Boston · Occupational wage benchmark
Operations Research Analysts Salary in Boston
What Operations Research Analysts actually earn in the Boston 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)), Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 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
- $100,700
- Operations Research Analysts in Boston
- Adjusted for cost of living
- $93,012
- Boston price level 108.3 (U.S. = 100)
- Rank among metros
- #12 of 34
- #11 after cost of living
- Workers employed
- 3,420
- in metro Boston
What Operations Research Analysts earn in Boston, adjusted for what it costs to live there
A headline wage only means something next to local prices. Once local prices are accounted for, Boston 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 Boston
How to read the Boston number
The $100,700 median means half of Operations Research Analysts in the Boston 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 3,420 people in this role in the Boston 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 Boston?
Operations Research Analysts in the Boston metro area earn a median of $100,700 per year, according to BLS OEWS May 2024 estimates (published April 2025). That is +13.2% vs national, ranking Boston #12 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 $100,700 a good salary in Boston?
It depends on local prices. The Boston area price level is 108.3 against a U.S. average of 100, so $100,700 there carries roughly the purchasing power of $93,012 nationally — about $7,688 less than the headline number implies. Once local prices are accounted for, Boston moves up 1 place — the paycheck stretches further than the nominal figure suggests.
Do Operations Research Analysts in Boston 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 Boston would not be supported by this data.
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