Operations Research Analysts Salary
Operations Research Analysts in Tennessee make a median of $76,680 a year, or about $36.87 an hour. The range runs from $46K at the entry level to $125K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $85,409 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,215/month, or 22.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $77K get you in Tennessee?
About operations research analysts
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Pay for operations research analysts in Tennessee runs about 14% below the U.S. median of $89K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,215/month, 23.4% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Tennessee can be a reasonable trade-off for operations research analystss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tennessee
Entry-level operations research analysts (10th percentile) start around $46K. Mid-career wages sit at $77K. Top earners bring in $125K or more, a $79K spread from bottom to top.
Operations Research Analysts salary by metro in Tennessee
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | $83K | +8% | 180 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $79K | +3% | 450 |
| Chattanooga | $63K | -18% | 80 |
Compare to other states
Track operations research analysts salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a operations research analyst afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
Yes — at the median salary of $77K, rent takes 23.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for operations research analysts in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new operations research analysts typically earn — is $46K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,769/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 44% 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 Tennessee?
Local pay runs 14% below the national median — $77K here vs. $89K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for operations research analysts?
Tennessee pays $77K median vs. the U.S. average of $89K — that’s -14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $85K — below the national median.
How much do operations research analysts make in Tennessee?
The median is $76,680 a year, that works out to about $37 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $46,150, and experienced operations research analysts can clear $125,480. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $77K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,194/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/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 Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (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 $85,409 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.