Operations Research Analysts Salary in Santa Cruz, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA

Median annual salary $83,810 -8.2% vs national
Median hourly $40.29
10th percentile $58,430
90th percentile $143,160
Employed locally 40
National median $91,290

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Operations Research Analysts
in
Santa Cruz, CA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $58,430
    25th
    $65,430
    50th (median)
    $83,810
    75th
    $108,540
    90th
    $143,160

    Santa Cruz economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.90% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $109,266 2023 • Census ACS
    Operations Research Analysts salary vs area income 77% Median Operations Research Analysts salary is 23% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Operations Research Analysts

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area $153,340
    Lexington Park, MD $135,390
    Peoria, IL $134,500
    Colorado Springs, CO $133,720
    Huntsville, AL $132,620
    Burlington-South Burlington, VT $127,030

    Nearby metros — Operations Research Analysts salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $112,550
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $110,000
    Bakersfield-Delano, CA $101,390
    North Carolina $100,630
    Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $99,890
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $98,540

    Related occupations in Santa Cruz, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Software Developers $138,740
    Computer Systems Analysts $108,700
    Computer User Support Specialists $73,410
    Computer Occupations, All Other $104,800
    Network and Computer Systems Administrators $108,000
    Data Scientists $116,480

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Operations Research Analysts make per hour in Santa Cruz?

    The median hourly wage for Operations Research Analysts in Santa Cruz, CA is $40.29, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $73.70 or more per hour.

    Is Santa Cruz above or below average for Operations Research Analysts salaries?

    The median Operations Research Analysts salary in Santa Cruz, CA is 8.2% below the national median of $91,290. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Operations Research Analysts in Santa Cruz?

    Entry-level Operations Research Analysts (10th percentile) earn around $58,430 per year in Santa Cruz, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $65,430.