Operations Research Analyst Salary in Madison, WI
Operations Research Analysts in the Madison, WI metro area earn a median $75,650 a year — 15% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $59,421 take-home, or $4,952 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median operations research analyst salary in Madison, WI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$7,813
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,690
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,097
- Wisconsin income tax$2,629
- Take-home pay$59,421
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.30% state
Operations Research Analyst pay by experience in Madison, WI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $51,360 | $24.69 | $41,969 | $3,497 |
| 25th percentile | $59,670 | $28.69 | $48,280 | $4,023 |
| Median (50th) | $75,650 | $36.37 | $59,421 | $4,952 |
| 75th percentile | $86,920 | $41.79 | $66,752 | $5,563 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $117,990 | $56.73 | $86,963 | $7,247 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Wisconsin resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $75,650 buys in Madison, WI
Prices in Madison, WI are 2.7% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 0% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median operations research analyst's $59,421 take-home pay has the buying power of $61,078 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Madison, WI has 3.1× the national concentration of operations research analyst jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for operations research analysts, adjusted for cost of living
Madison, WI ranks #33 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 |
| 33 | Madison, WI | $75,650 | $59,421 | $61,078 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 40 metros →
Operations Research Analyst salaries elsewhere in Wisconsin
- Milwaukee, WI — $74,850
Frequently asked questions
How much does a operations research analyst make in Madison, WI?
The median operations research analyst salary in the Madison, WI metro area is $75,650 a year, or about $36.37 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $59,670 and $86,920.
What is a operations research analyst’s take-home pay in Madison, WI?
On the median $75,650 salary, a single filer living in Wisconsin takes home about $59,421 a year ($4,952 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,629 in Wisconsin taxes in 2026.
Is Madison, WI a good place to work as a operations research analyst?
Pay here is 15% below the national median of $88,940. Local prices are 2.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $61,078 would in a typical U.S. city. Madison, WI ranks #33 of 40 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a operations research analyst afford rent in Madison, WI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Madison, WI is $1,377 a month ($1,600 for two bedrooms) — 28% of a median operations research analyst’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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