Operations Research Analyst salary

From 12,706 certified H-1B filings (FY2025–FY2026). Base salary only.

  • Occupation code 15-2031: Operations Research Analysts
  • Also filed as: Data Analyst
Median base salary$118,206−4% vs. all H-1B filings
Middle 50%$88.7k–$155k
80% of filings$70.9k–$193k10th to 90th percentile
Level II (mid-level) share37%all filings: 42%

At a glance

  • Mostly Level II (mid-level). 37% of Operations Research Analyst filings are Level II, compared with 42% across all H-1B filings.
  • Top filer: Amazon. 874 filings (7% of the total), median $134,420.
  • Pay depends on the city. Among the 10 metro areas with the most filings, the median ranges from $101,383 in Los Angeles, CA to $148,699 in San Francisco, CA.
  • Median up 22% since FY2020. From $94,500 in FY2020 to $115,000 in FY2026 (Q1–Q3). Nominal, not adjusted for inflation.

Operations Research Analyst H-1B salary overview

Employers filed 12,706 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Operations Research Analyst jobs in FY2025–FY2026 (occupation code 15-2031, Operations Research Analysts). The median base salary is $118,206, 4% below the median for all H-1B filings ($122,699), and half of the filings fall between $88,743 and $155,000. The most common wage level is Level II (mid-level), at 37% of filings. New York, NY has the most filings (2,391), and Amazon is the employer that files the most (874).

Is your Operations Research Analyst offer competitive?

Enter the base salary in your offer. We compare it with certified H-1B filings for Operations Research Analyst jobs, nationally or in one metro area.

10th $70.9k25th $88.7kmedian $118.2k75th $155k90th $193k

Enter a salary to see where it falls.

Percentiles from certified H-1B filings, base salary only. Metro areas with at least 10 filings.

Top employers for Operations Research Analyst

Employers with the most Operations Research Analyst filings. Bar: share of all Operations Research Analyst filings. Figure: median base salary.

Pay by level

$74.4kLevel I
Entry-level · 19% of filings
$104.8kLevel II
Mid-level · 37% of filings
$133kLevel III
Senior · 25% of filings
$160kLevel IV
Expert · 20% of filings
Show the table

By experience level

Wage levelMedianFilings
Level I · Entry $74,388 2,363
Level II · Qualified $104,810 4,626
Level III · Experienced $133,000 3,105
Level IV · Fully competent $160,000 2,484

Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.

Operations Research Analyst pay by city

Median base salary in each metro area. Rent: HUD Fair Market Rent, FY2027.

Show all 63 metro areas
Metro areaMedianFilings
New York, NY$130,0002,391
San Jose, CA$146,0001,049
Dallas, TX$105,946940
Seattle, WA$133,825932
San Francisco, CA$148,699919
Atlanta, GA$104,799653
Chicago, IL$115,000643
Boston, MA$110,500527
Los Angeles, CA$101,383496
Austin, TX$115,000355
Washington, DC$110,000317
Houston, TX$108,000301
Philadelphia, PA$100,194265
Miami, FL$102,266228
Charlotte, NC$121,826151
Phoenix, AZ$92,768139
Salt Lake, UT$72,400135
Raleigh, NC$105,076111
San Diego, CA$125,00085
Trenton, NJ$151,83084
St. Louis, MO$102,02180
Nashville, TN$100,00075
Tampa, FL$98,04470
Orlando, FL$91,52067
Detroit, MI$102,34966
Denver, CO$96,00061
Riverside, CA$74,25658
Columbus, OH$102,76256
Minneapolis, MN$106,00055
Pittsburgh, PA$90,00054
San Antonio, TX$98,59247
Baltimore, MD$86,58042
Portland, OR$131,30041
Cincinnati, OH$102,00037
Oxnard, CA$154,42536
Memphis, TN$105,33432
Sacramento, CA$85,80030
Cleveland, OH$89,28229
Durham, NC$119,76226
Fayetteville, AR$90,31526
Las Vegas, NV$83,18326
Indianapolis, IN$115,60025
Albany, NY$70,68924
Bridgeport, CT$143,00023
Hartford, CT$83,74023
Greenville, SC$89,42322
Worcester, MA$88,67822
Jacksonville, FL$108,00021
Milwaukee, WI$83,47021
Harrisburg, PA$84,80217
Provo, UT$85,67517
Ann Arbor, MI$110,60016
Oklahoma, OK$65,00015
Kansas, MO$103,09314
Richmond, VA$115,00013
Buffalo, NY$102,73412
Omaha, NE$90,00011
Charleston, SC$90,39910
Dayton, OH$103,79210
Des Moines, IA$89,21110
Greensboro, NC$97,05310
Little Rock, AR$78,28910
Madison, WI$81,68210

Metro areas with at least 10 filings for this occupation.

