15 Series · SOC 15-2031
Operations Research Analysts Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $88,940
- Median / year
- -2.6%
- 2024→2025
- $159,910
- Top 10% earn
- +21.5%
- Growth '24–'34
- 108,510
- Estimated US jobs
Operations Research Analysts earn a median of $88,940 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $88,940, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $57,060 (10th percentile) to $159,910 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 108,510 estimated jobs in covered establishments. The highest published state median in this ranking is Colorado ($129,880).
The pay verdict
Operations Research Analysts earn a median of $88,940, putting them among the better-paid US occupations and higher than 78% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Computer and Mathematical, it ranks #18 of 21 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 21.5% by 2034.
- $88,940
- Median annual wage
- Top 22%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #18 of 21
- in Computer and Mathematical
- 2.8×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Colorado at $129,880. Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
Observed pay change
What changed, BLS OEWS 2019–2025
- The published national median for Operations Research Analysts moved from $84,810 in May 2019 to $88,940 in May 2025 (+4.9%).
- Across the 749 occupations priced in both releases under SOC-2018, the median occupation changed +24.5%.
- Operations Research Analysts sits -19.6 pp behind that median, nominal dollars, no price deflator applied.
Operations Research Analysts (SOC 15-2031) has a national median of $88,940 per year in the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release. The published 10th-to-90th-percentile boundaries run from $57,060 to $159,910, and the published mean is $99,730. Those summary statistics describe the estimated distribution; their difference alone does not identify its cause. OEWS estimates 108,510 jobs in covered establishments nationally. WageDex has published rows for 48 state or territory areas and 208 metropolitan or nonmetropolitan wage areas. The published national median moved from $91,290 in the May 2024 OEWS release to $88,940 in May 2025, a fall of $2,350 (-2.6%). This is a change between two BLS survey estimates, not an inflation-adjusted same-worker pay raise.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +21.5% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which we classify as much faster than average relative to the all-occupations baseline of 3.1%. About 9,600 openings are projected per year from growth, occupational transfers, and labor-force exits. BLS assigns Bachelor's degree as typical education needed for entry. BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific fatality and injury rate for this role in the current release. The safety panel below shows its broad Computer and Mathematical Occupations SOC-group context and is not an occupation-level measurement or ranking.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Colorado pays the highest state median at $129,880, which is +46% above the national figure. The highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is Colorado Springs, CO at $140,590. The observed difference does not identify its cause. Pair the national median with the state and metropolitan-area rows below while keeping the geography and statistic consistent. OEWS includes tips, commissions, incentive pay, and production bonuses, but not employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, or nonproduction bonuses. See our methodology for the sourcing and calculation details.
Median Salary
$88,940
per year
Median Hourly
$42.76/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$99,730
average
Employment
108,510
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Operations Research Analysts pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$88,940 Top 22% higher than 78% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Read the chart as text · as of May 2025
| Band | Count | Share |
|---|---|---|
| $0–$20,000 | 0 US occupations | 0% |
| $20,000–$40,000 | 98 US occupations | 12% |
| $40,000–$60,000 | 298 US occupations | 36% |
| $60,000–$80,000 | 209 US occupations | 25% |
| $80,000–$100,000 (this entry) | 82 US occupations | 10% |
| $100,000–$120,000 | 58 US occupations | 7% |
| $120,000–$140,000 | 32 US occupations | 4% |
| $140,000–$160,000 | 14 US occupations | 2% |
| $160,000–$180,000 | 9 US occupations | 1% |
| $180,000 and above | 25 US occupations | 3% |
$88,940 · 78th percentile of 825 US occupations
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 15-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Operations Research Analysts; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Read the chart as text
- Software Developers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 15.8%, Median annual wage $135980
- Computer User Suppor…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -3.7%, Median annual wage $61860
- Computer Systems Ana…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 8.7%, Median annual wage $105850
