Salary AI Book a Demo

Operational Researcher Salary in the United States

How much does an Operational Researcher make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Operational Researcher in the United States is $98,403 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $47.

However, an Operational Researcher's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $117,368
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $91,368 to $108,330
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $84,963
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Operational Researcher Salaries

An Operational Researcher's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Operational Researcher Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Operational Researcher's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $97,674
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $109,825
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $132,231
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $156,046
  • Expert (over 8 years): $148,589
Levels Salary
Operation... Level Operational Researcher$97,674
Human Fac... Level Operational Researcher$109,825
Human Fac... Level Operational Researcher$132,231
Human Fac... Level Operational Researcher$156,046
Human Fac... Level Operational Researcher$148,589
View as Graph

How Do Operational Researcher Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Operational Researchers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $108,952.
  • California: $108,539.
  • Massachusetts: $107,092.

Top Paying Cities for Operational Researchers

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $124,116
  • San Francisco: $122,757
  • Oakland: $120,170

What Skills Can Increase an Operational Researcher's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 19.26% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Software Engineering (Mentioned in 2.96% Job Postings): Software engineering is the application of engineering to the development of software in a systematic method. Notable definitions of software engineering include: "the systematic application of scientific and technological knowledge, methods, and experience to the design, implementation, testing, and documentation of software"—The Bureau of Labor Statistics—IEEE Systems and software engineering - Vocabulary "The application of a systematic, disciplined, quantifiable approach to the development, operation, and maintenance of software"—IEEE Standard Glossary of Software Engineering Terminology "an engineering discipline that is concerned with all aspects of software production"—Ian Sommerville "the establishment and use of sound engineering principles in order to economically obtain software that is reliable and works efficiently on real machines"—Fritz Bauer
  • Product Strategy (Mentioned in 2.22% Job Postings): Product strategy is defined as the road map of a product. This road map outlines the end-to-end vision of the product, particulars on achieving the product strategy and the big picture context in terms of what the product will become. Companies utilise the product strategy in strategic planning and marketing to identify the direction of the company's activities. The product strategy is composed of a variety of sequential process in order for the vision to be effectively achieved. The company must be clear in terms of the target market of the product in order for them to plan the activities needed in order to reach the destination and to achieve its goals.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 19.26%
Software Engineering 2.96%
Product Strategy 2.22%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Operational Researcher's salary.

  • Collaborating with Others: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
  • Statistical Design: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • Product Strategy: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Collaborating with Others $111,196
13%
Statistical Design $108,244
10%
Product Strategy $108,244
10%
Get Latest Data

Operational Researcher Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Operational Researcher roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 80% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average. In contrast, Operational Researcher positions in Insurance or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Operational Researcher as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Operational Researcher

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$137,765$66.040%
Biotechnology$127,924$62.030%
Internet$127,924$62.030%
Business Services$123,004$59.025%
MFG Nondurable$118,084$57.020%

Operational Researcher Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Operational Researcher's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$91,368
Average $98,403/year
$108,330
$7,614
Average $8,200/month
$9,028
$1,757
Average $1,892/week
$2,083
$44
Average $47/hour
$52
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $108,330 $9,028 $2,083 $52
Average $98,403 $8,200 $1,892 $47
25th Percentile $91,368 $7,614 $1,757 $44

Most common benefits for Operational Researcher

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Operational Researcher

Here are companies hiring for Operational Researcher and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Operational Researcher Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Operational Researcher job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

For Employees

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Get a Salary Increase

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

Search Job Openings

For Employers

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Adjust Employee Salary

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Price My Industry Jobs

FAQ about Operational Researcher

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Operational Researcher?

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Operational Researcher roles, with salaries approximately 40% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst