Operations Research Analysts Salary
Operations Research Analysts in California make a median of $102,100 a year, or about $49.09 an hour. The range runs from $66K at the entry level to $168K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 106.14), so that salary is closer to $96,194 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,471/month, about 39.3% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across California. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $102K get you in California?
About operations research analysts
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What this looks like in California
California sits well above the national pay line for operations research analysts, local pay runs about 15% higher than the U.S. median of $89K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,471/month, which is 39.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 106.14), so groceries and services cost more too. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, California
Entry-level operations research analysts (10th percentile) start around $66K. Mid-career wages sit at $102K. Top earners bring in $168K or more, a $103K spread from bottom to top.
Operations Research Analysts salary by metro in California
17 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $123K | +21% | 920 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $119K | +17% | 80 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $111K | +8% | 2,050 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $106K | +3% | 60 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $105K | +3% | 50 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $105K | +2% | 220 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $104K | +2% | 510 |
| Fresno | $102K | -0% | 130 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $99K | -3% | 1,280 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $98K | -4% | 3,480 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $97K | -5% | 50 |
| Salinas | $97K | -5% | 40 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $87K | -15% | 470 |
| Vallejo | $83K | -18% | 40 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $82K | -20% | 60 |
| Modesto | $80K | -21% | 80 |
| Visalia | $77K | -25% | 30 |
Showing 1–10 of 17 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when California numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a operations research analyst afford a 2BR apartment alone in California?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $102K, rent takes 39.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,471/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,900/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 California?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new operations research analysts typically earn — is $66K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,931/month. At HUD’s $2,471/month FMR, rent would take 63% 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 California?
Local pay is 15% above the national median — $102K here vs. $89K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 6% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does California compare to the national average for operations research analysts?
California pays $102K median vs. the U.S. average of $89K — that’s +15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 106.14), the purchasing-power equivalent is $96K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do operations research analysts make in California?
The median is $102,100 a year, that works out to about $49 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $65,510, and experienced operations research analysts can clear $168,030. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $102K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,215/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,471/month, which eats 39.8% 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 California?
California has a Regional Price Parity of 106.14 (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 $96,194 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.