- Computer Occupations…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 8.2%, Median annual wage $116580
- Network and Computer…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -4.2%, Median annual wage $99130
- Data Scientists: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 33.5%, Median annual wage $120230
- Information Security…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 28.5%, Median annual wage $129180
- Software Quality Ass…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 10%, Median annual wage $104300
- Computer Network Arc…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 11.9%, Median annual wage $134050
- Computer Network Sup…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1.8%, Median annual wage $76220
- Web and Digital Inte…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 7%, Median annual wage $104000
- Operations Research …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 21.5%, Median annual wage $88940
- Computer Programmers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -6%, Median annual wage $100390
- Web Developers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 7.5%, Median annual wage $92650
- Database Administrat…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -0.7%, Median annual wage $104620
- Database Architects: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 8.7%, Median annual wage $139500
- Computer and Informa…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 19.7%, Median annual wage $140300
- Statisticians: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 8.5%, Median annual wage $105650
- Actuaries: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 21.8%, Median annual wage $130000
- Mathematical Science…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4%, Median annual wage $81490
- Mathematicians: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -0.7%, Median annual wage $126710
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+21.5%
Much faster than average
Annual Openings
9,600
per year (projected)
Employment Change
+24,100
112,100 (2024) → 136,200 (2034)
Typical Education
Bachelor's degree
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Computer and Mathematical Occupations context
Broad SOC context, not an occupation grade
Fatality Rate
0.3/100K
Injury Rate
0.2/100
Danger Index
1/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Operations Research Analysts roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key Tasks
- ▸ Present the results of mathematical modeling and data analysis to management or other end users.
- ▸ Define data requirements, and gather and validate information, applying judgment and statistical tests.
- ▸ Perform validation and testing of models to ensure adequacy, and reformulate models, as necessary.
- ▸ Prepare management reports defining and evaluating problems and recommending solutions.
- ▸ Collaborate with others in the organization to ensure successful implementation of chosen problem solutions.
- ▸ Formulate mathematical or simulation models of problems, relating constants and variables, restrictions, alternatives, conflicting objectives, and their numerical parameters.
- ▸ Observe the current system in operation, and gather and analyze information about each of the component problems, using a variety of sources.
- ▸ Analyze information obtained from management to conceptualize and define operational problems.
- ▸ Study and analyze information about alternative courses of action to determine which plan will offer the best outcomes.
- ▸ Collaborate with senior managers and decision makers to identify and solve a variety of problems and to clarify management objectives.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
Operations Research Analysts pay history, 2015–2025
Published national median across 11 BLS OEWS releases. Nominal dollars, not inflation-adjusted.
Read the chart as text
| Period | National median |
|---|---|
| 2015 | $78,630 |
| 2016 | $79,200 |
| 2017 | $81,390 |
| 2018 | $83,390 |
| 2019 | $84,810 |
| 2020 | $86,200 |
| 2021 | $82,360 |
| 2022 | $85,720 |
| 2023 | $83,640 |
| 2024 | $91,290 |
| 2025 | $88,940 |
2015 median
$78,630
2025 median
$88,940
2019–2025 change (same SOC)
+$4,130 (+4.9%)
Avg/year (same SOC)
+0.8%
| Release | Median | Change | Estimated jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2015 | $78,630 | First banked release | 95,860 |
| May 2016 | $79,200 | +0.7% | 109,150 |
| May 2017 | $81,390 | +2.8% | 106,050 |
| May 2018 | $83,390 | +2.5% | 104,200 |
| May 2019 | $84,810 | Classification break | 99,680 |
| May 2020 | $86,200 | +1.6% | 96,220 |
| May 2021 | $82,360 | -4.5% | 98,700 |
| May 2022 | $85,720 | +4.1% | 105,080 |
| May 2023 | $83,640 | -2.4% | 117,880 |
| May 2024 | $91,290 | +9.1% | 107,760 |
| May 2025 | $88,940 | -2.6% | 108,510 |
Across the 11 releases WageDex holds for this occupation, the published national median went from $78,630 in May 2015 to $88,940 in May 2025. Within the SOC-2018 classification (2019–2025), the like-for-like change averages +0.8% per year in nominal terms. Within the same SOC classification, estimated employment went from 99,680 in May 2019 to 108,510 in May 2025.
