Decides which routes an airline flies, how often, at what times and with which aircraft, using demand models and profitability analysis. BLS does not publish separate figures for operations research analysts; it counts them within operations research analyst (SOC 15-2031), whose median pay is $88,940 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
- SOC 15-2031
- Computer and Mathematical
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Airline Network Planner in four numbers
- Median pay
- $88,940a year, or $42.76/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $57KTop 10% $160K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +11.9%Much faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+11.9%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +11.9% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 7,500113,100 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 2025113.1K
- Projected 2035126.6K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 113.1K Projected 2035 126.6K - Typical education
- Bachelor'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Bachelor's33.3%
- Post-bacc certificate9.5%
- Master's42.9%
- Doctorate14.3%
Highest education held by operations research analysts Segment Value Bachelor's 33.3% Post-bacc certificate 9.5% Master's 42.9% Doctorate 14.3%
Also advertised as: Network Planning Analyst, Schedule Planner, Route Planning Analyst, Fleet Planning Analyst, Capacity Planning Analyst.
Pay
How much do Operations Research Analysts make?
Every airline network planner in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$88,940
Middle half earn $68,360 to $125,990
- 10th
- $57,060
- 25th
- $68,360
- 75th
- $125,990
- 90th
- $159,910
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $57,060 |
| 25th | $68,360 |
| Median | $88,940 |
| 75th | $125,990 |
| 90th | $159,910 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $88,940
- Median hourly wage
- $42.76/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $99,730
- People employed
- 108,510
Versus all US occupations
At $88,940, Operations Research Analysts earn 74% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $37,960 a year.
Versus computer and mathematical occupations
Inside the Computer and Mathematical group, where the middle occupation pays $116,580, this is 24% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $159,910 or more while the bottom 10% earn $57,060, a gap of 2.8×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 65% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
Colorado posts the highest raw median ($129,880), but once local prices are taken into account Alabama leads at $130,180 in national-average dollars.
Pay by state
Which states pay Operations Research Analysts the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Colorado | $129,880 | $126,033 | 770 |
| 2Virginia | $129,460 | $128,046 | 6,980 |
| 3Alabama | $115,630 | $130,180 | 550 |
| 4New York | $108,610 | $100,638 | 5,890 |
| 5Ohio | $103,620 | $111,691 | 2,600 |
| 6Idaho | $103,600 | $108,488 | 500 |
| 7Oregon | $102,170 | $98,848 | 2,710 |
| 8California | $102,100 | $92,215 | 10,620 |
| 9Delaware | $101,070 | $101,264 | 660 |
| 10Hawaii | $100,600 | $91,495 | 120 |
Job outlook
Is Airline Network Planner a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Much faster than average. +11.9% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Operations Research Analysts | +11.9% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Much faster than average
BLS projects employment of Operations Research Analysts to change 11.9% over 2025–2035, roughly 3.4× the 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 13,500 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 7,500 openings are projected each year, 6.6% of the 113,100 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become an Airline Network Planner
Most network planners hold a bachelor's degree in economics, operations research, industrial engineering, mathematics or aviation business, and some come from MIT's airline-focused transportation programs or similar graduate study. Airlines often hire analysts out of college into planning, revenue management or finance and promote strong performers into network roles.
Useful skills include SQL, Python, spreadsheet modeling and familiarity with schedule data sources and airline planning tools. AGIFORS runs a Strategic and Schedule Planning study group where planners share methods.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Bachelor's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Considerable preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as operations research analysts.
- Master's Degree42.9%
- Bachelor's Degree33.3%
- Doctoral Degree14.3%
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificate9.5%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | 42.9% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 33.3% |
| Doctoral Degree | 14.3% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 9.5% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does an Airline Network Planner do?
Network planners shape an airline's map. They evaluate new routes, decide how many daily flights each market gets, choose departure times that make good connections at hubs, and assign aircraft types so capacity matches demand. Schedule planners then turn those decisions into a workable timetable that respects aircraft maintenance, crew rules, airport slots and gate limits.
The work is analytical and commercial at once. Planners build demand and profitability forecasts, study competitors' schedules, model how a new route would draw passengers from the rest of the network, and present business cases to leadership. Fleet planners look further ahead at which aircraft to order or retire.
