Best cities for an operations research analyst
The best cities for operations research analysts are Chicago, IL, Brookhaven, NY, and Jersey City, NJ, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for operations research analysts vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for operations research analysts in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as an operations research analyst or considering a move, this list of the best cities for operations research analysts to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for operations research analysts. We also consider how easy it is to find work as an operations research analyst. While the absolute best city for operations research analysts is Chicago, IL, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for operations research analysts in 2024.
If you're looking for an operations research analyst job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for operations research analysts in 2026
1. Chicago, IL
Total operations research analyst jobs: 236 Average annual salary: $86,093 Lowest 10 percent warn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $128,000 Location quotient: 30.05 2. Brookhaven, NY
Total operations research analyst jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $86,460 Lowest 10 percent warn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $131,000 Location quotient: 74.07 3. Jersey City, NJ
Total operations research analyst jobs: 119 Average annual salary: $93,554 Lowest 10 percent warn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $141,000 Location quotient: 21.87 4. Charlotte, NC
Total operations research analyst jobs: 160 Average annual salary: $82,522 Lowest 10 percent warn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $126,000 Location quotient: 16.30 5. New York, NY
Total operations research analyst jobs: 189 Average annual salary: $86,034 Lowest 10 percent warn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $130,000 Location quotient: 31.83 6. Winston-Salem, NC
Total operations research analyst jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $83,675 Lowest 10 percent warn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $127,000 Location quotient: 11.19 7. San Francisco, CA
Total operations research analyst jobs: 119 Average annual salary: $92,441 Lowest 10 percent warn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $141,000 Location quotient: 22.66 8. Washington, DC
Total operations research analyst jobs: 158 Average annual salary: $99,687 Lowest 10 percent warn: $65,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $151,000 Location quotient: 16.56 9. Fremont, CA
Total operations research analyst jobs: 69 Average annual salary: $91,871 Lowest 10 percent warn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $140,000 Location quotient: 20.73 10. Fort Worth, TX
Total operations research analyst jobs: 73 Average annual salary: $70,560 Lowest 10 percent warn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $108,000 Location quotient: 26.67
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Best cities for operations research analysts
- Chicago, IL
- Brookhaven, NY
- Jersey City, NJ
- Charlotte, NC
- New York, NY
- Winston-Salem, NC
- San Francisco, CA
- Washington, DC
- Fremont, CA
- Fort Worth, TX
- (236 operations research analyst jobs)
- (2 operations research analyst jobs)
- (119 operations research analyst jobs)
- (160 operations research analyst jobs)
- (189 operations research analyst jobs)
- (9 operations research analyst jobs)
- (119 operations research analyst jobs)
- (158 operations research analyst jobs)
- (69 operations research analyst jobs)
- (73 operations research analyst jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for an operations research analyst
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago, IL | $86,093 | $57,000 | 2,704,958 | 236 |
