Operations Research Analyst salary in Madison, WI
Operations Research Analysts in the Madison, WI metro area earn a median of $75,650 a year ($36.37 an hour), based on BLS data for 880 workers.
Pay ranges from $51,360 for the lowest-paid 10% to $117,990 for the top 10%. That is 15% lower than the national median of $88,940. Pay here is 5% higher than the Wisconsin statewide median of $71,820. There are 2.2 operations research analysts per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 3.1× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $77,490, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for operations research analysts in Madison, WI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $51,360 | $24.69 |
| 25th percentile | $59,670 | $28.69 |
| Median | $75,650 | $36.37 |
| 75th percentile | $86,920 | $41.79 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $117,990 | $56.73 |
| Average (mean) | $77,490 | $37.25 |
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 | $6,304.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,152.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,909.62 |
| Weekly | $1,454.81 |
| Hourly | $36.37 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $95,450 | 1,140 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $74,850 | 1,310 |
| Sheboygan, WI | $74,420 | 50 |
| Appleton, WI | $72,630 | 100 |
| Wausau, WI | $71,610 | 60 |
| Green Bay, WI | $67,340 | 340 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $66,860 | 80 |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | $65,240 | 60 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $64,990 | 160 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $63,520 | 40 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $62,630 | 110 |
| Kenosha, WI | $62,210 | 60 |
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 Wisconsin statewide figures.
Related jobs in Madison, WI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Actuary | $135,330 | $65.06 |
| Statistician | $107,860 | $51.86 |
| Software Developer | $130,630 | $62.80 |
| Computer User Support Specialist | $59,590 | $28.65 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $100,550 | $48.34 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $97,840 | $47.04 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $97,950 | $47.09 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $91,580 | $44.03 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | $90,400 | $43.46 |
| Database Administrator | $105,680 | $50.81 |
| Information Security Analyst | $104,110 | $50.05 |
| Computer Network Architect | $135,490 | $65.14 |
| Computer Programmer | $97,410 | $46.83 |
| Web Developer | $83,500 | $40.14 |
More: Computer and Mathematical Occupations · all salaries in Madison, WI
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 Madison, WI?
The median salary for operations research analysts in the Madison, WI metro area is $75,650 a year, or $36.37 an hour. Pay ranges from $51,360 for the lowest-paid 10% to $117,990 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid operations research analysts make in Madison, WI?
The top 10% of operations research analysts in the Madison, WI metro area earn at least $117,990 a year. The top 25% earn $86,920 or more.
What is the starting pay for operations research analysts in Madison, WI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $51,360 a year, and a quarter of operations research analysts earn $59,670 or less.
How many operations research analysts work in Madison, WI?
About 880 operations research analysts are employed in the Madison, WI metro area, not counting the self-employed.