Each figure is a separate BLS survey estimate, so a change between releases reflects the estimated occupation-wide median in each year. It is not the raise any individual worker received, and it is not adjusted for inflation. Years where BLS did not publish an annual median for this occupation are omitted rather than filled in. This span also crosses a classification change: releases before May 2019 use the 2010 Standard Occupational Classification and later releases use the 2018 SOC, so figures either side of that boundary are not strictly like-for-like. Headline change rates on this page use only the same-classification subset.
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 48 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colorado | $129,880 | +46% above national |
| 2 | Virginia | $129,460 | +46% above national |
| 3 | Alabama | $115,630 | +30% above national |
| 4 | New York | $108,610 | +22% above national |
| 5 | Ohio | $103,620 | +17% above national |
| 6 | Idaho | $103,600 | +16% above national |
| 7 | Oregon | $102,170 | +15% above national |
| 8 | California | $102,100 | +15% above national |
| 9 | Delaware | $101,070 | +14% above national |
| 10 | Hawaii | $100,600 | +13% above national |
| 11 | Maine | $99,460 | +12% above national |
| 12 | Nebraska | $98,300 | +11% above national |
| 13 | Washington | $98,030 | +10% above national |
| 14 | Maryland | $97,410 | +10% above national |
| 15 | North Carolina | $97,290 | +9% above national |
| 16 | Connecticut | $96,700 | +9% above national |
| 17 | Massachusetts | $96,500 | +9% above national |
| 18 | District of Columbia | $96,030 | +8% above national |
| 19 | Minnesota | $95,550 | +7% above national |
| 20 | Mississippi | $92,310 | +4% above national |
| 21 | Kansas | $92,050 | +3% above national |
| 22 | Texas | $90,710 | +2% above national |
| 23 | Utah | $90,200 | +1% above national |
| 24 | Illinois | $89,800 | +1% above national |
| 25 | Vermont | $89,790 | +1% above national |
| 26 | Alaska Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 70 workers (fewer than 100). | $88,750 | same as national |
| 27 | Nevada | $86,500 | 3% below national |
| 28 | Indiana | $85,280 | 4% below national |
| 29 | Kentucky | $83,850 | 6% below national |
| 30 | Michigan | $83,480 | 6% below national |
| 31 | North Dakota | $82,460 | 7% below national |
| 32 | Iowa | $80,580 | 9% below national |
| 33 | Montana | $80,400 | 10% below national |
| 34 | New Mexico | $80,360 | 10% below national |
| 35 | South Carolina | $80,240 | 10% below national |
| 36 | Pennsylvania | $79,640 | 10% below national |
| 37 | Rhode Island | $77,910 | 12% below national |
| 38 | Florida | $77,600 | 13% below national |
| 39 | Tennessee | $76,680 | 14% below national |
| 40 | Georgia | $76,220 | 14% below national |
| 41 | Arizona | $75,470 | 15% below national |
| 42 | Wisconsin | $71,820 | 19% below national |
| 43 | West Virginia | $64,100 | 28% below national |
| 44 | Louisiana | $63,210 | 29% below national |
| 45 | Missouri | $62,380 | 30% below national |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $61,520 | 31% below national |
| 47 | Arkansas | $59,030 | 34% below national |
| 48 | Puerto Rico Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 50 workers (fewer than 100). | $57,000 | 36% below national |
Small sample marks a row whose BLS estimate rests on fewer than 100 workers. It is still a published figure, but BLS reports more sampling error for cells this small: the median relative standard error of the mean wage is 3.9% under 100 workers against 2.3% at 100 or more (May 2025 state estimates). Small gaps in rank between neighbouring rows may not be meaningful.
