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Best states for an operations research analyst
Quoted expert
John Alpers
- Rank 1 - 10
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Are you thinking of becoming an operations research analyst and really want to work at Ernst & Young? Turns out, your chances to become an operations research analyst are better in some states than others.Our research found that Maine is the best state for operations research analysts, while Maine and New Jersey are ranked highest in terms of median salary. Maine has a median salary of $95,308 and Maine has the highest median salary among all 50 states for operations research analysts.
To do that, we looked at the most recent data we have available for the following criteria -- average annual wages, and availability of jobs for operations research analysts.If you are currently seeking employment as an operations research analyst, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for operations research analysts in 2025
1. Maine
Total operations research analyst jobs: 362 Average annual salary: $95,308 Lowest 10 percent earn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $143,000 Location Quotient: 1.22. District of Columbia
Total operations research analyst jobs: 696 Average annual salary: $99,659 Lowest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $150,000 Location Quotient: 1.823. Oregon
Total operations research analyst jobs: 1,398 Average annual salary: $84,243 Lowest 10 percent earn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $126,000 Location Quotient: 1.484. North Carolina
Total operations research analyst jobs: 2,468 Average annual salary: $83,506 Lowest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $126,000 Location Quotient: 1.135. Virginia
Total operations research analyst jobs: 2,277 Average annual salary: $86,585 Lowest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $130,000 Location Quotient: 1.066. Washington
Total operations research analyst jobs: 1,688 Average annual salary: $86,546 Lowest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $129,000 Location Quotient: 1.027. New Hampshire
Total operations research analyst jobs: 466 Average annual salary: $79,088 Lowest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $119,000 Location Quotient: 1.178. Minnesota
Total operations research analyst jobs: 1,893 Average annual salary: $79,015 Lowest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $117,000 Location Quotient: 1.259. Pennsylvania
Total operations research analyst jobs: 3,001 Average annual salary: $75,494 Lowest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $113,000 Location Quotient: 1.1310. New Jersey
Total operations research analyst jobs: 1,401 Average annual salary: $93,372 Lowest 10 percent earn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $140,000 Location Quotient: 0.78
Operations research analyst jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be an operations research analyst
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for an operations research analyst
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine | $95,308 | $63,000 | 1,335,907 | 362 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $99,659 | $66,000 | 693,972 | 696 |
| 3 | Oregon | $84,243 | $56,000 | 4,142,776 | 1,398 |
| 4 | North Carolina | $83,506 | $54,000 | 10,273,419 | 2,468 |
| 5 | Virginia | $86,585 | $57,000 | 8,470,020 | 2,277 |
| 6 | Washington | $86,546 | $57,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,688 |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $79,088 | $52,000 | 1,342,795 | 466 |
| 8 | Minnesota | $79,015 | $53,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,893 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | $75,494 | $50,000 | 12,805,537 | 3,001 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $93,372 | $61,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,401 |
| 11 | Illinois | $85,676 | $57,000 | 12,802,023 | 2,138 |
| 12 | California | $85,112 | $56,000 | 39,536,653 | 6,903 |
| 13 | Michigan | $74,052 | $49,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,991 |
| 14 | Ohio | $75,565 | $50,000 | 11,658,609 | 2,357 |
| 15 | Wyoming | $69,250 | $47,000 | 579,315 | 182 |
| 16 | Delaware | $82,624 | $54,000 | 961,939 | 262 |
| 17 | New York | $85,957 | $57,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,504 |
| 18 | Texas | $69,939 | $45,000 | 28,304,596 | 5,226 |
