Operations Research Analysts
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
Operations Research Analysts in the United States earn a median salary of $88,940 per year — about $43 per hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Roughly 112K people work in this occupation nationwide, with projected employment growth of +21%.
AI & Automation Risk
This occupation is almost entirely digital, involving data collection, mathematical modeling, and report writing—all areas where AI and Large Language Models excel. While analysts still provide high-level human judgment and stakeholder persuasion, AI can now automate the core technical tasks of coding analytical tools, mining data, and generating optimization simulations, significantly increasing individual productivity and restructuring the role.
Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home
Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.
| City | Local Salary | Cost of Living | Real Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntsville, ALBEST VALUE | $132,000 | Below avg (93.1) | $141,826 |
| Peoria, IL | $129,300 | Below avg (91.2) | $141,728 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $140,590 | Average (100.7) | $139,603 |
| Lexington Park, MD | $135,300 | Average (100.8) | $134,279 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $122,570 | Below avg (92.7) | $132,231 |
| Las Cruces, NM | $114,150 | Below avg (90.2) | $126,535 |
| York-Hanover, PA | $117,740 | Below avg (96.0) | $122,646 |
| Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | $118,810 | Average (97.3) | $122,112 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $127,810 | Above avg (105.8) | $120,824 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $115,920 | Average (97.0) | $119,467 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $119,020 | Average (100.9) | $117,975 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $127,600 | Above avg (108.9) | $117,189 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $114,070 | Average (97.9) | $116,468 |
| Wichita, KS | $102,880 | Below avg (88.9) | $115,666 |
| Richmond, VA | $109,650 | Average (97.9) | $112,050 |