Operations Research Analysts Salary
Operations Research Analysts in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD make a median of $94,440 a year, or about $45.4 an hour. The range runs from $56K at the entry level to $184K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 104.49), that's roughly $90,382 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,857/month, about 31.3% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $94K get you in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Baltimore-Columbia-Towson’s Regional Price Parity (104.49). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About operations research analysts
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What this looks like in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson
Operations research analysts pay in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson tracks closely to the national median, $94K locally vs. $89K nationwide, a 6% difference. Rent runs $1,857/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 31.6% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 104.49) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for operations research analysts in metros near Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Lexington Park | $135K | $134K |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg | $64K | $67K |
| Salisbury | $67K | $70K |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre | $59K | $64K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
Entry-level operations research analysts (10th percentile) start around $56K. Mid-career wages sit at $94K. Top earners bring in $184K or more, a $128K spread from bottom to top.
Operations Research Analysts pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Operations Research Analysts salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | $130K | +46% | 770 |
| Virginia | $129K | +46% | 6,980 |
| Alabama | $116K | +30% | 550 |
| New York | $109K | +22% | 5,890 |
| Ohio | $104K | +17% | 2,600 |
| Idaho | $104K | +16% | 500 |
| Oregon | $102K | +15% | 2,710 |
| California | $102K | +15% | 10,620 |
| Delaware | $101K | +14% | 660 |
| Hawaii | $101K | +13% | 120 |
| Maine | $99K | +12% | 220 |
| Nebraska | $98K | +11% | 330 |
| Washington | $98K | +10% | 3,050 |
| Maryland | $97K | +10% | 4,710 |
| North Carolina | $97K | +9% | 2,520 |
| Connecticut | $97K | +9% | 950 |
| Massachusetts | $97K | +9% | 4,200 |
| District of Columbia | $96K | +8% | 2,250 |
| Minnesota | $96K | +7% | 1,240 |
| Mississippi | $92K | +4% | 120 |
| Kansas | $92K | +3% | N/A |
| Texas | $91K | +2% | 11,890 |
| Utah | $90K | +1% | 810 |
| Illinois | $90K | +1% | 5,180 |
| Vermont | $90K | +1% | 170 |
| Alaska | $89K | -0% | 70 |
| Nevada | $87K | -3% | 370 |
| Indiana | $85K | -4% | 1,380 |
| Kentucky | $84K | -6% | 660 |
| Michigan | $83K | -6% | 980 |
| North Dakota | $82K | -7% | 130 |
| Iowa | $81K | -9% | 300 |
| Montana | $80K | -10% | 150 |
| New Mexico | $80K | -10% | 510 |
| South Carolina | $80K | -10% | 1,380 |
| Pennsylvania | $80K | -10% | 3,220 |
| Rhode Island | $78K | -12% | 360 |
| Florida | $78K | -13% | 9,120 |
| Tennessee | $77K | -14% | 1,200 |
| Georgia | $76K | -14% | 4,600 |
| Arizona | $75K | -15% | 2,600 |
| Wisconsin | $72K | -19% | 4,270 |
| West Virginia | $64K | -28% | 200 |
| Louisiana | $63K | -29% | 550 |
| Missouri | $62K | -30% | 1,190 |
| Oklahoma | $62K | -31% | 1,840 |
| Arkansas | $59K | -34% | 210 |
Showing 1–10 of 47 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track operations research analysts salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Baltimore-Columbia-Towson numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a operations research analyst afford a 2BR apartment alone in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $94K, rent takes 31.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,857/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,800/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for operations research analysts in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new operations research analysts typically earn — is $56K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,347/month. At HUD’s $1,857/month FMR, rent would take 55% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is operations research analyst a high-paying job in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $94K locally vs. $89K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Baltimore-Columbia-Towson compare to the national average for operations research analysts?
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson pays $94K median vs. the U.S. average of $89K — that’s +6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 104.49), the purchasing-power equivalent is $90K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do operations research analysts make in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
The median is $94,440 a year, that works out to about $45 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $55,790, and experienced operations research analysts can clear $184,100. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $94K enough to live in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,876/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,857/month, which eats 31.6% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a operations research analysts salary go in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson has a Regional Price Parity of 104.49 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median operations research analysts salary is worth about $90,382 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do operations research analysts get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.