SOC 15-2031

Operations Research Analyst Salary in Lexington-Fayette, KY (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 + KY + Municipal
COL Index: 96.93 (-3.1% vs US)
Net Compensation Yield 72.0% Realized
$52,179 / net annual direct deposit
Gross Adjusted $72,500 $34.86/hr
Effective Tax Drag 22.03% Combined Jurisdictions
Marginal Top Bracket 22% Federal Statutory
Total Withheld -$15,971 $614.26/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 $34.86 / hour
0 hrs/wk (+$0/yr)
0 hrs (Standard) 10 hrs OT 20 hrs OT 25 hrs Max
6% (-$4,350/yr)
0% Tax Shield: ~$957/yr 15% (IRS limit: $24,500)
Itemized Statutory Withholdings Ledger
Federal Income Tax (IRS)
Progressive 10%–37%
-$6,163
Social Security (FICA OASDI)
Statutory 6.20% (Cap $184,500)
-$4,495
Medicare Hospital Insurance
Statutory 1.45%
-$1,051
Kentucky Individual Income Tax
State Marginal Bracket
-$2,268
Lexington-Fayette occupational and school tax
2.75%
-$1,994
Net Take-Home Annual Realized
$52,179 ($2,006.90 / check)
Category 2 of 6

Lexington-Fayette, KY Operations Research Analyst Wage Distribution

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

Your Salary: $72,500
MIDDLE 50% (IQR RANGE) 10th $59.0k 25th $62.5k Median: $72,500 50th (Median) $72.5k 75th $91.2k 90th $106k You: $72,500
10th (Entry) $58,970 $28.35/hr
25th (Junior) $62,450 $30.02/hr
50th (Median) $72,500 $34.86/hr
75th (Senior) $91,250 $43.87/hr
90th (Lead/Master) $106,240 $51.08/hr
Career Progression & Licensing Milestones for Operations Research Analyst in Lexington-Fayette, KY
1
Junior Operations AnalystMathematical optimization, linear programming, Python/R, SQL data mining
$47,279$22.73/hr · 0-2 Years
2
Operations Research AnalystStochastic modeling, supply chain simulation, network optimization
$72,549$34.88/hr · 2-5 Years
3
Senior Decision ScientistEnterprise predictive analytics, algorithmic decision systems, heuristics
$101,079$48.60/hr · 5-8 Years
4
Director of Operations AnalyticsExecutive analytical strategy, operational resource allocation
$128,795$61.92/hr · 8+ Years
Category 3 of 6

HUD Fair Market Rent & EPI Living Wage Affordability Index

Evaluating housing affordability vs. net take-home pay in Lexington-Fayette, KY under the HUD 30% housing cost guideline.

Rent-to-Take-Home Ratio (HUD 30% Standard)
28% of Net Income
✓ Passes 30% Housing Affordability Standard
HUD Fair Market Rent (1-Bedroom) $1,205/month Requires minimum annual gross of $48,200
HUD Fair Market Rent (2-Bedroom) $1,416/month Requires minimum annual gross of $56,640
Hourly Living Wage Benchmark (EPI model)
1 Adult Earner: $21.44/hr
Per adult, 2 working adults + 1 child: $20.42/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 Lexington-Fayette, KY.

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$72,500-$15,971$52,179$2,006.90
+5h Overtime/Wk45 hrs$86,094-$20,643$60,285$2,318.67
+10h Overtime/Wk50 hrs$99,688-$25,315$68,391$2,630.43
+15h Overtime/Wk55 hrs$113,281-$29,987$76,497$2,942.20
+20h Overtime/Wk60 hrs$126,875-$34,659$84,603$3,253.97
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 Lexington-Fayette, KY: Compensation & Purchasing Power Briefing (2026)

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

Market Baseline
$72,500/yr
$34.86/hr · SOC 15-2031
Statutory Tax Drag
22.03% Effective
-$15,971 in Total Taxes
HUD 1BR Shelter Ratio
28% Net Pay
✓ Passes 30% HUD Rule
Monthly Discretionary
+$3,143/mo
Post-$1,205/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 Lexington-Fayette, KY: Market Snapshot

Operations Research Analyst roles in Lexington-Fayette, KY report a median annual wage of $72,500, 18.5% below the national median of $88,940. The 10th to 90th percentile band runs from $58,970 to $106,240, and HUD’s $1,205 monthly one-bedroom fair market rent equals 19.9% of that median gross pay. The single-adult living wage benchmark for the area is $21.44 per hour.

Highest-paying metropolitan areas for Operations Research Analyst

Metropolitan areaMedian annual wageVs this market
Colorado Springs, CO$140,590+93.9%
Lexington Park, MD$135,300+86.6%
Huntsville, AL$132,000+82.1%
Peoria, IL$129,300+78.3%
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO$127,810+76.3%
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$127,600+76.0%
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$123,360+70.2%
Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH$122,570+69.1%
Bakersfield-Delano, CA$119,020+64.2%
Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL$118,810+63.9%

Top-paying occupations benchmarked in Lexington-Fayette, KY

OccupationMedian annual wageMedian hourly
Chief Executives$179,520$86.31/hr
Natural Sciences Managers$161,450$77.62/hr
Architectural and Engineering Managers$161,170$77.49/hr
Computer and Information Systems Managers$144,160$69.31/hr
Fundraising Managers$140,090$67.35/hr
Education Administrators, Postsecondary$137,250$65.99/hr
Financial Manager$135,760$65.27/hr
Purchasing Managers$128,910$61.98/hr
Marketing Managers$127,040$61.08/hr
Sales Managers$124,860$60.03/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 Lexington-Fayette, KY (2026) Overview

Operations Research Analyst median pay in Lexington-Fayette, KY is $72,500 a year ($34.86/hr). See take-home pay after 2026 taxes, BLS wage percentiles, HUD. Official 2026 economic data for Operations Research Analyst in Lexington-Fayette, KY 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 Lexington-Fayette, KY?

The median annual wage is $72,500 ($34.86 per hour). The middle 80% of earners make between $58,970 and $106,240. Source: BLS OEWS (May 2025).

What is the take-home pay for an Operations Research Analyst in Lexington-Fayette, KY after taxes?

On the median wage of $72,500, a single filer with no pre-tax deductions takes home about $55,420 a year ($4,618 a month) after $17,080 in federal, FICA, state and local taxes, an effective rate of 23.56%, using 2026 tax rules.