Salary Range & Percentiles
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$57,060
- 25th Percentile — Junior$68,360
- 50th Percentile — Median$88,940
- 75th Percentile — Senior$125,990
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$159,910
The top 10% of Operations Research Analysts earn $159,910 or more per year. Entry-level professionals can expect to start around $57,060, with significant growth over the first 5 years.
Salary by State
Geographic salary comparison
| State | Avg Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia | $130,720 | +31.1% |
| Colorado | $130,610 | +31.0% |
| New Jersey (est.) | $127,654 | +28.0% |
| Alabama | $117,850 | +18.2% |
| New York | $117,790 | +18.1% |
| District of Columbia | $115,120 | +15.4% |
| New Hampshire (est.) | $113,692 | +14.0% |
| Hawaii | $111,180 | +11.5% |
| California | $110,860 | +11.2% |
| Washington | $107,340 | +7.6% |
| Maryland | $106,620 | +6.9% |
| Illinois | $104,580 | +4.9% |
| Massachusetts | $104,450 | +4.7% |
| Oregon | $103,980 | +4.3% |
| Maine | $102,300 | +2.6% |
| Delaware | $101,810 | +2.1% |
| Nebraska | $101,330 | +1.6% |
| Ohio | $101,050 | +1.3% |
| Idaho | $100,360 | +0.6% |
| Texas | $100,070 | +0.3% |
| Minnesota | $99,230 | -0.5% |
| North Carolina | $98,000 | -1.7% |
| Connecticut | $97,910 | -1.8% |
| Nevada | $97,130 | -2.6% |
| Kansas | $96,580 | -3.2% |
| Michigan | $94,890 | -4.9% |
| New Mexico | $93,860 | -5.9% |
| Utah | $93,310 | -6.4% |
| Indiana | $93,070 | -6.7% |
| Wyoming (est.) | $92,749 | -7.0% |
| Rhode Island | $92,390 | -7.4% |
| Mississippi | $92,040 | -7.7% |
| Vermont | $90,840 | -8.9% |
| Iowa | $90,760 | -9.0% |
| Kentucky | $89,930 | -9.8% |
| North Dakota | $89,080 | -10.7% |
| Alaska | $89,070 | -10.7% |
| Pennsylvania | $88,210 | -11.6% |
| South Carolina | $87,170 | -12.6% |
| South Dakota (est.) | $86,765 | -13.0% |
| Georgia | $85,530 | -14.2% |
| Florida | $84,250 | -15.5% |
| Arizona | $83,290 | -16.5% |
| Tennessee | $80,330 | -19.5% |
| Montana | $78,530 | -21.3% |
| Missouri | $74,620 | -25.2% |
| Wisconsin | $73,790 | -26.0% |
| Louisiana | $72,320 | -27.5% |
| West Virginia | $71,320 | -28.5% |
| Arkansas | $65,060 | -34.8% |
| Oklahoma | $63,770 | -36.1% |
What Factors Affect Operations Research Analysts Salary?
Key factors affecting compensation
Pay for Operations Research Analysts is influenced by geographic location, years of experience, employer type, and educational background. Location alone is a large factor: Virginia pays an average of $130,720, while Oklahoma pays $63,770 — a gap of $66,950 per year.
The middle half of Operations Research Analysts earn between $68,360 and $125,990 per year. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $57,060, while the top 10% earn more than $159,910.
These figures are the wages employers report to BLS: base pay plus commissions, production bonuses and tips. They exclude overtime pay, shift differentials, year-end bonuses, benefits and self-employed workers, so total compensation can be higher than the numbers shown.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average salary for Operations Research Analysts?
The average salary for Operations Research Analysts in the United States is $99,730 per year, with a median of $88,940.
What is the starting salary for Operations Research Analysts?
Entry-level Operations Research Analysts typically earn between $57,060 and $68,360 per year depending on location and employer.
What state pays Operations Research Analysts the most?
Virginia pays Operations Research Analysts the most at $130,720 per year on average, followed by Colorado ($130,610) and Alabama ($117,850).
How much do Operations Research Analysts make per hour?
Based on the average annual salary of $99,730, Operations Research Analysts earn approximately $47.95 per hour (based on 2,080 working hours/year).
Is Operations Research Analysts a good career in 2026?
BLS counts 108,510 Operations Research Analysts jobs in the United States, with a mean annual wage of $99,730 and a median of $88,940 (OEWS May 2025). This site does not publish job-growth projections; the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook covers the outlook for each occupation.
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