Operations Research Analysts pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $62,470 a year or less, while the top 10% make $148,600 or more. The middle half of operations research analysts in Chicago earn between $76,280 and $119,240.
- $62K10th
- $76K25th
- $86KMedian
- $119K75th
- $149K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $99,710 | $8,309 | $47.94 |
| Median | $86,500 | $7,208 | $41.59 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $76,280 | $6,357 | $36.67 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $119,240 | $9,937 | $57.33 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Operations Research Analysts salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $99,710, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $74,181 a year, or $6,182 a month and $2,853 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $76,015 | $6,335 |
| Working in IL | $74,181 | $6,182 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for operations research analysts? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $99,710 buys what about $96,250 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 3.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Operations Research Analysts salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 2nd of 4 Illinois metro areas for this job; Peoria pays the most ($125,950).
- Peoria$125,950
- Chicago$99,710
- Bloomington$83,360
- Springfield$76,440
Highest-paying cities for operations research analysts
Colorado Springs, CO pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($136,770).
- Colorado Springs, CO$136,770
- Lexington Park, MD$135,050
- Huntsville, AL$130,920
- Denver, CO$129,810
- Washington, DC$129,160
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Operations Research Analysts salary in Chicago: questions
How much do operations research analysts make an hour in Chicago?
$47.94 an hour on average, and $41.59 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level operations research analysts salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $62,470 a year and the 25th percentile is $76,280, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the operations research analysts take-home pay in Chicago?
About $74,181 a year ($6,182 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $99,710.
Do operations research analysts earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. metro average for this job ($101,343).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 15-2031; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.6%.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.17, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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