Operations Research Analyst Salary in Chicago, IL
Operations Research Analysts in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $86,500 a year — 3% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $65,546 take-home, or $5,462 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median operations research analyst salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$10,200
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,363
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,254
- Illinois income tax$4,137
- Take-home pay$65,546
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.95% state
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro spans Illinois, Indiana. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Operations Research Analyst pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $62,470 | $30.03 | $49,427 | $4,119 |
| 25th percentile | $76,280 | $36.67 | $58,862 | $4,905 |
| Median (50th) | $86,500 | $41.59 | $65,546 | $5,462 |
| 75th percentile | $119,240 | $57.33 | $86,958 | $7,246 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $148,600 | $71.44 | $105,623 | $8,802 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $86,500 buys in Chicago, IL
Prices in Chicago, IL are 3.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median operations research analyst's $65,546 take-home pay has the buying power of $63,271 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Operations Research Analyst jobs are about as common in Chicago, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.17).
Best-paying cities for operations research analysts, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #29 of 40 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Denver, CO | $127,810 | $93,709 | $88,587 |
| 2 | Virginia Beach, VA | $114,070 | $83,333 | $85,085 |
| 3 | Columbus, OH | $104,970 | $80,572 | $84,396 |
| 4 | Washington, DC | $127,600 | $90,603 | $83,211 |
| 5 | Richmond, VA | $109,650 | $80,478 | $82,240 |
| 6 | Charlotte, NC | $105,180 | $79,136 | $81,292 |
| 7 | Dallas, TX | $106,380 | $83,668 | $81,160 |
| 8 | San Jose, CA | $123,360 | $86,736 | $78,549 |
| 29 | Chicago, IL | $86,500 | $65,546 | $63,271 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 40 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a operations research analyst make in Chicago, IL?
The median operations research analyst salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $86,500 a year, or about $41.59 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $76,280 and $119,240.
What is a operations research analyst’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $86,500 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $65,546 a year ($5,462 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,137 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a operations research analyst?
Pay here is 3% below the national median of $88,940. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $63,271 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #29 of 40 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a operations research analyst afford rent in Chicago, IL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Chicago, IL is $1,534 a month ($1,743 for two bedrooms) — 28% of a median operations research analyst’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chicago, IL
- Database Architect — $147,490
- Computer Network Architect — $143,800
- Computer and Information Research Scientist — $135,630
- Software Developer — $134,380
- Information Security Analyst — $125,310
- Actuary — $113,730
- Database Administrator — $109,680
- Data Scientist — $107,640
- Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester — $105,580
- Computer Systems Analyst — $103,490
- Network and Computer Systems Administrator — $103,170
- Computer Occupations, All Other — $101,660