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 184 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colorado Springs, CO | $140,590 | +58% above national |
| 2 | Lexington Park, MD | $135,300 | +52% above national |
| 3 | Huntsville, AL | $132,000 | +48% above national |
| 4 | Peoria, IL | $129,300 | +45% above national |
| 5 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $127,810 | +44% above national |
| 6 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $127,600 | +43% above national |
| 7 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $123,360 | +39% above national |
| 8 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $122,570 | +38% above national |
| 9 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 80 workers (fewer than 100). | $119,020 | +34% above national |
| 10 | Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 80 workers (fewer than 100). | $118,810 | +34% above national |
| 11 | York-Hanover, PA Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 30 workers (fewer than 100). | $117,740 | +32% above national |
| 12 | Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $115,920 | +30% above national |
| 13 | Las Cruces, NM | $114,150 | +28% above national |
| 14 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $114,070 | +28% above national |
| 15 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $110,560 | +24% above national |
| 16 | Richmond, VA | $109,650 | +23% above national |
| 17 | New Haven, CT Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 80 workers (fewer than 100). | $109,540 | +23% above national |
| 18 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 50 workers (fewer than 100). | $109,110 | +23% above national |
| 19 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $106,380 | +20% above national |
| 20 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 60 workers (fewer than 100). | $105,570 | +19% above national |
| 21 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $105,360 | +18% above national |
| 22 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $105,180 | +18% above national |
| 23 | Columbus, OH | $104,970 | +18% above national |
| 24 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 50 workers (fewer than 100). | $104,680 | +18% above national |
| 25 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $104,640 | +18% above national |
| 26 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $104,220 | +17% above national |
| 27 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $104,210 | +17% above national |
| 28 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $103,110 | +16% above national |
| 29 | Roanoke, VA Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 50 workers (fewer than 100). | $102,930 | +16% above national |
| 30 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $102,930 | +16% above national |
| 31 | Omaha, NE-IA | $102,900 | +16% above national |
| 32 | Wichita, KS | $102,880 | +16% above national |
| 33 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $102,860 | +16% above national |
| 34 | Ogden, UT | $102,730 | +16% above national |
| 35 | Akron, OH Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 80 workers (fewer than 100). | $102,670 | +15% above national |
| 36 | Salem, OR | $102,520 | +15% above national |
| 37 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $102,480 | +15% above national |
| 38 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $101,900 | +15% above national |
| 39 | Fresno, CA | $101,780 | +14% above national |
| 40 | Cleveland, OH | $101,560 | +14% above national |
| 41 | Corvallis, OR Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 70 workers (fewer than 100). | $101,440 | +14% above national |
| 42 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $100,700 | +13% above national |
| 43 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $100,600 | +13% above national |
| 44 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $100,460 | +13% above national |
| 45 | Midland, TX Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 70 workers (fewer than 100). | $100,390 | +13% above national |
| 46 | Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 90 workers (fewer than 100). | $99,630 | +12% above national |
| 47 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $99,560 | +12% above national |
| 48 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $99,230 | +12% above national |
| 49 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $98,270 | +10% above national |
| 50 | Warner Robins, GA | $97,970 | +10% above national |
| 51 | Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 50 workers (fewer than 100). | $97,450 | +10% above national |
| 52 | Salinas, CA Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 40 workers (fewer than 100). | $97,410 | +10% above national |
| 53 | Boise City, ID | $97,010 | +9% above national |
| 54 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $95,810 | +8% above national |
| 55 | Tucson, AZ | $95,620 | +8% above national |
| 56 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $95,450 | +7% above national |
| 57 | Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $95,380 | +7% above national |
