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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
Where you practice this profession shapes your financial life more than experience alone. The national median salary for Operations Research Analysts in 2026 is $96,603, with entry-level positions averaging $69,554 and senior roles reaching $137,176. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Sunnyvale pays a median of $175,960, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
Operations Research Analyst falls within the Technology sector, specifically in Technology. The typical education path involves Master's degree. The career outlook? Growing. Work style is hybrid/remote — which means location flexibility varies, and so does the premium different markets are willing to pay. In the right market, this is a six-figure career path.
$107,070 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Operations Research Analyst in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $175,960 — $107,070 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($68,890). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. That salary-to-cost ratio is genuinely competitive.
The salary distribution for Operations Research Analysts reveals a $67,622 spread from entry to senior. At $96,603, the median sits $16,236 above the national median household income of $80,367. That's a strong baseline — and it only includes individual earnings, not household. The P10 floor of $69,554 represents early-career or part-time positions, while the $137,176 ceiling captures experienced professionals in premium markets.
The pay gap between the top and bottom markets is dramatic: $164,340 (average of the top 3 cities) versus $69,443 (average of the bottom 3). That $94,897 delta is real money — $7,908/month before taxes. But the highest-paying cities tend to be the most expensive. The cost-adjusted comparison below tells the more important story.
A Operations Research Analyst in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $175,960 — $107,070 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($68,890). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Operations Research Analyst is $69,554, while senior-level (P90) earners average $137,176. That $67,622 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
At the 90th percentile, Operations Research Analysts pull in an average of $137,176. In the top-paying markets, that figure climbs even higher — making this one of the more lucrative career trajectories in its field.
Even at the 10th percentile, Operations Research Analysts average $69,554 nationally. That's a higher starting floor than many careers' median — a signal of strong baseline demand and compensation.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $69,554 | $96,603 | $137,176 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £41,705 | £57,924 | £82,252 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$54,061 | CA$75,084 | CA$106,619 |
| Australia | 13 | A$62,662 | A$87,030 | A$123,583 |
| Sweden | 24 | 394,708 kr | 548,206 kr | 778,452 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $83,948 | $116,595 | $165,564 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $81,124 | $112,673 | $159,995 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $80,676 | $112,050 | $159,111 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $74,700 | $103,750 | $147,325 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $73,804 | $102,505 | $145,557 |
| Washington | 8 | $72,384 | $100,534 | $142,758 |
| New York | 5 | $68,127 | $94,620 | $134,361 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $68,126 | $94,620 | $134,360 |
| Florida | 22 | $67,610 | $93,903 | $133,343 |
| Colorado | 11 | $66,442 | $92,281 | $131,039 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $66,334 | $92,130 | $130,825 |
| Nevada | 5 | $66,214 | $91,964 | $130,589 |
| Arizona | 12 | $65,885 | $91,508 | $129,941 |
| Oregon | 5 | $65,736 | $91,300 | $129,646 |
| Idaho | 3 | $65,537 | $91,023 | $129,253 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $65,019 | $90,304 | $128,232 |
| Utah | 4 | $64,840 | $90,055 | $127,878 |
| Virginia | 7 | $63,773 | $88,573 | $125,774 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $62,947 | $87,427 | $124,146 |
| Alaska | 1 | $62,748 | $87,150 | $123,753 |
| Illinois | 5 | $62,031 | $86,154 | $122,339 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $60,490 | $84,014 | $119,300 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $59,760 | $83,000 | $117,860 |
| Montana | 1 | $59,760 | $83,000 | $117,860 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $59,561 | $82,723 | $117,467 |
| Texas | 40 | $59,267 | $82,315 | $116,888 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $59,163 | $82,170 | $116,682 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $58,864 | $81,755 | $116,092 |
| Georgia | 6 | $58,664 | $81,478 | $115,699 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $58,565 | $81,340 | $115,503 |
| Kansas | 4 | $58,266 | $80,925 | $114,914 |
| Michigan | 6 | $58,067 | $80,648 | $114,521 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $57,370 | $79,680 | $113,146 |
| Maryland | 1 | $57,370 | $79,680 | $113,146 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $56,772 | $78,850 | $111,967 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $56,772 | $78,850 | $111,967 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $55,278 | $76,775 | $109,020 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $54,979 | $76,360 | $108,431 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $54,232 | $75,323 | $106,958 |
| Missouri | 4 | $54,232 | $75,323 | $106,958 |
| Alabama | 5 | $54,023 | $75,032 | $106,545 |
| Indiana | 3 | $53,186 | $73,870 | $104,895 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $53,186 | $73,870 | $104,895 |
| Iowa | 2 | $52,589 | $73,040 | $103,717 |
| Ohio | 6 | $52,489 | $72,902 | $103,520 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $50,198 | $69,720 | $99,002 |
The state salary map for Operations Research Analysts: California at $116,595, Massachusetts at $112,673, Hawaii at $112,050 lead the pack. The bottom tier — Mississippi ($69,720), Ohio ($72,902), Iowa ($73,040) — shows how regional economics reshape compensation. Across all 46 states with data, the state-level spread alone is $46,875.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($175,960 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $83,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $175,960 | 212 | $83,000 | $103,823 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $164,340 | 198 | $83,000 | $97,427 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $152,720 | 184 | $83,000 | $91,030 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $150,230 | 181 | $83,000 | $89,659 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $147,740 | 178 | $83,000 | $88,288 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $146,910 | 177 | $83,000 | $87,831 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $146,910 | 177 | $83,000 | $87,831 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $143,590 | 173 | $83,000 | $86,004 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $143,590 | 173 | $83,000 | $86,004 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $140,270 | 169 | $83,000 | $84,176 |
The $67,622 gap between P10 and P90 represents the earning trajectory of a Operations Research Analyst career. Senior-level earners make 2.0× what entry-level professionals do — a solid progression that justifies the upfront investment. In the Technology sector, growing, which shapes both starting salaries and long-term ceiling.
The weighted national median salary for Operations Research Analysts is $96,603 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $69,554, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $137,176.
The highest-paying city for Operations Research Analysts is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $175,960. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($175,960), Santa Clara ($164,340), Irvine ($152,720). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Operations Research Analyst salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $68,890. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Operations Research Analysts (10th percentile) average $69,554 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $126,691. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Operations Research Analysts average $137,176 nationally — $67,622 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Operations Research Analysts can earn up to $249,863.
The top-paying states for Operations Research Analysts are California ($116,595 median), Massachusetts ($112,673 median), Hawaii ($112,050 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Operations Research Analyst involves Master's degree. The field is in the Technology sector (Technology), and the career outlook is growing. Work style is typically hybrid/remote.
With a national median of $96,603 and representation across 288 metro areas, Operations Research Analyst offers above-average earning potential compared to national household income. The $67,622 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: growing.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.