Operations Research Analysts Salary
Operations Research Analysts in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC make a median of $109,110 a year, or about $52.46 an hour. The range runs from $53K at the entry level to $184K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.57), that's roughly $111,827 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,711/month, or 24.3% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $109K get you in Durham-Chapel Hill?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Durham-Chapel Hill’s Regional Price Parity (97.57). 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 Durham-Chapel Hill
Durham-Chapel Hill sits well above the national pay line for operations research analysts, local pay runs about 23% higher than the U.S. median of $89K. Rent runs $1,711/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 25.6% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 97.57) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for operations research analysts in metros near Durham-Chapel Hill, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $105K | $108K |
| Raleigh-Cary | $84K | $85K |
| Greensboro-High Point | $80K | $86K |
| Winston-Salem | $78K | $85K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Entry-level operations research analysts (10th percentile) start around $53K. Mid-career wages sit at $109K. Top earners bring in $184K or more, a $132K 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 Durham-Chapel Hill numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a operations research analyst afford a 2BR apartment alone in Durham-Chapel Hill?
Yes — at the median salary of $109K, rent takes 25.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,711/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for operations research analysts in Durham-Chapel Hill?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new operations research analysts typically earn — is $53K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,152/month. At HUD’s $1,711/month FMR, rent would take 54% 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 Durham-Chapel Hill?
Local pay is 23% above the national median — $109K here vs. $89K nationally.
How does Durham-Chapel Hill compare to the national average for operations research analysts?
Durham-Chapel Hill pays $109K median vs. the U.S. average of $89K — that’s +23%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97.57), the purchasing-power equivalent is $112K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do operations research analysts make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The median is $109,110 a year, that works out to about $52 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $52,530, and experienced operations research analysts can clear $184,450. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $109K enough to live in Durham-Chapel Hill?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,686/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,711/month, which eats 25.6% 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 Durham-Chapel Hill?
Durham-Chapel Hill has a Regional Price Parity of 97.57 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median operations research analysts salary is worth about $111,827 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.