Columbus · Occupational wage benchmark
Operations Research Analysts Salary in Columbus
What Operations Research Analysts actually earn in the Columbus 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)), Columbus, OH 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
- $104,970
- Operations Research Analysts in Columbus
- Adjusted for cost of living
- $109,952
- Columbus price level 95.5 (U.S. = 100)
- Rank among metros
- #7 of 34
- #4 after cost of living
- Workers employed
- 670
- in metro Columbus
What Operations Research Analysts earn in Columbus, adjusted for what it costs to live there
A headline wage only means something next to local prices. Once local prices are accounted for, Columbus moves up 3 places — 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 Columbus
How to read the Columbus number
The $104,970 median means half of Operations Research Analysts in the Columbus 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 670 people in this role in the Columbus 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 Columbus?
Operations Research Analysts in the Columbus metro area earn a median of $104,970 per year, according to BLS OEWS May 2024 estimates (published April 2025). That is +18.0% vs national, ranking Columbus #7 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 $104,970 a good salary in Columbus?
It depends on local prices. The Columbus area price level is 95.5 against a U.S. average of 100, so $104,970 there carries roughly the purchasing power of $109,952 nationally — about $4,982 more than the headline number implies. Once local prices are accounted for, Columbus moves up 3 places — the paycheck stretches further than the nominal figure suggests.
Do Operations Research Analysts in Columbus 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 Columbus would not be supported by this data.
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