What a Operations Research Analyst does

Formulate and apply mathematical modeling and other optimizing methods to develop and interpret information that assists management with decisionmaking, policy formulation, or other managerial functions. May collect and analyze data and develop decision support software, services, or products. May develop and supply optimal time, cost, or logistics networks for program evaluation, review, or implementation.

Typical 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.

Preparation

Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed. Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).

O*NET occupation: Operations Research Analysts (15-2031.00). This section includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.

H-1B pay vs. all U.S. workers

Across all U.S. workers in this occupation (Operations Research Analysts), the median annual wage was $88,940 in May 2025, with 108,510 people employed. The median H-1B base salary in FY2025–FY2026 is $118,206, 33% higher.

H-1B filingsAll U.S. workers (BLS, May 2025)
10th percentile$70,886$57,060
25th percentile$88,743$68,360
Median$118,206$88,940
75th percentile$155,000$125,990
90th percentile$193,000$159,910

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). BLS wages cover all wage and salary workers and include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are the base salary offered on certified LCAs. The two sources cover different periods. BLS reports wages of $239,200 or more as a single top value.

Salary details

Median salary$118,206
Middle 50%$88.7k–$155k
vs. all occupations−4%comparison median $122,699
Filings12,706FY2025–FY2026 · latest two fiscal years

Salary range

Box: middle 50% of filings. Whiskers: 10th–90th percentile. 99% of filings are between $54,995 and $275,000.
PercentileSalary
10th$70,886
25th$88,743
50th (median)$118,206
75th$155,000
90th$193,000

Salary by year

Median salary

$80k $105k $130k FY2020: median $94,500 (9,891 filings) FY2021: median $105,000 (8,854 filings) FY2022: median $113,714 (11,337 filings) FY2023: median $111,300 (7,651 filings) FY2024: median $123,700 (8,242 filings) FY2025: median $119,700 (7,490 filings) FY2026: median $115,000 (5,216 filings) FY20 FY21 FY22 FY23 FY24 FY25 FY26

Filings per year

FY2020: 9,891 filings FY20 FY2021: 8,854 filings FY21 FY2022: 11,337 filings FY22 FY2023: 7,651 filings FY23 FY2024: 8,242 filings FY24 FY2025: 7,490 filings FY25 FY2026: 5,216 filings FY26 11,337
Shaded: FY2025–FY2026, the years behind the figures above. Median shown for years with at least 10 filings. FY2026 covers Q1–Q3 only.
Show as table
Fiscal yearMedianP25P75Filings
FY2020$94,500$76,500$124,7699,891
FY2021$105,000$83,595$135,0008,854
FY2022$113,714$88,400$145,70011,337
FY2023$111,300$87,194$151,3337,651
FY2024$123,700$90,601$163,2758,242
FY2025$119,700$88,053$156,7707,490
FY2026$115,000$89,190$151,6255,216

Questions

How much does an H-1B Operations Research Analyst make?

The median base salary in certified H-1B filings for Operations Research Analyst jobs is $118,206 (12,706 filings, FY2025–FY2026). Half of the filings are between $88,743 and $155,000.

What does an entry-level Operations Research Analyst earn on an H-1B?

Level I (entry-level) filings have a median of $74,388. Level I accounts for 19% of Operations Research Analyst filings.

Which city pays H-1B Operations Research Analysts the most?

Among metro areas with at least 100 filings, San Francisco, CA has the highest median base salary for Operations Research Analyst jobs: $148,699 (919 filings).

Which employers file the most H-1B applications for Operations Research Analysts?

Amazon (874), Deloitte (766) and EY (458) filed the most Operations Research Analyst LCAs in FY2025–FY2026.

Do H-1B Operations Research Analysts earn more than other U.S. workers in the same job?

The H-1B median base salary ($118,206) is 33% higher than the median wage of all U.S. workers in this occupation ($88,940, BLS May 2025). The sources measure pay differently, so treat this as a rough comparison.