| 58 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $94,710 | +6% above national |
| 59 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $94,440 | +6% above national |
| 60 | Bend, OR Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 60 workers (fewer than 100). | $94,350 | +6% above national |
| 61 | Charlottesville, VA Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 40 workers (fewer than 100). | $93,290 | +5% above national |
| 62 | Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 40 workers (fewer than 100). | $91,980 | +3% above national |
| 63 | Killeen-Temple, TX | $90,000 | +1% above national |
| 64 | Birmingham, AL | $89,940 | +1% above national |
| 65 | Burlington-South Burlington, VT Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 90 workers (fewer than 100). | $89,790 | +1% above national |
| 66 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 80 workers (fewer than 100). | $89,670 | +1% above national |
| 67 | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $88,910 | same as national |
| 68 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $88,190 | 1% below national |
| 69 | Worcester, MA | $87,420 | 2% below national |
| 70 | Lawrence, KS Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 40 workers (fewer than 100). | $87,380 | 2% below national |
| 71 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $87,050 | 2% below national |
| 72 | Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $86,910 | 2% below national |
| 73 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $86,660 | 3% below national |
| 74 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $86,510 | 3% below national |
| 75 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $86,500 | 3% below national |
| 76 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $86,380 | 3% below national |
| 77 | Spartanburg, SC | $86,380 | 3% below national |
| 78 | Syracuse, NY Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 90 workers (fewer than 100). | $86,040 | 3% below national |
| 79 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $85,840 | 3% below national |
| 80 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $85,380 | 4% below national |
| 81 | Rochester, NY | $84,980 | 4% below national |
| 82 | Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $84,590 | 5% below national |
| 83 | Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $84,500 | 5% below national |
| 84 | Ann Arbor, MI | $84,290 | 5% below national |
| 85 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $84,140 | 5% below national |
| 86 | Fargo, ND-MN Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 80 workers (fewer than 100). | $84,130 | 5% below national |
| 87 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 80 workers (fewer than 100). | $83,820 | 6% below national |
| 88 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $83,630 | 6% below national |
| 89 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $83,410 | 6% below national |
| 90 | Vallejo, CA Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 40 workers (fewer than 100). | $83,340 | 6% below national |
| 91 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $83,120 | 7% below national |
| 92 | Pittsburgh, PA | $82,560 | 7% below national |
| 93 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $82,500 | 7% below national |
| 94 | Lansing-East Lansing, MI Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 40 workers (fewer than 100). | $82,290 | 7% below national |
| 95 | Utica-Rome, NY Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 90 workers (fewer than 100). | $81,600 | 8% below national |
| 96 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $81,590 | 8% below national |
| 97 | Stockton-Lodi, CA Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 60 workers (fewer than 100). | $81,540 | 8% below national |
| 98 | Eugene-Springfield, OR | $81,530 | 8% below national |
| 99 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $81,530 | 8% below national |
| 100 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $81,220 | 9% below national |
| 101 | Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $80,870 | 9% below national |
| 102 | Waterbury-Shelton, CT Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 90 workers (fewer than 100). | $80,570 | 9% below national |
| 103 | Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 30 workers (fewer than 100). | $80,530 | 9% below national |
| 104 | Helena, MT | $80,400 | 10% below national |
| 105 | Toledo, OH Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 30 workers (fewer than 100). | $80,360 | 10% below national |
| 106 | Greensboro-High Point, NC | $80,300 | 10% below national |
| 107 | Modesto, CA Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 80 workers (fewer than 100). | $80,240 | 10% below national |
| 108 | Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $79,940 | 10% below national |
| 109 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $79,940 | 10% below national |
| 110 | Port St. Lucie, FL Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 70 workers (fewer than 100). | $79,920 | 10% below national |
