SOC 15-2031

Operations Research Analyst Salary in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC

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 + NC
COL Index: 99.38 (-0.6% vs US)
Net Compensation Yield 72.4% Realized
$64,410 / net annual direct deposit
Gross Adjusted $88,940 $42.76/hr
Effective Tax Drag 21.58% Combined Jurisdictions
Marginal Top Bracket 22% Federal Statutory
Total Withheld -$19,194 $738.22/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 $42.76 / hour
0 hrs/wk (+$0/yr)
0 hrs (Standard) 10 hrs OT 20 hrs OT 25 hrs Max
6% (-$5,336/yr)
0% Tax Shield: ~$1,174/yr 15% (IRS limit: $24,500)
Itemized Statutory Withholdings Ledger
Federal Income Tax (IRS)
Progressive 10%–37%
-$9,563
Social Security (FICA OASDI)
Statutory 6.20% (Cap $184,500)
-$5,514
Medicare Hospital Insurance
Statutory 1.45%
-$1,290
North Carolina Individual Income Tax
State Marginal Bracket
-$2,827
Net Take-Home Annual Realized
$64,410 ($2,477.30 / check)
Category 2 of 6

Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC Operations Research Analyst Wage Distribution

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

Your Salary: $88,940
MIDDLE 50% (IQR RANGE) 10th $57.1k 25th $68.4k Median: $88,940 50th (Median) $88.9k 75th $126k 90th $160k You: $88,940
10th (Entry) $57,060 $27.43/hr
25th (Junior) $68,360 $32.87/hr
50th (Median) $88,940 $42.76/hr
75th (Senior) $125,990 $60.57/hr
90th (Lead/Master) $159,910 $76.88/hr
Career Progression & Licensing Milestones for Operations Research Analyst in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC
1
Junior Operations AnalystMathematical optimization, linear programming, Python/R, SQL data mining
$58,000$27.88/hr · 0-2 Years
2
Operations Research AnalystStochastic modeling, supply chain simulation, network optimization
$89,000$42.79/hr · 2-5 Years
3
Senior Decision ScientistEnterprise predictive analytics, algorithmic decision systems, heuristics
$124,000$59.62/hr · 5-8 Years
4
Director of Operations AnalyticsExecutive analytical strategy, operational resource allocation
$158,000$75.96/hr · 8+ Years
Scaled to the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC 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 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC under the HUD 30% housing cost guideline.

Rent-to-Take-Home Ratio (HUD 30% Standard)
18% of Net Income
✓ Passes 30% Housing Affordability Standard
HUD Fair Market Rent (1-Bedroom) $965/month Requires minimum annual gross of $38,600
HUD Fair Market Rent (2-Bedroom) $1,147/month Requires minimum annual gross of $45,880
Hourly Living Wage Benchmark (EPI model)
1 Adult Earner: $21.98/hr
Per adult, 2 working adults + 1 child: $18.64/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 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC.

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$88,940-$19,194$64,410$2,477.30
+5h Overtime/Wk45 hrs$105,616-$24,544$74,736$2,874.45
+10h Overtime/Wk50 hrs$122,293-$29,893$85,062$3,271.60
+15h Overtime/Wk55 hrs$138,969-$35,420$95,211$3,661.95
+20h Overtime/Wk60 hrs$155,645-$41,083$105,223$4,047.04
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 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC: Compensation & Purchasing Power Briefing (2026)

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

Market Baseline
$88,940/yr
$42.76/hr · SOC 15-2031
Statutory Tax Drag
21.58% Effective
-$19,194 in Total Taxes
HUD 1BR Shelter Ratio
18% Net Pay
✓ Passes 30% HUD Rule
Monthly Discretionary
+$4,402/mo
Post-$965/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 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC: Market Snapshot

BLS publishes no Operations Research Analyst wage estimate for Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC, so this page uses the national median of $88,940 (10th to 90th percentile $57,060 to $159,910). HUD’s $965 monthly one-bedroom fair market rent equals 13.0% of that national median. The single-adult living wage benchmark for the area is $21.98 per hour.

Highest-paying metropolitan areas for Operations Research Analyst

Metropolitan areaMedian annual wageVs national median
Colorado Springs, CO$140,590+58.1%
Lexington Park, MD$135,300+52.1%
Huntsville, AL$132,000+48.4%
Peoria, IL$129,300+45.4%
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO$127,810+43.7%
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$127,600+43.5%
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$123,360+38.7%
Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH$122,570+37.8%
Bakersfield-Delano, CA$119,020+33.8%
Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL$118,810+33.6%

Top-paying occupations benchmarked in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC

OccupationMedian annual wageMedian hourly
Chief Executives$312,730$150.35/hr
Architectural and Engineering Managers$170,730$82.08/hr
Computer and Information Systems Managers$163,010$78.37/hr
Natural Sciences Managers$162,690$78.22/hr
Marketing Managers$151,190$72.69/hr
Financial Manager$138,150$66.42/hr
Purchasing Managers$132,570$63.74/hr
Sales Managers$132,060$63.49/hr
Physician Assistant$127,210$61.16/hr
Nurse Practitioner$126,620$60.88/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 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC Overview

Operations Research Analyst median pay in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC is $88,940 a year ($42.76/hr). See take-home pay after 2026 taxes, BLS wage percentiles. Official 2026 economic data for Operations Research Analyst in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC 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 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC?

The median annual wage is $88,940 ($42.76 per hour). The middle 80% of earners make between $57,060 and $159,910. Source: the national BLS OEWS distribution, because BLS does not publish this occupation for the metro.

What is the take-home pay for an Operations Research Analyst in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC after taxes?

On the median wage of $88,940, a single filer with no pre-tax deductions takes home about $68,359 a year ($5,697 a month) after $20,581 in federal, FICA, state and local taxes, an effective rate of 23.14%, using 2026 tax rules.