Operations Research Analyst salary in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Operations Research Analysts in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median of $127,600 a year ($61.35 an hour), based on BLS data for 8,080 workers.
Pay ranges from $69,910 for the lowest-paid 10% to $194,900 for the top 10%. That is 43% higher than the national median of $88,940. Pay here is 33% higher than the District of Columbia statewide median of $96,030. There are 2.6 operations research analysts per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 3.7× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $129,160, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for operations research analysts in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $69,910 | $33.61 |
| 25th percentile | $85,450 | $41.08 |
| Median | $127,600 | $61.35 |
| 75th percentile | $166,840 | $80.21 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $194,900 | $93.70 |
| Average (mean) | $129,160 | $62.10 |
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 | $10,633.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,316.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,907.69 |
| Weekly | $2,453.85 |
| Hourly | $61.35 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $127,600 salary, see how much house you can afford in District of Columbia 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Lexington Park, MD | $135,300 | 390 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $114,070 | 470 |
| Richmond, VA | $109,650 | 1,020 |
| Roanoke, VA | $102,930 | 50 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $100,460 | 1,700 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $94,440 | 2,350 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $93,290 | 40 |
| Salisbury, MD | $67,160 | 50 |
| Charleston, WV | $65,440 | 80 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $63,520 | 50 |
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 District of Columbia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Data Scientist | $132,200 | $63.56 |
| Statistician | $136,660 | $65.70 |
| Actuary | $144,680 | $69.56 |
| Mathematician | $164,470 | $79.07 |
| Software Developer | $154,930 | $74.49 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $127,040 | $61.08 |
| Computer User Support Specialist | $77,860 | $37.43 |
| Information Security Analyst | $148,950 | $71.61 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $125,430 | $60.30 |
| Computer Network Architect | $159,820 | $76.84 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $126,350 | $60.74 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | $92,400 | $44.42 |
| Database Architect | $162,870 | $78.30 |
| Web Developer | $134,350 | $64.59 |
More: Computer and Mathematical Occupations · all salaries in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The median salary for operations research analysts in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $127,600 a year, or $61.35 an hour. Pay ranges from $69,910 for the lowest-paid 10% to $194,900 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid operations research analysts make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The top 10% of operations research analysts in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn at least $194,900 a year. The top 25% earn $166,840 or more.
What is the starting pay for operations research analysts in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $69,910 a year, and a quarter of operations research analysts earn $85,450 or less.
How many operations research analysts work in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
About 8,080 operations research analysts are employed in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, not counting the self-employed.