SOC 15-2031 · Computer and mathematical
Operations Research Analysts prevailing wage by area
At Level II this ranges from $107,994 in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO down to $59,010 in Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR, a spread of $48,984 on the same job.
What this occupation covers
Formulate and apply mathematical modeling and other optimizing methods to develop and interpret information that assists management with decisionmaking, policy formulation, or other managerial functions. May collect and analyze data and develop decision support software, services, or products. May develop and supply optimal time, cost, or logistics networks for program evaluation, review, or implementation.
Occupation definition from oes_soc_occs.csv, OFLC_Wages_2026-27.zip.
Every area with a surveyed figure
| Area | Level I | Level II | Level III | Level IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $86,403 | $107,994 | $129,605 | $151,195 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $86,008 | $107,453 | $128,898 | $150,342 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $76,627 | $102,773 | $128,898 | $155,043 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $79,269 | $99,715 | $120,141 | $140,587 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $75,358 | $94,411 | $113,443 | $132,496 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $76,128 | $94,266 | $112,382 | $130,520 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $67,330 | $91,957 | $116,605 | $141,232 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $75,150 | $91,728 | $108,285 | $124,862 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $68,307 | $90,834 | $113,381 | $135,907 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $70,970 | $89,752 | $108,534 | $127,317 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $64,251 | $88,525 | $112,819 | $137,093 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $69,410 | $86,008 | $102,586 | $119,184 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $67,496 | $85,925 | $104,374 | $122,803 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $66,373 | $85,384 | $104,395 | $123,406 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $68,245 | $83,554 | $98,842 | $114,150 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $66,893 | $83,221 | $99,549 | $115,877 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $68,182 | $83,034 | $97,864 | $112,715 |
| Richmond, VA | $60,237 | $82,909 | $105,560 | $128,232 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $68,266 | $82,846 | $97,448 | $112,029 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $61,402 | $82,805 | $104,229 | $125,632 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $59,218 | $81,598 | $103,958 | $126,339 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $63,710 | $81,182 | $98,654 | $116,126 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $63,066 | $80,746 | $98,426 | $116,106 |
| Cleveland, OH | $59,738 | $78,707 | $97,677 | $116,646 |
| Rochester, NY | $61,859 | $78,562 | $95,264 | $111,966 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $59,821 | $77,210 | $94,578 | $111,966 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $62,442 | $77,085 | $91,749 | $106,392 |
| Columbus, OH | $54,413 | $76,294 | $98,155 | $120,037 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $56,534 | $75,317 | $94,078 | $112,861 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $57,886 | $72,550 | $87,235 | $101,899 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $57,990 | $71,573 | $85,155 | $98,738 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $54,933 | $71,240 | $87,568 | $103,875 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $54,995 | $71,053 | $87,131 | $103,189 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $55,827 | $69,576 | $83,346 | $97,094 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $50,794 | $67,122 | $83,450 | $99,778 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $55,286 | $66,061 | $76,814 | $87,589 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $50,544 | $65,874 | $81,182 | $96,512 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $49,192 | $65,478 | $81,786 | $98,072 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $47,570 | $59,010 | $70,450 | $81,890 |
39 areas, all surveyed for that metropolitan area rather than imputed from a broader geography. 3 of them carry a full breakdown page, selected by filing volume; the rest show their figures here. ALC_Export.csv, wage year 2026-27.
How employers filed for this occupation
Across 1,235 certified H-1B filings in FY2025 Q1 to Q4 that recorded a level, the plurality landed on Level II. The median wage actually offered was $131,492 a year, from 1,240 filings.
| Level | Filings | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Level I | 138 | 11.2% |
| Level II | 418 | 33.8% |
| Level III | 376 | 30.4% |
| Level IV | 303 | 24.5% |
LCA disclosure data, FY2025 Q1 to Q4. Certified H-1B filings only.
Work out a specific determination
The level depends on the requirements in the job description rather than the title. Run the worksheet for Operations Research Analysts with a specific area, experience requirement and education level.