Operations Research Analyst salary in California
Operations Research Analysts in California earn a median of $102,100 a year ($49.09 an hour), based on BLS data for 10,620 workers.
Pay ranges from $65,510 for the lowest-paid 10% to $168,030 for the top 10%. That is 15% higher than the national median of $88,940. California ranks 8th of 47 states for operations research analysts pay. There are 0.58 operations research analysts per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $110,860, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for operations research analysts in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $65,510 | $31.50 |
| 25th percentile | $79,990 | $38.46 |
| Median | $102,100 | $49.09 |
| 75th percentile | $131,220 | $63.09 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $168,030 | $80.78 |
| Average (mean) | $110,860 | $53.30 |
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 | $8,508.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,254.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,926.92 |
| Weekly | $1,963.46 |
| Hourly | $49.09 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Operations Research Analyst salary in cities in California
| 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 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $104,680 | 50 |
| 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
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Data Scientist | $141,590 | $68.07 |
| Statistician | $135,960 | $65.36 |
| Actuary | $130,510 | $62.75 |
| Mathematician | $126,710 | $60.92 |
| Mathematical Science Occupations, All Other | $180,500 | $86.78 |
| Software Developer | $174,410 | $83.85 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $134,440 | $64.63 |
| Computer User Support Specialist | $79,570 | $38.25 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $127,720 | $61.40 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $128,740 | $61.89 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $136,110 | $65.44 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $106,440 | $51.18 |
| Information Security Analyst | $138,570 | $66.62 |
| Computer Network Architect | $158,870 | $76.38 |
More: Computer and Mathematical Occupations · all salaries in California
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 California?
The median salary for operations research analysts in California is $102,100 a year, or $49.09 an hour. Pay ranges from $65,510 for the lowest-paid 10% to $168,030 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid operations research analysts make in California?
The top 10% of operations research analysts in California earn at least $168,030 a year. The top 25% earn $131,220 or more.
What is the starting pay for operations research analysts in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $65,510 a year, and a quarter of operations research analysts earn $79,990 or less.
How many operations research analysts work in California?
About 10,620 operations research analysts are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.