Operations Research Analyst salary in Illinois
Operations Research Analysts in Illinois earn a median of $89,800 a year ($43.17 an hour), based on BLS data for 5,180 workers.
Pay ranges from $62,500 for the lowest-paid 10% to $164,990 for the top 10%. That is 1% higher than the national median of $88,940. Illinois ranks 24th of 47 states for operations research analysts pay. There are 0.85 operations research analysts per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $104,580, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for operations research analysts in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $62,500 | $30.05 |
| 25th percentile | $75,490 | $36.29 |
| Median | $89,800 | $43.17 |
| 75th percentile | $126,920 | $61.02 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $164,990 | $79.32 |
| Average (mean) | $104,580 | $50.28 |
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 | $7,483.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,741.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,453.85 |
| Weekly | $1,726.92 |
| Hourly | $43.17 |
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 Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Peoria, IL | $129,300 | 130 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $86,500 | 3,680 |
| Bloomington, IL | $76,890 | 60 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $63,650 | 900 |
| Springfield, IL | $63,620 | 50 |
Highest-paying states for operations research analysts
Related jobs in Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Data Scientist | $106,560 | $51.23 |
| Actuary | $115,430 | $55.50 |
| Mathematical Science Occupations, All Other | $81,090 | $38.99 |
| Statistician | $119,760 | $57.58 |
| Mathematician | $130,970 | $62.97 |
| Software Developer | $132,110 | $63.52 |
| Computer User Support Specialist | $59,860 | $28.78 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $101,570 | $48.83 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $99,360 | $47.77 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $100,080 | $48.12 |
| Computer Network Architect | $132,790 | $63.84 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | $68,530 | $32.95 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $104,910 | $50.44 |
| Information Security Analyst | $124,180 | $59.70 |
More: Computer and Mathematical Occupations · all salaries in Illinois
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 Illinois?
The median salary for operations research analysts in Illinois is $89,800 a year, or $43.17 an hour. Pay ranges from $62,500 for the lowest-paid 10% to $164,990 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid operations research analysts make in Illinois?
The top 10% of operations research analysts in Illinois earn at least $164,990 a year. The top 25% earn $126,920 or more.
What is the starting pay for operations research analysts in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $62,500 a year, and a quarter of operations research analysts earn $75,490 or less.
How many operations research analysts work in Illinois?
About 5,180 operations research analysts are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.