| 111 | Lancaster, PA Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 40 workers (fewer than 100). | $79,890 | 10% below national |
| 112 | College Station-Bryan, TX Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 80 workers (fewer than 100). | $79,870 | 10% below national |
| 113 | Lubbock, TX Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 60 workers (fewer than 100). | $79,790 | 10% below national |
| 114 | Amherst Town-Northampton, MA Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 60 workers (fewer than 100). | $79,660 | 10% below national |
| 115 | Columbia, SC | $79,560 | 11% below national |
| 116 | Jacksonville, FL | $79,250 | 11% below national |
| 117 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $79,190 | 11% below national |
| 118 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $79,140 | 11% below national |
| 119 | Montgomery, AL Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 30 workers (fewer than 100). | $78,410 | 12% below national |
| 120 | Tyler, TX Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 70 workers (fewer than 100). | $78,240 | 12% below national |
| 121 | Naples-Marco Island, FL Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 70 workers (fewer than 100). | $78,060 | 12% below national |
| 122 | Waco, TX Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 30 workers (fewer than 100). | $77,970 | 12% below national |
| 123 | Winston-Salem, NC Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 50 workers (fewer than 100). | $77,910 | 12% below national |
| 124 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $77,900 | 12% below national |
| 125 | Cedar Rapids, IA Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 40 workers (fewer than 100). | $77,850 | 12% below national |
| 126 | Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 50 workers (fewer than 100). | $77,730 | 13% below national |
| 127 | Lincoln, NE Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 50 workers (fewer than 100). | $77,570 | 13% below national |
| 128 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $77,510 | 13% below national |
| 129 | Bloomington, IL Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 60 workers (fewer than 100). | $76,890 | 14% below national |
| 130 | Visalia, CA Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 30 workers (fewer than 100). | $76,510 | 14% below national |
| 131 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $76,400 | 14% below national |
| 132 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $75,990 | 15% below national |
| 133 | Madison, WI | $75,650 | 15% below national |
| 134 | Savannah, GA Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 70 workers (fewer than 100). | $75,340 | 15% below national |
| 135 | Abilene, TX Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 40 workers (fewer than 100). | $75,310 | 15% below national |
| 136 | Medford, OR Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 40 workers (fewer than 100). | $75,110 | 16% below national |
| 137 | Albuquerque, NM | $75,000 | 16% below national |
| 138 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $74,850 | 16% below national |
| 139 | Sheboygan, WI Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 50 workers (fewer than 100). | $74,420 | 16% below national |
| 140 | Columbus, GA-AL Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 80 workers (fewer than 100). | $74,210 | 17% below national |
| 141 | Reno, NV Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 50 workers (fewer than 100). | $74,110 | 17% below national |
| 142 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $73,280 | 18% below national |
| 143 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 50 workers (fewer than 100). | $73,260 | 18% below national |
| 144 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $72,890 | 18% below national |
| 145 | Gainesville, FL Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 60 workers (fewer than 100). | $72,800 | 18% below national |
| 146 | Springfield, MA | $72,800 | 18% below national |
| 147 | El Paso, TX | $72,740 | 18% below national |
| 148 | Tulsa, OK Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 80 workers (fewer than 100). | $72,680 | 18% below national |
| 149 | Appleton, WI | $72,630 | 18% below national |
| 150 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | $72,500 | 18% below national |
| 151 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $71,680 | 19% below national |
| 152 | Wausau, WI Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 60 workers (fewer than 100). | $71,610 | 19% below national |
| 153 | Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | $68,270 | 23% below national |
| 154 | Fort Wayne, IN | $68,010 | 24% below national |
| 155 | Santa Fe, NM Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 60 workers (fewer than 100). | $67,480 | 24% below national |
| 156 | Green Bay, WI | $67,340 | 24% below national |
| 157 | Salisbury, MD Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 50 workers (fewer than 100). | $67,160 | 24% below national |
| 158 | La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 80 workers (fewer than 100). | $66,860 | 25% below national |