| 19 | Kansas | $71,820 | $48,000 | 2,913,123 | 704 |
| 20 | Connecticut | $79,685 | $52,000 | 3,588,184 | 587 |
| 21 | Maryland | $81,849 | $54,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,029 |
| 22 | Massachusetts | $78,885 | $52,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,105 |
| 23 | Missouri | $67,383 | $45,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,463 |
| 24 | Colorado | $73,191 | $49,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,317 |
| 25 | Utah | $63,220 | $42,000 | 3,101,833 | 997 |
| 26 | South Carolina | $71,054 | $46,000 | 5,024,369 | 737 |
| 27 | Nebraska | $64,154 | $43,000 | 1,920,076 | 563 |
| 28 | Wisconsin | $65,243 | $43,000 | 5,795,483 | 1,302 |
| 29 | Oklahoma | $66,775 | $44,000 | 3,930,864 | 587 |
| 30 | Rhode Island | $69,263 | $45,000 | 1,059,639 | 212 |
| 31 | North Dakota | $67,700 | $46,000 | 755,393 | 123 |
| 32 | Iowa | $66,019 | $44,000 | 3,145,711 | 740 |
| 33 | Alabama | $65,426 | $42,000 | 4,874,747 | 844 |
| 34 | Arizona | $67,569 | $44,000 | 7,016,270 | 979 |
| 35 | Idaho | $58,382 | $39,000 | 1,716,943 | 447 |
| 36 | Indiana | $59,580 | $39,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,654 |
| 37 | Vermont | $66,381 | $43,000 | 623,657 | 155 |
| 38 | Louisiana | $64,431 | $41,000 | 4,684,333 | 647 |
| 39 | Mississippi | $57,173 | $37,000 | 2,984,100 | 512 |
| 40 | New Mexico | $61,484 | $40,000 | 2,088,070 | 441 |
| 41 | Nevada | $62,176 | $41,000 | 2,998,039 | 450 |
| 42 | Montana | $55,431 | $37,000 | 1,050,493 | 300 |
| 43 | Florida | $51,200 | $31,000 | 20,984,400 | 4,424 |
| 44 | South Dakota | $55,669 | $37,000 | 869,666 | 251 |
| 45 | Georgia | $54,336 | $35,000 | 10,429,379 | 2,614 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $54,292 | $36,000 | 4,454,189 | 870 |
| 47 | West Virginia | $54,912 | $36,000 | 1,815,857 | 317 |
| 48 | Tennessee | $53,250 | $35,000 | 6,715,984 | 1,382 |
| 49 | Alaska | $56,980 | $39,000 | 739,795 | 177 |
| 50 | Hawaii | $52,615 | $37,000 | 1,427,538 | 188 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $46,918 | $31,000 | 3,004,279 | 585 |
Highest paying states for operations research analysts
| Rank | State | Avg. Operations Research Analyst Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine | $95,308 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $99,659 |
| 3 | Oregon | $84,243 |
| 4 | North Carolina | $83,506 |
| 5 | Virginia | $86,585 |
| 6 | Washington | $86,546 |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $79,088 |
| 8 | Minnesota | $79,015 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | $75,494 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $93,372 |
| 11 | Illinois | $85,676 |
| 12 | California | $85,112 |
| 13 | Michigan | $74,052 |
| 14 | Ohio | $75,565 |
| 15 | Wyoming | $69,250 |
| 16 | Delaware | $82,624 |
| 17 | New York | $85,957 |
| 18 | Texas | $69,939 |
| 19 | Kansas | $71,820 |
| 20 | Connecticut | $79,685 |
| 21 | Maryland | $81,849 |
| 22 | Massachusetts | $78,885 |
| 23 | Missouri | $67,383 |
| 24 | Colorado | $73,191 |
| 25 | Utah | $63,220 |
| 26 | South Carolina | $71,054 |
| 27 | Nebraska | $64,154 |
| 28 | Wisconsin | $65,243 |
| 29 | Oklahoma | $66,775 |
| 30 | Rhode Island | $69,263 |
| 31 | North Dakota | $67,700 |
| 32 | Iowa | $66,019 |
| 33 | Alabama | $65,426 |
| 34 | Arizona | $67,569 |
| 35 | Idaho | $58,382 |
| 36 | Indiana | $59,580 |
| 37 | Vermont | $66,381 |
| 38 | Louisiana | $64,431 |
| 39 | Mississippi | $57,173 |
| 40 | New Mexico | $61,484 |
| 41 | Nevada | $62,176 |
| 42 | Montana | $55,431 |
| 43 | Florida | $51,200 |
| 44 | South Dakota | $55,669 |
| 45 | Georgia | $54,336 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $54,292 |
| 47 | West Virginia | $54,912 |
| 48 | Tennessee | $53,250 |
| 49 | Alaska | $56,980 |
| 50 | Hawaii | $52,615 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $46,918 |
Expert opinions on the best states for operations research analysts
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for operations research analysts to find work opportunities?
John Alpers
Assistant Professor of Business, Carson-Newman University
In my opinion, technical careers will continue to grow and flourish. Some of these skills can be taught virtually, but not all. I think anyone who can parlay this new environment and find a way to create value for an organization will be in demand.
Operations research analyst best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025