Operations Research Analyst salary in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
Operations Research Analysts in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area earn a median of $105,570 a year ($50.76 an hour), based on BLS data for 60 workers.
Pay ranges from $68,140 for the lowest-paid 10% to $170,810 for the top 10%. That is 19% higher than the national median of $88,940. Pay here is 3% higher than the California statewide median of $102,100. There are 0.28 operations research analysts per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.40). The average (mean) salary is $111,640, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for operations research analysts in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $68,140 | $32.76 |
| 25th percentile | $84,860 | $40.80 |
| Median | $105,570 | $50.76 |
| 75th percentile | $133,100 | $63.99 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $170,810 | $82.12 |
| Average (mean) | $111,640 | $53.67 |
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 | $8,797.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,398.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,060.38 |
| Weekly | $2,030.19 |
| Hourly | $50.76 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 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
| 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 California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Data Scientist | $113,990 | $54.80 |
| Software Developer | $158,290 | $76.10 |
| Computer User Support Specialist | $80,520 | $38.71 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $120,680 | $58.02 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $128,390 | $61.73 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $101,310 | $48.71 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $110,640 | $53.19 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $103,430 | $49.73 |
| Computer Programmer | $109,690 | $52.74 |
| Information Security Analyst | $130,770 | $62.87 |
| Computer Network Architect | $128,990 | $62.02 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | $88,670 | $42.63 |
| Database Administrator | $104,880 | $50.43 |
| Computer and Information Research Scientists | $171,880 | $82.63 |
More: Computer and Mathematical Occupations · all salaries in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
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 Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
The median salary for operations research analysts in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area is $105,570 a year, or $50.76 an hour. Pay ranges from $68,140 for the lowest-paid 10% to $170,810 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid operations research analysts make in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
The top 10% of operations research analysts in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area earn at least $170,810 a year. The top 25% earn $133,100 or more.
What is the starting pay for operations research analysts in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $68,140 a year, and a quarter of operations research analysts earn $84,860 or less.
How many operations research analysts work in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
About 60 operations research analysts are employed in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.