| 159 | Amarillo, TX Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 40 workers (fewer than 100). | $66,020 | 26% below national |
| 160 | Athens-Clarke County, GA Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 30 workers (fewer than 100). | $66,000 | 26% below national |
| 161 | Brownsville-Harlingen, TX Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 30 workers (fewer than 100). | $65,760 | 26% below national |
| 162 | Charleston, WV Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 80 workers (fewer than 100). | $65,440 | 26% below national |
| 163 | Janesville-Beloit, WI Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 60 workers (fewer than 100). | $65,240 | 27% below national |
| 164 | Topeka, KS Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 60 workers (fewer than 100). | $65,230 | 27% below national |
| 165 | Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $64,990 | 27% below national |
| 166 | Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 50 workers (fewer than 100). | $64,610 | 27% below national |
| 167 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $63,650 | 28% below national |
| 168 | Springfield, IL Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 50 workers (fewer than 100). | $63,620 | 28% below national |
| 169 | Springfield, OH | $63,620 | 28% below national |
| 170 | Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 50 workers (fewer than 100). | $63,520 | 29% below national |
| 171 | Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 40 workers (fewer than 100). | $63,520 | 29% below national |
| 172 | Baton Rouge, LA | $63,210 | 29% below national |
| 173 | Columbia, MO Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 30 workers (fewer than 100). | $62,830 | 29% below national |
| 174 | Eau Claire, WI | $62,630 | 30% below national |
| 175 | Chattanooga, TN-GA Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 80 workers (fewer than 100). | $62,540 | 30% below national |
| 176 | Kenosha, WI Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 60 workers (fewer than 100). | $62,210 | 30% below national |
| 177 | Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 50 workers (fewer than 100). | $61,010 | 31% below national |
| 178 | Ocala, FL Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 30 workers (fewer than 100). | $60,730 | 32% below national |
| 179 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $60,160 | 32% below national |
| 180 | Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $59,470 | 33% below national |
| 181 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $56,880 | 36% below national |
| 182 | Macon-Bibb County, GA Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 90 workers (fewer than 100). | $56,390 | 37% below national |
| 183 | Oklahoma City, OK | $53,730 | 40% below national |
| 184 | Tallahassee, FL | $46,570 | 48% below national |
Small sample marks a row whose BLS estimate rests on fewer than 100 workers. It is still a published figure, but BLS reports more sampling error for cells this small: the median relative standard error of the mean wage is 3.4% under 100 workers against 2.1% at 100 or more (May 2025 metro estimates). Small gaps in rank between neighbouring rows may not be meaningful.
Same SOC major group
Other detailed occupations in SOC major group 15 (Computer and Mathematical Occupations) - category peers, not a pay match.
Actuaries
SOC 15-2011
Computer Network Architects
SOC 15-1241
Computer Network Support Specialists
SOC 15-1231
Computer Occupations, All Other
SOC 15-1299
Computer Programmers
SOC 15-1251
Showing 5 of 20 detailed occupations BLS assigns to this SOC major group.
Nationwide occupations with similar pay or employment scale
Two OEWS peer sets outside this SOC major group (Computer and Mathematical Occupations). Same-category cards above stay inside the group; these neighborhoods are cross-group nearest neighbors on national median pay ($88,940 here) and reported employment (108,510 jobs here).
Similar median pay
Nearest other detailed occupations by BLS OEWS national median annual wage.
Similar employment scale
Nearest headcount peers (floor 1,000 national jobs), distinct from the pay column.
Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on BLS OEWS national median annual wage and reported employment. Employment peers exclude occupations already listed in the pay column so the two link sets stay distinct.
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What to do with this data
How to use Operations Research Analysts pay figures in a real decision
- The 75th-percentile wage is about $125,990/year. Treat it as the upper-quartile market boundary, not an automatic target for experience alone; role scope, location, industry, credentials, performance, and employer context still need separate evidence. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: Colorado leads at $129,880/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Occupation wages use BLS OEWS May 2025; outlook uses BLS Employment Projections for 2024–2034; safety, skills, knowledge, and task panels identify their BLS or O*NET sources in context. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.