Atlanta · Occupational wage benchmark
Operations Research Analysts Salary in Atlanta
What Operations Research Analysts actually earn in the Atlanta metro area — the published BLS median, what it is worth after local costs, and how it ranks against other major metros.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2024 estimates (published April 2025)), Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta, GA metro estimates for SOC 15-2031; cost-of-living adjustment from U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Statistical Area (MARPP) (2024). Occupational wage benchmarks across all workers, not MBA-specific outcomes.
- Median annual wage
- $77,510
- Operations Research Analysts in Atlanta
- Adjusted for cost of living
- $77,465
- Atlanta price level 100.1 (U.S. = 100)
- Rank among metros
- #28 of 34
- #27 after cost of living
- Workers employed
- 3,250
- in metro Atlanta
What Operations Research Analysts earn in Atlanta, adjusted for what it costs to live there
A headline wage only means something next to local prices. Once local prices are accounted for, Atlanta moves up 1 place — the paycheck stretches further than the nominal figure suggests.
| Metro | Median (nominal) | Adjusted for cost of living |
|---|---|---|
| Washington DC | $127,600 | $117,189 |
| San Jose | $123,360 | $111,716 |
| San Francisco | $110,560 | $95,629 |
| Richmond | $109,650 | $112,050 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | $106,380 | $103,191 |
| Charlotte | $105,180 | $108,045 |
| Columbus | $104,970 | $109,952 |
| Sacramento | $104,210 | $97,694 |
| New York | $103,110 | $91,602 |
| Seattle | $102,930 | $92,619 |
| Portland | $102,480 | $97,210 |
| Boston | $100,700 | $93,012 |
| Philadelphia | $100,460 | $97,958 |
| San Diego | $99,230 | $88,688 |
| Los Angeles | $98,270 | $86,531 |
| Minneapolis | $95,450 | $91,059 |
| Hartford | $94,710 | $92,179 |
| Baltimore | $94,440 | $90,384 |
| Austin | $88,190 | $89,929 |
| Indianapolis | $86,660 | $90,558 |
Nominal medians: BLS OEWS, May 2024 estimates (published April 2025) — occupational wage benchmarks across all workers, not MBA-specific outcomes. Adjusted column: SalaryMBA estimate, computed as nominal ÷ (metro RPP ÷ 100) using BEA MARPP 2024 regional price parities.
The national pay range for Operations Research Analysts
BLS publishes the full percentile distribution nationally. The spread within the occupation is usually far wider than the gap between metros.
| Percentile (national) | Annual wage | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $57,060 | Entry / early-career end |
| 25th percentile | $68,360 | |
| Median (50th) | $88,940 | |
| 75th percentile | $125,990 | |
| 90th percentile | $159,910 | Senior / top-market end |
Other MBA-relevant roles in Atlanta
How to read the Atlanta number
The $77,510 median means half of Operations Research Analysts in the Atlanta area earn less and half earn more. It is measured across everyone in the occupation — every experience level, industry, and level of education. It is not the salary of a recent MBA graduate, and it is not a starting salary.
BLS counts roughly 3,250 people in this role in the Atlanta area. To compare against the state and national picture, see Operations Research Analysts nationally or model your own economics with the MBA ROI calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How much do Operations Research Analysts make in Atlanta?
Operations Research Analysts in the Atlanta metro area earn a median of $77,510 per year, according to BLS OEWS May 2024 estimates (published April 2025). That is -12.9% vs national, ranking Atlanta #28 of 34 major metros we track for this role. This is an occupational wage benchmark across all workers in the metro, not an MBA-graduate-specific salary.
Is $77,510 a good salary in Atlanta?
It depends on local prices. The Atlanta area price level is 100.1 against a U.S. average of 100, so $77,510 there carries roughly the purchasing power of $77,465 nationally — about $45 less than the headline number implies. Once local prices are accounted for, Atlanta moves up 1 place — the paycheck stretches further than the nominal figure suggests.
Do Operations Research Analysts in Atlanta need an MBA?
These BLS figures cover everyone in the occupation regardless of degree, so they cannot isolate what an MBA adds. Operations Research Analysts is a role MBA graduates commonly target, and an MBA can affect where you land within the range through network, function, and seniority — but any precise MBA premium for this role in Atlanta would not be supported by this data.
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