Operations Research Analyst salary in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Operations Research Analysts in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn a median of $104,680 a year ($50.33 an hour), based on BLS data for 50 workers.
Pay ranges from $60,120 for the lowest-paid 10% to $153,290 for the top 10%. That is 18% higher than the national median of $88,940. Pay here is 3% higher than the California statewide median of $102,100. There are 0.51 operations research analysts per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.73). The average (mean) salary is $111,070, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for operations research analysts in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $60,120 | $28.91 |
| 25th percentile | $83,150 | $39.97 |
| Median | $104,680 | $50.33 |
| 75th percentile | $129,530 | $62.28 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $153,290 | $73.70 |
| Average (mean) | $111,070 | $53.40 |
Half of operations research analysts earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $8,723.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,361.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,026.15 |
| Weekly | $2,013.08 |
| Hourly | $50.33 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $104,680 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Operations Research Analyst salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $123,360 | 920 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $119,020 | 80 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $110,560 | 2,050 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $105,570 | 60 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $104,640 | 220 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $104,210 | 510 |
| Fresno, CA | $101,780 | 130 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $99,230 | 1,280 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $98,270 | 3,480 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $97,450 | 50 |
| Salinas, CA | $97,410 | 40 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $86,510 | 470 |
| Vallejo, CA | $83,340 | 40 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $81,540 | 60 |
| Modesto, CA | $80,240 | 80 |
| Visalia, CA | $76,510 | 30 |
Highest-paying states for operations research analysts
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Colorado | $129,880 |
| Virginia | $129,460 |
| Alabama | $115,630 |
| New York | $108,610 |
| Ohio | $103,620 |
| Idaho | $103,600 |
| Oregon | $102,170 |
| California | $102,100 |
| Delaware | $101,070 |
| Hawaii | $100,600 |
See Operations Research Analyst pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Data Scientist | $130,980 | $62.97 |
| Software Developer | $156,910 | $75.44 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $124,450 | $59.83 |
| Computer User Support Specialist | $75,720 | $36.41 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $107,990 | $51.92 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $118,810 | $57.12 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $133,970 | $64.41 |
| Computer Programmer | $132,850 | $63.87 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $114,220 | $54.91 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | $102,980 | $49.51 |
| Database Administrator | $102,510 | $49.28 |
| Web Developer | $81,350 | $39.11 |
More: Computer and Mathematical Occupations · all salaries in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 15-2031. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a operations research analyst make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The median salary for operations research analysts in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $104,680 a year, or $50.33 an hour. Pay ranges from $60,120 for the lowest-paid 10% to $153,290 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid operations research analysts make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The top 10% of operations research analysts in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn at least $153,290 a year. The top 25% earn $129,530 or more.
What is the starting pay for operations research analysts in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $60,120 a year, and a quarter of operations research analysts earn $83,150 or less.
How many operations research analysts work in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
About 50 operations research analysts are employed in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.