Operations Research Analysts Salary
Operations Research Analysts in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN make a median of $86,910 a year, or about $41.79 an hour. The range runs from $54K at the entry level to $110K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.43), which stretches that salary to about $93,022 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,242/month, or 22.2% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $87K get you in Lafayette-West Lafayette?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Lafayette-West Lafayette’s Regional Price Parity (93.43). 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 Lafayette-West Lafayette
Operations research analysts pay in Lafayette-West Lafayette tracks closely to the national median, $87K locally vs. $89K nationwide, a 2% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,242/month, 22.3% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.43 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for operations research analysts in metros near Lafayette-West Lafayette, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood | $87K | $91K |
| Fort Wayne | $68K | $73K |
| Springfield | $64K | $70K |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $87K | $84K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN
Entry-level operations research analysts (10th percentile) start around $54K. Mid-career wages sit at $87K. Top earners bring in $110K or more, a $56K 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 Lafayette-West Lafayette numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a operations research analyst afford a 2BR apartment alone in Lafayette-West Lafayette?
Yes — at the median salary of $87K, rent takes 22.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,242/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for operations research analysts in Lafayette-West Lafayette?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new operations research analysts typically earn — is $54K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,269/month. At HUD’s $1,242/month FMR, rent would take 38% 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 Lafayette-West Lafayette?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $87K locally vs. $89K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Lafayette-West Lafayette compare to the national average for operations research analysts?
Lafayette-West Lafayette pays $87K median vs. the U.S. average of $89K — that’s -2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.43), the purchasing-power equivalent is $93K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do operations research analysts make in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN?
The median is $86,910 a year, that works out to about $42 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $54,480, and experienced operations research analysts can clear $110,180. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $87K enough to live in Lafayette-West Lafayette?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,573/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,242/month, which eats 22.3% 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 Lafayette-West Lafayette?
Lafayette-West Lafayette has a Regional Price Parity of 93.43 (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 $93,022 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.