Day-to-day tasks
- Evaluate proposed new routes with demand and profitability models
- Set flight frequencies and departure times for each market
- Assign aircraft types to routes to match capacity with demand
- Design hub connection banks that maximize connecting traffic
- Analyze competitors' schedules and capacity changes
- Build business cases and present route recommendations to leadership
- Coordinate schedule feasibility with maintenance, crew and airport teams
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
Network planners work in airline headquarters offices, with some hybrid or remote arrangements. Work is mostly at a computer with periodic deadlines around seasonal schedule publication. Planners may visit airports and attend route development conferences where airports pitch new service.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeSeated for more than half the working day.
Standing
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lot
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Mathematics4.5
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Active Listening4.0
- Writing4.0
- Speaking4.0
- Critical Thinking4.0
- Active Learning3.9
- Science3.3
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Mathematics | 4.5 |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 |
| Active Listening | 4.0 |
| Writing | 4.0 |
| Speaking | 4.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.0 |
| Active Learning | 3.9 |
| Science | 3.3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Complex Problem Solving4.1
- Judgment and Decision Making3.9
- Systems Analysis3.9
- Systems Evaluation3.9
- Operations Analysis3.8
- Coordination3.1
- Time Management3.1
- Instructing3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Complex Problem Solving | 4.1 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.9 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.9 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.9 |
| Operations Analysis | 3.8 |
| Coordination | 3.1 |
| Time Management | 3.1 |
| Instructing | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Analytical or scientific software · in demand
- Application server software · in demand
- Business intelligence and data analysis software · in demand
- Cloud-based management software · in demand
- Customer relationship management CRM software · in demand
- Data base management system software · in demand
- Data base reporting software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Development environment software · in demand
- Document management software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Enterprise application integration software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits an Airline Network Planner?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code IEC) built on O*NET's Operations Research Analyst profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Airline Network Planner |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 2 |
| Investigative | 6 |
| Artistic | 2 |
| Social | 2 |
| Enterprising | 4 |
| Conventional | 6 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Investigative6.3
- Conventional5.8
- Enterprising3.9
- Artistic2.2
- Social2.0
- Realistic1.9
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Airline Network Planner
O*NET related occupations
- Computer and Mathematical
- Computer and Mathematical
- Business and Financial Operations
- Computer and Mathematical
- Computer and Mathematical
- Computer and Mathematical
More computer and mathematical careers
Median annual pay, with operations research analysts highlighted
- Software Developer$135,980
- Actuary$130,000
- Data Scientist$120,230
- Business Intelligence Analyst$120,230
- Database Administrator$104,620
- Web Designer$104,000
- Computer Programmer$100,390
- Web Developer$92,650
- Airline Network Planner$88,940
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Software Developer | $135,980 |
| Actuary | $130,000 |
| Data Scientist | $120,230 |
| Business Intelligence Analyst | $120,230 |
| Database Administrator | $104,620 |
| Web Designer | $104,000 |
| Computer Programmer | $100,390 |
| Web Developer | $92,650 |
| Airline Network Planner | $88,940 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Airline Network Planner appears on
Questions
Airline Network Planner: frequently asked questions
How much do Operations Research Analysts make?
BLS does not publish a separate wage for operations research analysts. It counts them within operations research analyst, whose median pay is $88,940 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of that occupation earn between $68,360 and $125,990, and the top 10% earn $159,910 or more.
Do you need a degree to become an Airline Network Planner?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Operations Research Analysts, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as considerable preparation. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 42.9% hold master's degree.
Is Airline Network Planner a growing career?
Yes, strongly. Employment is projected to grow 11.9% over 2025–2035, more than double the 3.5% projected for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 7,500 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does an Airline Network Planner do?
Network planners shape an airline's map. A typical task: evaluate proposed new routes with demand and profitability models. Employers most often ask for Analytical or scientific software, Application server software, Business intelligence and data analysis software.
Which states pay Operations Research Analysts the most?
The highest state medians for Operations Research Analysts are Colorado ($129,880), Virginia ($129,460), Alabama ($115,630) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, Alabama moves to the top at $130,180.
What personality type suits an Airline Network Planner?
O*NET scores Operations Research Analysts highest on the Investigative, Conventional and Enterprising interest areas, so the work mixes investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are INTJ, ISTJ. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.