SOC 15-2031

Operations Research Analyst Salary in Chicago Metro, IL-IN (2026)

Data updated · Sources: BLS OEWS May 2025, HUD FY 2027 Fair Market Rents, EPI 2026 Family Budget, 2026 tax tables · Methodology

Tax Tables: 2026 Fed + IL
COL Index: 125.81 (+25.8% vs US)
Net Compensation Yield 71.4% Realized
$61,754 / net annual direct deposit
Gross Adjusted $86,500 $41.59/hr
Effective Tax Drag 22.61% Combined Jurisdictions
Marginal Top Bracket 22% Federal Statutory
Total Withheld -$19,556 $752.14/check
Category 1 of 6

Wage Benchmarking & After-Tax Paycheck Engine

Dynamic statutory tax calculations based on IRS Publication 15-T and state statutory schedules.

$
2,080 annual statutory base hours $41.59 / hour
0 hrs/wk (+$0/yr)
0 hrs (Standard) 10 hrs OT 20 hrs OT 25 hrs Max
6% (-$5,190/yr)
0% Tax Shield: ~$1,142/yr 15% (IRS limit: $24,500)
Itemized Statutory Withholdings Ledger
Federal Income Tax (IRS)
Progressive 10%–37%
-$9,058
Social Security (FICA OASDI)
Statutory 6.20% (Cap $184,500)
-$5,363
Medicare Hospital Insurance
Statutory 1.45%
-$1,254
Illinois Individual Income Tax
State Marginal Bracket
-$3,880
Net Take-Home Annual Realized
$61,754 ($2,375.17 / check)
Category 2 of 6

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN Operations Research Analyst Wage Distribution

Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) Percentiles & Career Ladders

Your Salary: $86,500
MIDDLE 50% (IQR RANGE) 10th $62.5k 25th $76.3k Median: $86,500 50th (Median) $86.5k 75th $119k 90th $149k You: $86,500
10th (Entry) $62,470 $30.03/hr
25th (Junior) $76,280 $36.67/hr
50th (Median) $86,500 $41.59/hr
75th (Senior) $119,240 $57.33/hr
90th (Lead/Master) $148,600 $71.44/hr
Career Progression & Licensing Milestones for Operations Research Analyst in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
1
Junior Operations AnalystMathematical optimization, linear programming, Python/R, SQL data mining
$56,409$27.12/hr · 0-2 Years
2
Operations Research AnalystStochastic modeling, supply chain simulation, network optimization
$86,558$41.61/hr · 2-5 Years
3
Senior Decision ScientistEnterprise predictive analytics, algorithmic decision systems, heuristics
$120,598$57.98/hr · 5-8 Years
4
Director of Operations AnalyticsExecutive analytical strategy, operational resource allocation
$153,665$73.88/hr · 8+ Years
Scaled to the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN medianView National Operations Research Analyst Salary Data
Category 3 of 6

HUD Fair Market Rent & EPI Living Wage Affordability Index

Evaluating housing affordability vs. net take-home pay in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN under the HUD 30% housing cost guideline.

Rent-to-Take-Home Ratio (HUD 30% Standard)
35% of Net Income
⚠️ Cost-Burdened (Exceeds 30% Rule)
HUD Fair Market Rent (1-Bedroom) $1,780/month Requires minimum annual gross of $71,200
HUD Fair Market Rent (2-Bedroom) $2,011/month Requires minimum annual gross of $80,440
Hourly Living Wage Benchmark (EPI model)
1 Adult Earner: $27.82/hr
Per adult, 2 working adults + 1 child: $24.26/hr
Category 4 of 6

Hourly Wage to Annual & Overtime Matrix

Translating base hourly pay and 1.5× overtime into net take-home pay based on 2,080 annual work hours in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN.

Swipe horizontally to inspect full pay schedule
Schedule Total Hours/Wk Gross Annual Est. Taxes Net Take-Home Bi-Weekly Check
Standard (40 hrs)40 hrs$86,500-$19,556$61,754$2,375.17
+5h Overtime/Wk45 hrs$102,719-$24,905$71,651$2,755.80
+10h Overtime/Wk50 hrs$118,938-$30,254$81,547$3,136.42
+15h Overtime/Wk55 hrs$135,156-$35,709$91,338$3,513.01
+20h Overtime/Wk60 hrs$151,375-$41,363$100,929$3,881.90
Category 5 of 6

Interstate MSA Relocation & State Tax Migration Comparator

Calculate required compensation, cost-of-living differences, and annual state/local tax savings between two metropolitan areas.

