District of Columbia · Occupational wage benchmark
Operations Research Analysts Salary in District of Columbia
What Operations Research Analysts actually earn in District of Columbia — the published BLS median, what it is worth after local costs, and how it ranks against every other state.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2024 estimates (published April 2025)), District of Columbia state estimates for SOC 15-2031; cost-of-living adjustment derived from U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities (RPP) (2024). Occupational wage benchmarks across all workers, not MBA-specific outcomes.
- Median annual wage
- $96,030
- Operations Research Analysts in District of Columbia
- Adjusted for cost of living
- $87,379
- District of Columbia price level 109.9 (U.S. = 100)
- Rank among states
- #18 of 47
- #29 after cost of living
- Workers employed
- 2,250
- in District of Columbia
What Operations Research Analysts earn in District of Columbia, adjusted for what it costs to live there
A headline wage only means something next to local prices. Once local prices are accounted for, District of Columbia drops 11 places — a higher headline wage is partly consumed by a higher cost of living.
| State | Median (nominal) | Adjusted for cost of living |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado | $129,880 | $126,033 |
| Virginia | $129,460 | $128,046 |
| Alabama | $115,630 | $130,180 |
| New York | $108,610 | $100,638 |
| Ohio | $103,620 | $111,691 |
| Idaho | $103,600 | $108,488 |
| Oregon | $102,170 | $98,848 |
| California | $102,100 | $92,215 |
| Delaware | $101,070 | $101,264 |
| Hawaii | $100,600 | $91,495 |
| Maine | $99,460 | $102,483 |
| Nebraska | $98,300 | $109,097 |
| Washington | $98,030 | $91,606 |
| Maryland | $97,410 | $92,808 |
| North Carolina | $97,290 | $103,142 |
| Connecticut | $96,700 | $93,331 |
| Massachusetts | $96,500 | $91,247 |
| District of Columbia | $96,030 | $87,379 |
| Minnesota | $95,550 | $96,886 |
| Mississippi | $92,310 | $106,161 |
| Kansas | $92,050 | $102,201 |
| Texas | $90,710 | $93,461 |
| Utah | $90,200 | $91,236 |
| Illinois | $89,800 | $89,838 |
| Vermont | $89,790 | $91,662 |
| Alaska | $88,750 | $86,705 |
| Nevada | $86,500 | $86,518 |
| Indiana | $85,280 | $91,376 |
| Kentucky | $83,850 | $93,002 |
| Michigan | $83,480 | $86,762 |
| North Dakota | $82,460 | $92,694 |
| Iowa | $80,580 | $91,817 |
| Montana | $80,400 | $84,949 |
| New Mexico | $80,360 | $87,147 |
| South Carolina | $80,240 | $85,590 |
| Pennsylvania | $79,640 | $81,622 |
| Rhode Island | $77,910 | $76,173 |
| Florida | $77,600 | $75,038 |
| Tennessee | $76,680 | $83,466 |
| Georgia | $76,220 | $79,154 |
| Arizona | $75,470 | $74,963 |
| Wisconsin | $71,820 | $76,327 |
| West Virginia | $64,100 | $71,623 |
| Louisiana | $63,210 | $71,661 |
| Missouri | $62,380 | $68,688 |
| Oklahoma | $61,520 | $70,034 |
| Arkansas | $59,030 | $67,900 |
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 ÷ (state RPP ÷ 100) using BEA RPP 2024 all-items regional price parities. An adjusted figure is a purchasing-power comparison, not a wage anyone is paid.
The national pay range for Operations Research Analysts
BLS publishes the full percentile distribution nationally. It shows the spread within the occupation — the gap between the 10th and 90th percentile is usually far wider than the gap between states.
| 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 District of Columbia
How to read the District of Columbia number
The $96,030 median means half of Operations Research Analysts in District of Columbia earn less and half earn more. It is measured across everyone in the occupation — every level of experience, every industry, and every level of education. It is not the salary of a recent MBA graduate, and it is not a starting salary.
BLS counts roughly 2,250 people in this role in District of Columbia. The national percentile spread above is the more useful planning tool: within a single occupation, the distance between the 10th and 90th percentile typically dwarfs the difference between states. Where you land inside that range is driven far more by industry, function, and seniority than by geography.
What this data can and cannot tell you
This page answers “what does this role pay here.” It cannot answer “what will an MBA pay me here.” The BLS surveys establishments about occupations, not degrees, so no MBA premium can be isolated from it. Any site presenting these figures as MBA salaries is overstating what the source supports.
For MBA-specific figures we rely on cited school employment reports and moderated submissions, published only above our sample-size gates — see our methodology. To model your own economics, the MBA ROI calculator turns a target salary, tuition, and debt into a payback estimate.
Frequently asked questions
How much do Operations Research Analysts make in District of Columbia?
Operations Research Analysts in District of Columbia earn a median of $96,030 per year, according to BLS OEWS May 2024 estimates (published April 2025). That is +8.0% vs national, ranking District of Columbia #18 of 47 states with published data for this role. This is an occupational wage benchmark measured across all workers in the occupation, not an MBA-graduate-specific salary.
Is $96,030 a good salary for Operations Research Analysts in District of Columbia?
It depends on local prices. District of Columbia's overall price level is 109.9 against a U.S. average of 100, so a $96,030 salary there has roughly the purchasing power of $87,379 nationally — about $8,651 less than the headline number implies. Once local prices are accounted for, District of Columbia drops 11 places — a higher headline wage is partly consumed by a higher cost of living.
Do Operations Research Analysts in District of Columbia need an MBA?
These BLS figures cover everyone in the occupation regardless of degree, so they cannot tell you what an MBA specifically 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 claim of a precise MBA premium for this role in District of Columbia would not be supported by this data. Verified MBA-specific outcomes are collected separately and published only once they clear our sample-size gates.
Why is housing cost relevant to Operations Research Analysts pay in District of Columbia?
Housing is the single largest driver of geographic cost differences. District of Columbia's housing price level is 155.0 against a U.S. average of 100 — substantially above average, which absorbs a large share of any wage premium. Overall prices there sit at 109.9.
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