. AI can take over 11% outright, and 19% stays with people. - **11%** AI can do it - **70%** AI helps - **19%** Needs a person High exposure Higher than 88% of the 923 occupations we scored. ## Task by task We graded 17 tasks, listed here from most to least exposed. AI can do 2 of them today, speeds up 12 and leaves 3 to people. | Task | AI exposure | | --- | --- | | Review research literature. AI searches and summarizes papers quickly; analyst checks key sources. | 72% AI can do it | | Prepare management reports defining and evaluating problems and recommending solutions. AI drafts report text; analyst checks analysis and recommendations. | 62% AI can do it | | Formulate mathematical or simulation models of problems, relating constants and variables, restrictions, alternatives, conflicting objectives, and their numerical parameters. AI helps code models; analyst defines constraints and objectives. | 55% AI helps | | Specify manipulative or computational methods to be applied to models. AI can suggest and write solver code; analyst selects methods. | 55% AI helps | | Develop and apply time and cost networks to plan, control, and review large projects. Scheduling tools and AI can build networks; planners validate dependencies. | 55% AI helps | [See what AI can take on across a data team](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-for/data-and-analytics/) ## How operations research analysts compare All occupations (923) Computer and mathematical (36) **Operations research analysts score 58**, marked by the dark line. Each dot is a score, darker where more occupations share it. The short marks show the averages, 37 for all occupations and 60 for computer and mathematical. ## Pay and outlook in the US Median pay $88,940 a year, May 2025 People employed 108,510 in the US, May 2025 Projected change in jobs +11.9% from 2024 to 2034 ## Skills to build - Define objectives and constraints before any model is coded - Write and audit solver code in Python - Validate source data in SQL before modeling - Build critical path networks for large projects - Run on-site observation of operating processes ## Safer roles nearby 5 related occupations with lower scores. - [Management consultants55 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/management-consultants/) - [Computer scientists51 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/computer-scientists/) - [Project managers53 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/project-managers/) - [Industrial engineers55 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/industrial-engineers/) - [Logistics engineers54 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/logistics-engineers/) ## Questions about operations research analysts and AI Will AI replace operations research analysts? Partly. About 4 in 10 working hours go to tasks AI can already do, mostly reviewing research literature and drafting management reports. What stays with people is defining the real problem with managers and judging whether a recommendation will work in the organization. Which tasks will AI take from operations research analysts? Reviewing research literature is the most exposed task, with an exposure score of 72, because AI searches and summarizes papers quickly while the analyst checks the key sources. Drafting management reports follows at 62, since AI writes the report text and the analyst checks the analysis and recommendations. Formulating models, scored 55, is also shifting as AI helps code them. Which tasks stay with operations research analysts? Collaborating with senior managers to clarify objectives stays human, because live discussions depend on trust and political judgment. Observing the current system on site stays human since it needs physical presence and access. Getting people to adopt the chosen solution stays human as well, because it depends on interpersonal coordination and organizational buy-in. How can operations research analysts stay valuable? Take responsibility for the problem definition by interviewing managers and writing objectives and constraints before any model is built. Write solver code in Python yourself so you can judge the code AI suggests. Validate source data in SQL and check every AI-drafted report against your model outputs in Power BI or Tableau. ## Related jobs - [Data scientists67 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/data-scientists/) - [Software developers59 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/software-developers/) - [Data engineers60 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/data-engineers/) - [Systems analysts59 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/systems-analysts/) ## Next steps for operations research analysts - ### Check your job Your job title is a rough guide. Your actual tasks decide your score. Paste your job description or CV and see which of your tasks AI can do. [Check your job](https://www.aigentcy.com/tools/ai-exposure-checker/) [Check your CV](https://www.aigentcy.com/tools/cv-checker/) ### Check which roles in your team AI can take on We map your team's tasks, show what AI can do today and build the automations that pay back first. [Book an AI audit](https://www.aigentcy.com/audit/) ## Related topics - [**Jobs AI can't replace**Cement masons score lowest, at 8.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/jobs-ai-cant-replace/) - [**Jobs most at risk from AI**Proofreaders score highest, at 76.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/jobs-most-exposed-to-ai/) - [**High-paying jobs with low AI exposure**Radiologists earn a median $420,860 and score 46.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/high-paying-jobs-low-ai-exposure/) - [**Entry-level jobs with low AI exposure**Cement masons need little prior training and score 8.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/entry-level-jobs-low-ai-exposure/) - [**Jobs AI speeds up the most**For natural sciences managers, AI speeds up 96% of task time.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/jobs-ai-speeds-up/) - [**AI and jobs in Malta**15 iGaming roles graded task by task.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/malta/) - [**Skills that keep work human**The skills to build in the jobs AI changes least.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/skills/) - [**Jobs A to Z**Every job we publish, by first letter.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/jobs/) - [**AI exposure by industry**Average scores for 22 occupation groups.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/industries/) - [**Write a CV screening software can read**How applicant tracking systems read a CV, and what to change.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/cv-screening-guide/) - [**AI for businesses**The tasks to automate first in each team and industry.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-for/) - [**How we score AI exposure**The grading, the weights and every source.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/methodology/) Occupation data from the O\*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and modified by Aigentcy. O\*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Wage, employment and projection data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. EU occupation names from ESCO, European Commission. AI usage signals from the Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY) and Microsoft Research (CC BY 4.0). [Methodology and sources](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/methodology/). Scores © Aigentcy. Quote them with a link to the page.