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Data Scientists vs Operations Research Analysts

Side-by-side · O*NET · BLS · AI-exposure research · Anthropic Economic Index

A factual, source-backed comparison of Data Scientists and Operations Research Analysts on the dimensions both occupations carry. Every figure is a position within an independent published dataset — not a verdict on which job is better, safer, or more “future-proof.”

Data Scientists Operations Research Analysts
Median pay · BLS OEWS
$112,590
$91,290
Employment · BLS OEWS
233,440
107,760
AI exposure (percentile) · task overlap, not automation
98th pct
90th pct

At a glance

Dimension Data Scientists Operations Research Analysts
Median pay $112,590 $91,290
Employment 233,440 107,760
Employment outlook (2024–34) · BLS projection Growing fast (+33.5%) Growing fast (+21.5%)
Annual openings · BLS projection 23,400 9,600
Typical education · O*NET Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not. Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
AI exposure · published exposure studies High · 98th pct High · 90th pct
Global GenAI gradient · ILO ISCO-08 · via crosswalk — 94th pct · 56% of tasks
Observed AI use · Anthropic Economic Index — Augmentation-leaning (55.2%)
Mostly remote-capable · Dingel–Neiman — Yes

Pay and employment are BLS OEWS estimates; outlook and openings are BLS 2024–2034 projections; AI exposure and observed-use figures come from separate research and reflect exposure and usage, not predictions that either job will disappear. Compare like with like.

Skills

Specific to Data Scientists

    Specific to Operations Research Analysts

    • Mathematics
    • Mathematics
    • Mathematical Reasoning
    • Complex Problem Solving
    • Deductive Reasoning
    • Inductive Reasoning
    • Computers and Electronics
    • Reading Comprehension

    Knowledge, skills & abilities O*NET rates as important for each occupation. “Shared” are common to both; the columns list what is distinctive to each (top by the order O*NET surfaces).

    Tools & technology

    Shared: Data base user interface and query software , Data base management system software , Business intelligence and data analysis software , Object or component oriented development software , Development environment software , Spreadsheet software , Presentation software , Analytical or scientific software , Project management software , Operating system software , Application server software , Enterprise application integration software .

    Specific to Data Scientists

    Specific to Operations Research Analysts

    Full profiles

    This page is a summary. See the complete source-backed profile for Data Scientists or Operations Research Analysts — tasks, the full skill graph, tools, work context, preparation, wages by percentile, industries, AI exposure and the AI work map.

    More comparisons

    Related occupations you can place side by side on the same sourced scale.

    Sources for this page

    Every figure above traces to a named public dataset and the exact release below — not hand-written opinion. See the full methodology for what each measure does and does not mean.

    Data compiled June 2, 2026. Figures are estimates, not advice.

    Cite this page
    Plain

    Singulariki. "Data Scientists vs Operations Research Analysts." Singulariki: a source-backed encyclopedia of work. Built from O*NET 30.3; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024; BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034; Anthropic Economic Index v4 (2026-01-15) + v2 (2025-03-27); Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai; “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130; AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE) Felten, Raj & Seamans; ILO / Gmyrek et al. GenAI exposure gradient 2025; IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 occupation crosswalk 2022; Frey & Osborne (2013) frey-osborne-automation; Dingel & Neiman (2020) dingel-neiman-workathome. Accessed June 7, 2026. https://singulariki.com/compare/data-scientists-vs-operations-research-analysts

    APA

    Singulariki. (2026). Data Scientists vs Operations Research Analysts. Singulariki: a source-backed encyclopedia of work. Retrieved June 7, 2026, from https://singulariki.com/compare/data-scientists-vs-operations-research-analysts

    BibTeX 
    @misc{singulariki-data-scientists-vs-operations-research-analysts,
  title  = {Data Scientists vs Operations Research Analysts},
  author = {{Singulariki}},
  year   = {2026},
  note   = {O*NET 30.3; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024; BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034; Anthropic Economic Index v4 (2026-01-15) + v2 (2025-03-27); Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai; “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130; AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE) Felten, Raj & Seamans; ILO / Gmyrek et al. GenAI exposure gradient 2025; IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 occupation crosswalk 2022; Frey & Osborne (2013) frey-osborne-automation; Dingel & Neiman (2020) dingel-neiman-workathome. Accessed June 7, 2026},
  url    = {https://singulariki.com/compare/data-scientists-vs-operations-research-analysts}
}

    Citations name the underlying public dataset releases — they reflect what this page is built from, not just the URL.