Operations Research Analysts Salary
Operations Research Analysts in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO make a median of $127,810 a year, or about $61.45 an hour. The range runs from $83K at the entry level to $183K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 105.78), so that salary is closer to $120,826 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,169/month, or 27.4% of estimated take-home pay.
Where the paycheck goes
What $128K actually covers in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, month by month
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Denver-Aurora-Centennial’s Regional Price Parity (105.78). 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 Denver-Aurora-Centennial
Denver-Aurora-Centennial sits well above the national pay line for operations research analysts, local pay runs about 44% higher than the U.S. median of $89K. Rent runs $2,169/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.1% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 105.78), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for operations research analysts in metros near Denver-Aurora-Centennial, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado Springs | $141K | $140K |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler | $79K | $77K |
| Oklahoma City | $54K | $59K |
| Salt Lake City-Murray | $86K | $85K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO
Entry-level operations research analysts (10th percentile) start around $83K. Mid-career wages sit at $128K. Top earners bring in $183K or more, a $99K 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 annually. We'll email you when Denver-Aurora-Centennial numbers change.
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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 Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
Yes — at the median salary of $128K, rent takes 28.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,169/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for operations research analysts in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new operations research analysts typically earn — is $83K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,285/month. At HUD’s $2,169/month FMR, rent would take 41% 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 Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
Local pay is 44% above the national median — $128K 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 Denver-Aurora-Centennial compare to the national average for operations research analysts?
Denver-Aurora-Centennial pays $128K median vs. the U.S. average of $89K — that’s +44%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 105.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $121K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do operations research analysts make in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO?
The median is $127,810 a year, that works out to about $61 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $83,450, and experienced operations research analysts can clear $182,530. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $128K enough to live in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,707/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,169/month, which eats 28.1% 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 Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
Denver-Aurora-Centennial has a Regional Price Parity of 105.78 (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 $120,826 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.