Operations Research Analysts Salary
Operations Research Analysts in Colorado make a median of $129,880 a year, or about $62.44 an hour. The range runs from $80K at the entry level to $183K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.71), that's roughly $125,234 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,832/month, or 22.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Colorado. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $130K actually covers in Colorado, month by month
About operations research analysts
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What this looks like in Colorado
Colorado sits well above the national pay line for operations research analysts, local pay runs about 46% higher than the U.S. median of $89K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,832/month, 23.4% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 103.71) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Combined with manageable housing costs, Colorado offers a genuinely strong financial position for operations research analysts at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Colorado
Entry-level operations research analysts (10th percentile) start around $80K. Mid-career wages sit at $130K. Top earners bring in $183K or more, a $103K spread from bottom to top.
Operations Research Analysts salary by metro in Colorado
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado Springs | $141K | +8% | 170 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $128K | -2% | 490 |
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a operations research analyst afford a 2BR apartment alone in Colorado?
Yes — at the median salary of $130K, rent takes 23.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,832/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for operations research analysts in Colorado?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new operations research analysts typically earn — is $80K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,072/month. At HUD’s $1,832/month FMR, rent would take 36% 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 Colorado?
Local pay is 46% above the national median — $130K here vs. $89K nationally.
How does Colorado compare to the national average for operations research analysts?
Colorado pays $130K median vs. the U.S. average of $89K — that’s +46%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 103.71), the purchasing-power equivalent is $125K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do operations research analysts make in Colorado?
The median is $129,880 a year, that works out to about $62 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $79,570, and experienced operations research analysts can clear $182,530. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $130K enough to live in Colorado?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,818/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,832/month, which eats 23.4% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a operations research analysts salary go in Colorado?
Colorado has a Regional Price Parity of 103.71 (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 $125,234 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.