Junior Operations Research Analyst Salary.
Across 81 U.S. cities.
$67,000
national median salary
$57,000 to $78,000. Last updated August 2026.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $88,940 for Operations Research Analysts (SOC 15-2031) across the United States, based on 108,510 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$57,060
25th percentile
$68,360
Median
$88,940
75th percentile
$125,990
90th percentile
$159,910
Workers surveyed
108,510
What BLS published in each release
May 2024 release
$91,290
May 2025 release
$88,940
These are two separate published estimates, not a time series. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not encourage the use of OEWS data for time-series analysis. Differences between releases reflect changes in occupational classification, survey methodology, and the three-year pooled sample as well as any change in pay, so the two figures should not be read as a rate of wage growth.
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Operations Research Analysts (SOC 15-2031) rather than Junior Operations Research Analystspecifically. The national range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 15-2031Highest Paying
$93,000
San Francisco, CA
Best Purchasing Power
$70,000
Arlington, VA
Lowest Paying
$54,000
Charleston, WV
The salary figures on this page are computed estimates, not observed wages. Each one is a national role baseline scaled by a Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parity cost-of-living multiplier (2025 index) and rounded to the nearest $1,000. No published wage percentile is consulted and no wage survey response enters the calculation, so an Orbyt estimate must not be cited as a Bureau of Labor Statistics figure or as measured pay. The published wage data Orbyt holds is Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, and Department of Labor H-1B Labor Condition Application filings, which record a filed minimum visa base wage rather than market pay. Where BLS publishes a wage for the occupation a role maps to, it is shown on that role's page as a separate benchmark, labelled with its occupation code, metro area and the number of employed workers it covers. Last updated August 2026. This role maps to BLS occupation code 15-2031. Full methodology.
Orbyt estimates the average Junior Operations Research Analyst salary in the United States at $67,000 in 2026, within a range of $57,000 to $78,000. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page. San Francisco is the highest of the 81 cities at $93,000, while Arlington offers the best purchasing power after cost-of-living adjustments. Junior Operations Research Analyst compensation is driven by publication record, domain specialization, and whether the work involves production model training or applied research.
Junior Operations Research Analyst salary by city.
Skills that increase Junior Operations Research Analyst pay.
The skills below command measurable salary premiums for Junior Operations Research Analysts based on job posting data. Learning the top skill here could add $9,380 to your annual compensation.
≈ +$9,380 per year
≈ +$8,710 per year
≈ +$8,040 per year
≈ +$7,370 per year
≈ +$7,370 per year
≈ +$6,700 per year
≈ +$6,700 per year
≈ +$6,030 per year
What you should know.
Junior Operations Research Analyst compensation is driven by publication record, domain specialization, and whether the work involves production model training or applied research. Base salary carries most of the total compensation, with bonuses adding roughly 5% in a typical year. Within tech-sector Junior Operations Research Analysts specifically, employer tier (FAANG and frontier-AI labs vs mid-stage startups vs traditional enterprise) drives 66%+ variance across the compensation band.
Junior Operations Research Analysts progress Research Engineer → Senior → Staff → Principal → Distinguished over 8 to 15 years. Frontier-AI labs compress this ladder — a strong PhD can land at L5/Senior directly. The VP Research track diverges around year 10 for those who choose to lead labs. Junior Operations Research Analysts specifically are entry-level; the first 2 to 3 years build foundational skills before the mid-level transition.
Total compensation for Junior Operations Research Analysts runs roughly $78K at median when factoring base + typical bonus (~5% of base). Base salary carries most of the compensation; benefits (healthcare, 401(k) match, PTO) add an estimated 15–25% in imputed value on top. At tech companies specifically, equity and sign-on are often the largest delta between offers — two roles with matching base can differ by $100K+ at total when equity is included.
Total compensation breakdown.
Salary by company size
Remote salary adjustment
Remote Junior Operations Research Analysts typically earn $60,000 (10% less than on-site). This reflects location-adjusted pay policies at companies using geographic salary bands. Some companies pay flat national rates regardless of location.
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Common questions about Junior Operations Research Analyst pay.
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