Operations Research Analysts Salary
Operations Research Analysts in Wausau, WI make a median of $71,610 a year, or about $34.43 an hour. The range runs from $52K at the entry level to $97K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.65), which stretches that salary to about $77,291 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,147/month, or 24.4% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $72K get you in Wausau?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Wausau’s Regional Price Parity (92.65). 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 Wausau
Pay for operations research analysts in Wausau runs about 19% below the U.S. median of $89K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,147/month, 24.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.65 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Wausau can be a reasonable trade-off for operations research analystss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for operations research analysts in metros near Wausau, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee-Waukesha | $75K | $77K |
| Madison | $76K | $78K |
| Green Bay | $67K | $72K |
| Oshkosh-Neenah | $65K | $70K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Wausau, WI
Entry-level operations research analysts (10th percentile) start around $52K. Mid-career wages sit at $72K. Top earners bring in $97K or more, a $46K 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 Wausau numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a operations research analyst afford a 2BR apartment alone in Wausau?
Yes — at the median salary of $72K, rent takes 24.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,147/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for operations research analysts in Wausau?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new operations research analysts typically earn — is $52K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,105/month. At HUD’s $1,147/month FMR, rent would take 37% 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 Wausau?
Local pay runs 19% below the national median — $72K here vs. $89K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Wausau compare to the national average for operations research analysts?
Wausau pays $72K median vs. the U.S. average of $89K — that’s -19%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.65), the purchasing-power equivalent is $77K — below the national median.
How much do operations research analysts make in Wausau, WI?
The median is $71,610 a year, that works out to about $34 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $51,750, and experienced operations research analysts can clear $97,350. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $72K enough to live in Wausau?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,668/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,147/month, which eats 24.6% 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 Wausau?
Wausau has a Regional Price Parity of 92.65 (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 $77,291 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.