Equivalent Salary in Austin, TX $83,505 Cost of Living Ratio: 69.6%
Annual State & Local Tax Delta +$8,331/yr Tax savings in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX
Annual Rent Difference (1BR) -$17,676/yr Based on HUD Fair Market Rents
Net Discretionary Cash Flow Impact

Combining state tax savings and annual rent variance when relocating from San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA to Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX.

+$26,007/year
Category 6 of 6 · Executive Economic Briefing
2026 Fiscal Intelligence

Operations Research Analyst in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN: Compensation & Purchasing Power Briefing (2026)

Estimates compiled from BLS OEWS wages, IRS 2026 withholding rules, HUD Fair Market Rents, and Illinois tax codes.

Market Baseline
$86,500/yr
$41.59/hr · SOC 15-2031
Statutory Tax Drag
22.61% Effective
-$19,556 in Total Taxes
HUD 1BR Shelter Ratio
35% Net Pay
⚠️ Exceeds 30% HUD Rule
Monthly Discretionary
+$3,366/mo
Post-$1,780/mo 1BR Rent

Key Economic & Compensation Takeaways

Statutory Withholding Architecture

Frequently Asked Questions

Verified Government Data Sources & Statutory Attribution

Wages sourced from US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS OEWS). Rents calibrated to HUD Fair Market Rents. Tax schedules calibrated to IRS IRC Title 26, IRS Pub 15-T, and state statutory revenue codes.

BLS OEWS May 2025 HUD FY2027 FMR IRS 15-T
Metro Pay Comparison SOC 15-2031
2026 Statutory Thresholds
  • Federal Standard Deduction (Single) $16,100
  • FICA OASDI Wage Base Cap $184,500
  • Pre-Tax 401(k) Elective Deferral $24,500
  • HSA Individual Annual Limit $4,400

Operations Research Analyst in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN: Market Snapshot

Operations Research Analyst roles in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN report a median annual wage of $86,500, 2.7% below the national median of $88,940. The 10th to 90th percentile band runs from $62,470 to $148,600, and HUD’s $1,780 monthly one-bedroom fair market rent equals 24.7% of that median gross pay. The single-adult living wage benchmark for the area is $27.82 per hour.

Highest-paying metropolitan areas for Operations Research Analyst

Metropolitan areaMedian annual wageVs this market
Colorado Springs, CO$140,590+62.5%
Lexington Park, MD$135,300+56.4%
Huntsville, AL$132,000+52.6%
Peoria, IL$129,300+49.5%
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO$127,810+47.8%
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$127,600+47.5%
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$123,360+42.6%
Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH$122,570+41.7%
Bakersfield-Delano, CA$119,020+37.6%
Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL$118,810+37.4%

Top-paying occupations benchmarked in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN

OccupationMedian annual wageMedian hourly
Chief Executives$344,960$165.85/hr
Computer and Information Systems Managers$173,760$83.54/hr
Financial Manager$168,810$81.16/hr
Natural Sciences Managers$167,040$80.31/hr
Advertising and Promotions Managers$166,390$80.00/hr
Marketing Managers$165,340$79.49/hr
Architectural and Engineering Managers$163,430$78.57/hr
Sales Managers$158,690$76.29/hr
Human Resources Managers$156,770$75.37/hr
Compensation and Benefits Managers$155,340$74.68/hr

Wage data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2025, 184 metropolitan areas publishing this occupation; HUD FY2027 Fair Market Rents; EPI Family Budget Calculator. Taxes use 2026 federal and state rules. Data last updated .

Regional Labor Market & Career Mobility Network

Explore adjacent occupations and neighboring metropolitan wage benchmarks for peer compensation analysis.

Operations Research Analyst Salary in Chicago Metro, IL-IN (2026) Overview

Operations Research Analyst median pay in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN is $86,500 a year ($41.59/hr). See take-home pay after 2026 taxes, BLS wage. Official 2026 economic data for Operations Research Analyst in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN compiled from Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS surveys, HUD Fair Market Rents, and statutory tax codes.

Quick answers
What is the median salary for an Operations Research Analyst in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?

The median annual wage is $86,500 ($41.59 per hour). The middle 80% of earners make between $62,470 and $148,600. Source: BLS OEWS (May 2025).

What is the take-home pay for an Operations Research Analyst in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN after taxes?

On the median wage of $86,500, a single filer with no pre-tax deductions takes home about $65,546 a year ($5,462 a month) after $20,954 in federal, FICA, state and local taxes, an effective rate of 24.22%, using 2026 tax rules.