Annual Salary
£26,000 to £60,000
Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)
Swap to Science or STEM or go back to all job sectors
Swap to Science or STEM or go back to all job sectors
Operational researchers analyse problems and find ways to help organisations make better decisions and improve the way they work.
Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)
You could work: between 8am and 6pm;
There will be
2.9% more Operational researcher jobs in 2027.
As an operational researcher, you'll:
You could work in an office or from home.
You can get into this job through:
You'll usually need a degree in maths and operational research, or a related subject that contains a high proportion of maths, for example:
Some employers may prefer you to have a postgraduate qualification in operational research or management science.
You'll usually need:
You could apply to do an Operational Research Specialist Level 7 Degree Apprenticeship.
This apprenticeship typically takes 2 years to complete.
Most trainee operational researchers are graduates with strong maths and analytical skills.
Most people following this route have:
You could apply for a place on the Government Operational Research Service Fast Stream scheme.
To be eligible, you'll need a degree in maths, or a combined degree or degree apprenticeship that has a high maths content. A postgraduate award in a maths related subject may also be acceptable.
You could join The Operational Research Society for professional development opportunities.
You can find out more about careers in operational research from The Operational Research Society.
With experience you could become a research team leader or project manager, then move on to managing an operational research department within a large organisation.
You can find work and career development opportunities in the public and private sector, including:the health service; government departments; the defence industry; retail, financial services and higher education
You could also become self-employed and work as a business or management consultant.
You can find out more about careers in operational research from The Operational Research Society.
You'll need: