Operations Research Analyst salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Operations Research Analysts in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $86,500 a year ($41.59 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,680 workers.
Pay ranges from $62,470 for the lowest-paid 10% to $148,600 for the top 10%. That is 3% lower than the national median of $88,940. Pay here is 4% lower than the Illinois statewide median of $89,800. There are 0.82 operations research analysts per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $99,710, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for operations research analysts in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $62,470 | $30.04 |
| 25th percentile | $76,280 | $36.67 |
| Median | $86,500 | $41.59 |
| 75th percentile | $119,240 | $57.33 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $148,600 | $71.44 |
| Average (mean) | $99,710 | $47.94 |
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 | $7,208.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,604.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,326.92 |
| Weekly | $1,663.46 |
| Hourly | $41.59 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Operations Research Analyst salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Peoria, IL | $129,300 | 130 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $105,360 | 410 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $86,910 | 240 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $86,660 | 640 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $81,530 | 280 |
| Bloomington, IL | $76,890 | 60 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $68,010 | 100 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $63,650 | 900 |
| Springfield, IL | $63,620 | 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 Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Data Scientist | $107,640 | $51.75 |
| Actuary | $113,730 | $54.68 |
| Mathematical Science Occupations, All Other | $82,230 | $39.54 |
| Statistician | $122,180 | $58.74 |
| Mathematician | $130,970 | $62.97 |
| Software Developer | $134,380 | $64.60 |
| Computer User Support Specialist | $60,730 | $29.20 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $103,490 | $49.76 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $101,660 | $48.88 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $103,170 | $49.60 |
| Computer Network Architect | $143,800 | $69.14 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $105,580 | $50.76 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | $73,340 | $35.26 |
| Information Security Analyst | $125,310 | $60.25 |
More: Computer and Mathematical Occupations · all salaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for operations research analysts in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $86,500 a year, or $41.59 an hour. Pay ranges from $62,470 for the lowest-paid 10% to $148,600 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid operations research analysts make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of operations research analysts in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $148,600 a year. The top 25% earn $119,240 or more.
What is the starting pay for operations research analysts in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $62,470 a year, and a quarter of operations research analysts earn $76,280 or less.
How many operations research analysts work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 3,680 operations research analysts are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.