45.6% higher than the US national median ($88,941)
Verified BLS OEWS data · Updated May 18, 2026
Is this a competitive Operations Research Analysts salary in Virginia in 2026?
Based on BLS OEWS wage percentiles, JOLTS August 2026 demand signals, and ECI Q2 2026 wage growth.
$Competitive · ~P50
P10$72K
P25$100K
P50$129K
P75$166K
P90$194K
Drag the dot or type an amount above.
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Demand: STABLE. Demand is stable -- tech openings are at 4.3% (JOLTS, August 2026). A standard market: pay near the median, no urgency premium needed.
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Merit budget: Wages in information & tech are rising about 2.9% a year (BLS ECI, Q2 2026). Budget a 2.5-3.0% merit increase to hold this role at market.
Our read
For a competitive 2026 offer, target $129,459 to $166,234 (market median to the 75th percentile). Anchor on the median.
Figures are market benchmarks from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; apply professional judgment before making pay decisions.
How Operations Research Analysts pay is moving in 2026
Trend, demand, and spread context from BLS OEWS, JOLTS, and ECI
Pay trend
Median pay for this role fell 2.6% between the May 2024 and May 2025 BLS surveys, trailing the 2.9% wage growth of the Information sector (BLS ECI).
Hiring demand · STABLE
the Information sector is running a 4.3% job-openings rate with quits at 1.1% (BLS JOLTS). The openings rate has drifted up from 2.5% to 4.3% over the past quarter.
Pay spread
Top earners (P90) make about 2.8 times what entry-level (P10) workers make in this role. That spread is wider than typical, so expect large pay differences by experience, employer size, and geography; build generous ranges and differentiate strongly.
What changed recently
Sep 29, 2026JOLTS August 2026: sector openings jumped to 4.3% (up 45K; July revised down to 2.8%), but hires fell to a 1.6% rate, the lowest of any major private sector. Quits 1.1%. Postings are up; hiring is not.
Sep 1, 2026JOLTS July 2026: sector openings edged up to 3.3%, still the lowest of any major sector. Quits held at 1.0%. Employers keep hiring leverage.
Aug 4, 2026JOLTS June 2026: sector openings rebounded to 3.1% (up 0.6pp) but remain the lowest of any major sector. Employers keep hiring leverage.
Commentary is generated from published BLS figures (OEWS May 2025 vs May 2024, JOLTS August 2026, ECI Q2 2026) and refreshed each release. It is interpretation, not a BLS product.
Source: BLS OEWS · Published May 15, 2026
Next refresh: May 2027
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The median salary for Operations Research Analysts in Virginia is $129,459 per year ($62.24/hr). This is 45.6% higher than the national median of $88,941.
About This Role
BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018
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.
Wage Percentiles: Virginia
Hourly & annualized (2,080 hours) · National adjusted
Percentile
Hourly Rate
Annual Salary
vs National
P10Entry level
$34.53
$71,822
+25.9%
P25
$47.92
$99,674
+45.8%
P50MEDIAN
$62.24
$129,459
+45.6%
P75
$79.92
$166,234
+31.9%
P90Top earners
$93.39
$194,251
+21.5%
How Virginia compares for Operations Research Analysts
Computed from this state's own BLS distribution against national
Pay for Operations Research Analysts in Virginia sits above the national range at every level: +25.9% at entry, +45.6% at the median and +21.5% at the top.
An offer at the national median of $88,941 would sit at about the 19th percentile in Virginia.
The top of the range earns 2.70 times the bottom here, close to the 2.80 times seen nationally.
Virginia employs 6,980 people in this role, 6.4% of the national total.
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P10–P90 breakdown, career outlook, industry wages, and JOLTS market signal for Operations Research Analysts
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Career Outlook
BLS Employment Projections · 2024-2034
10-year growth
+21.5%
Much faster than average
Annual openings
10K
per year, on avg
Workforce today
112K
as of 2024
Why those openings exist
25% from new growth75% from people leaving the role
Mixed: openings come from both new growth and people exiting the role.
Typical entry requirements
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Industry Wage Breakdown
Top 2 industries by employment · median annual wage, sector-specific
Industry
Workforce
Median Pay
Management of Companies and Enterprises
NAICS 551100
11K
$97,610
Credit Intermediation and Related Activities (5221 and 5223 only)
NAICS 5220A1
10K
$86,500
Wage range across top 5 industries: $86,500 to $97,610 (13% spread)
See the complete picture
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the median operations research analysts salary in Virginia?
The median (P50) annual salary for Operations Research Analysts in Virginia is approximately $129,459, based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. This is 45.6% higher than the national median of $88,941. For the full P10–P90 breakdown and market context, open CompSignal.
Wage figures on this page come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release. OEWS surveys roughly 1.1 million establishments annually. It is the most comprehensive employer-reported wage dataset in the United States.
P10 through P90 percentiles represent the wage distribution across all surveyed employers (not self-reported by workers). Geographic adjustments use BLS-derived cost multipliers calibrated from regional wage variation.
Wages are estimates. Individual compensation depends on experience, education, employer size, industry, and negotiation. Use this as benchmark context, not absolute ground truth.
CompSignal is a free labor market intelligence tool built for HR, compensation, and talent acquisition teams. We make BLS data, the same primary source Mercer and Radford cross-reference in their paid surveys, searchable and actionable without an enterprise subscription.
Built and maintained by Falcon Incentives, a compensation strategy and incentive design consultancy.