| 2 | Brookhaven, NY | $86,460 | $56,000 | 486,040 | 2 |
| 3 | Jersey City, NJ | $93,554 | $61,000 | 264,152 | 119 |
| 4 | Charlotte, NC | $82,522 | $53,000 | 842,051 | 160 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $86,034 | $56,000 | 8,537,673 | 189 |
| 6 | Winston-Salem, NC | $83,675 | $54,000 | 242,203 | 9 |
| 7 | San Francisco, CA | $92,441 | $60,000 | 870,887 | 119 |
| 8 | Washington, DC | $99,687 | $65,000 | 681,170 | 158 |
| 9 | Fremont, CA | $91,871 | $60,000 | 233,136 | 69 |
| 10 | Fort Worth, TX | $70,560 | $45,000 | 854,113 | 73 |
| 11 | Cleveland, OH | $76,779 | $50,000 | 385,809 | 26 |
| 12 | San Jose, CA | $91,576 | $59,000 | 1,025,350 | 237 |
| 13 | Pittsburgh, PA | $74,153 | $49,000 | 303,625 | 61 |
| 14 | Greensboro, NC | $83,949 | $54,000 | 287,027 | 9 |
| 15 | Houston, TX | $69,379 | $43,000 | 2,303,482 | 30 |
| 16 | Philadelphia, PA | $75,794 | $50,000 | 1,567,872 | 75 |
| 17 | Dallas, TX | $70,455 | $45,000 | 1,317,929 | 198 |
| 18 | Plano, TX | $70,425 | $45,000 | 286,057 | 108 |
| 19 | Los Angeles, CA | $82,623 | $54,000 | 3,976,322 | 83 |
| 20 | Fresno, CA | $89,630 | $58,000 | 522,053 | 15 |
| 21 | Seattle, WA | $87,565 | $57,000 | 704,352 | 115 |
| 22 | Durham, NC | $84,494 | $55,000 | 263,016 | 14 |
| 23 | Austin, TX | $69,934 | $44,000 | 947,890 | 161 |
| 24 | Chandler, AZ | $67,559 | $44,000 | 247,477 | 64 |
| 25 | Anaheim, CA | $81,974 | $54,000 | 351,043 | 21 |
| 26 | Irving, TX | $70,484 | $45,000 | 238,289 | 94 |
| 27 | Columbus, OH | $75,334 | $50,000 | 860,090 | 50 |
| 28 | Cincinnati, OH | $73,819 | $48,000 | 298,800 | 27 |
| 29 | Newark, NJ | $93,519 | $61,000 | 281,764 | 13 |
| 30 | Raleigh, NC | $84,421 | $55,000 | 458,880 | 20 |
| 31 | Oakland, CA | $92,281 | $60,000 | 420,005 | 14 |
| 32 | Boston, MA | $79,018 | $51,000 | 673,184 | 164 |
| 33 | Arlington, TX | $70,514 | $45,000 | 392,772 | 10 |
| 34 | Minneapolis, MN | $79,014 | $53,000 | 413,651 | 50 |
| 35 | Detroit, MI | $74,157 | $49,000 | 672,795 | 22 |
| 36 | Garland, TX | $70,419 | $45,000 | 234,943 | 4 |
| 37 | Scottsdale, AZ | $67,755 | $44,000 | 246,645 | 31 |
| 38 | Virginia Beach, VA | $86,540 | $56,000 | 452,602 | 5 |
| 39 | Irvine, CA | $81,596 | $53,000 | 266,122 | 106 |
| 40 | San Antonio, TX | $69,551 | $44,000 | 1,492,510 | 51 |
| 41 | Portland, OR | $83,543 | $55,000 | 639,863 | 29 |
| 42 | Norfolk, VA | $86,471 | $56,000 | 245,115 | 4 |
| 43 | Corpus Christi, TX | $68,297 | $42,000 | 325,733 | 5 |
| 44 | Tucson, AZ | $66,968 | $44,000 | 530,706 | 39 |
| 45 | Henderson, NV | $61,299 | $40,000 | 292,969 | 16 |
| 46 | El Paso, TX | $71,545 | $46,000 | 683,080 | 8 |
| 47 | Glendale, AZ | $67,727 | $44,000 | 245,895 | 6 |
| 48 | Long Beach, CA | $81,983 | $54,000 | 470,130 | 11 |
| 49 | Toledo, OH | $76,054 | $50,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 50 | Buffalo, NY | $84,544 | $55,000 | 256,902 | 11 |
Highest paying cities for operations research analysts
| Rank | City | Avg. operations research analyst salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $99,687 |
| 2 | Hoboken, NJ | $93,578 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $92,441 |
| 4 | Arlington, VA | $87,659 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $87,565 |
| 6 | Evanston, IL | $86,293 |
| 7 | New York, NY | $86,034 |
| 8 | Wilmington, DE | $82,838 |
| 9 | Charlotte, NC | $82,522 |
| 10 | Boston, MA | $79,018 |
| 11 | Philadelphia, PA | $75,794 |
| 12 | Columbus, OH | $75,334 |
| 13 | Fort Worth, TX | $70,560 |
| 14 | Phoenix, AZ | $67,730 |
| 15 | Norman, OK | $67,074 |
| 16 | Las Vegas, NV | $61,636 |
| 17 | Columbus, IN | $59,158 |
| 18 | Alpharetta, GA | $54,808 |
| 19 | Memphis, TN | $52,417 |
| 20 | Tampa, FL | $51,567 |
Operations research analyst best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025