Operations Research Analyst salary in Chicago, IL
Based on 643 certified H-1B filings in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Riverwoods, Evanston, Schaumburg, Naperville, Northbrook.
Also listed as: Data Analyst
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $80,000 |
| 25th | $88,027 |
| 50th (median) | $115,000 |
| 75th | $156,400 |
| 90th | $193,000 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $90,000 | $80,000 | $125,000 | 791 |
| FY2021 | $107,030 | $80,000 | $147,750 | 494 |
| FY2022 | $113,000 | $85,227 | $152,300 | 652 |
| FY2023 | $115,000 | $88,000 | $170,300 | 478 |
| FY2024 | $130,000 | $100,054 | $190,000 | 470 |
| FY2025 | $114,085 | $88,055 | $155,000 | 384 |
| FY2026 | $115,000 | $88,000 | $160,000 | 259 |
Cost of living
Chicago's median Operations Research Analyst salary of $115,000 is worth about $111,000 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Chicago = 103.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Operations Research Analysts in the Chicago, IL area earned a median of $86,500 in May 2025 (3,680 employed). The H-1B median here is $115,000, 33% higher.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Top employers filing
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Deloitte | $103,600 | 56 |
| PwC | $190,000 | 54 |
| Tiger Analytics | $162,500 | 34 |
| Discover Products | $106,944 | 30 |
| EY | $180,234 | 29 |
| Medline Industries | $111,012 | 21 |
| ZS Associates | $174,500 | 19 |
| Discover | $106,000 | 13 |
| Health Care Service | $96,283 | 12 |
| Kforce | $105,893 | 11 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $75,000 | 111 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $100,000 | 267 |
| Senior · Level III | $126,236 | 134 |
| Expert · Level IV | $155,000 | 127 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Minimum H-1B salary by level
| Wage level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $66,706 | $75,000 | 111 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $85,904 | $100,000 | 267 |
| Senior · Level III | $105,893 | $126,236 | 134 |
| Expert · Level IV | $124,301 | $155,000 | 127 |
The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.