Operations Research Analysts Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for operations research analysts is $88,940, or $42.76 per hour. About 108,510 people work in this occupation nationwide. Wages vary substantially by state — from $129,880 in Colorado to $59,030 in Arkansas.
Wage distribution nationwide
Earnings spread across all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Salary by state
All 47 states with published data, ranked by median annual wage.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colorado | $129,880 | $62.44 | 770 | 0.39 |
| 2 | Virginia | $129,460 | $62.24 | 6,980 | 2.43 |
| 3 | Alabama | $115,630 | $55.59 | 550 | 0.37 |
| 4 | New York | $108,610 | $52.22 | 5,890 | 0.87 |
| 5 | Ohio | $103,620 | $49.82 | 2,600 | 0.67 |
| 6 | Idaho | $103,600 | $49.81 | 500 | 0.84 |
| 7 | Oregon | $102,170 | $49.12 | 2,710 | 1.97 |
| 8 | California | $102,100 | $49.09 | 10,620 | 0.84 |
| 9 | Delaware | $101,070 | $48.59 | 660 | 1.96 |
| 10 | Hawaii | $100,600 | $48.37 | 120 | 0.28 |
| 11 | Maine | $99,460 | $47.82 | 220 | 0.49 |
| 12 | Nebraska | $98,300 | $47.26 | 330 | 0.46 |
| 13 | Washington | $98,030 | $47.13 | 3,050 | 1.23 |
| 14 | Maryland | $97,410 | $46.83 | 4,710 | 2.44 |
| 15 | North Carolina | $97,290 | $46.78 | 2,520 | 0.73 |
| 16 | Connecticut | $96,700 | $46.49 | 950 | 0.80 |
| 17 | Massachusetts | $96,500 | $46.39 | 4,200 | 1.66 |
| 18 | District of Columbia | $96,030 | $46.17 | 2,250 | 4.59 |
| 19 | Minnesota | $95,550 | $45.94 | 1,240 | 0.60 |
| 20 | Mississippi | $92,310 | $44.38 | 120 | 0.15 |
| 21 | Kansas | $92,050 | $44.26 | — | — |
| 22 | Texas | $90,710 | $43.61 | 11,890 | 1.21 |
| 23 | Utah | $90,200 | $43.37 | 810 | 0.67 |
| 24 | Illinois | $89,800 | $43.17 | 5,180 | 1.22 |
| 25 | Vermont | $89,790 | $43.17 | 170 | 0.78 |
| 26 | Alaska | $88,750 | $42.67 | 70 | 0.30 |
| 27 | Nevada | $86,500 | $41.59 | 370 | 0.34 |
| 28 | Indiana | $85,280 | $41.00 | 1,380 | 0.62 |
| 29 | Kentucky | $83,850 | $40.31 | 660 | 0.47 |
| 30 | Michigan | $83,480 | $40.13 | 980 | 0.32 |
| 31 | North Dakota | $82,460 | $39.65 | 130 | 0.44 |
| 32 | Iowa | $80,580 | $38.74 | 300 | 0.27 |
| 33 | Montana | $80,400 | $38.66 | 150 | 0.42 |
| 34 | New Mexico | $80,360 | $38.63 | 510 | 0.84 |
| 35 | South Carolina | $80,240 | $38.58 | 1,380 | 0.86 |
| 36 | Pennsylvania | $79,640 | $38.29 | 3,220 | 0.76 |
| 37 | Rhode Island | $77,910 | $37.46 | 360 | 1.04 |
| 38 | Florida | $77,600 | $37.31 | 9,120 | 1.32 |
| 39 | Tennessee | $76,680 | $36.87 | 1,200 | 0.52 |
| 40 | Georgia | $76,220 | $36.64 | 4,600 | 1.35 |
| 41 | Arizona | $75,470 | $36.28 | 2,600 | 1.15 |
| 42 | Wisconsin | $71,820 | $34.53 | 4,270 | 2.08 |
| 43 | West Virginia | $64,100 | $30.82 | 200 | 0.42 |
| 44 | Louisiana | $63,210 | $30.39 | 550 | 0.41 |
| 45 | Missouri | $62,380 | $29.99 | 1,190 | 0.58 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $61,520 | $29.58 | 1,840 | 1.55 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $59,030 | $28.38 | 210 | 0.24 |
Related occupations
Same job family, ranked by national employment.
Frequently asked questions
How much do operations research analysts make?
The median annual wage for operations research analysts in the United States is $88,940, or $42.76 per hour. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) earn $57,060, and the top 10% earn $159,910.
How many operations research analysts are employed in the U.S.?
About 108,510 people work as operations research analysts nationwide.
Which state pays operations research analysts the most?
Colorado pays the most at a median of $129,880, followed by Virginia ($129,460) and Alabama ($115,630).
Which state pays operations research analysts the least?
Arkansas has the lowest median at $59,030.
Where are operations research analysts jobs most concentrated?
The location quotient measures employment concentration relative to the national average. The highest is District of Columbia at 4.59×.