SOC 15-2031

Operations Research Analyst Salary in Winston-Salem, NC (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 + NC
COL Index: 102.58 (+2.6% vs US)
Net Compensation Yield 73.9% Realized
$57,580 / net annual direct deposit
Gross Adjusted $77,910 $37.46/hr
Effective Tax Drag 20.09% Combined Jurisdictions
Marginal Top Bracket 22% Federal Statutory
Total Withheld -$15,655 $602.13/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 $37.46 / hour
0 hrs/wk (+$0/yr)
0 hrs (Standard) 10 hrs OT 20 hrs OT 25 hrs Max
6% (-$4,675/yr)
0% Tax Shield: ~$1,028/yr 15% (IRS limit: $24,500)
Itemized Statutory Withholdings Ledger
Federal Income Tax (IRS)
Progressive 10%–37%
-$7,282
Social Security (FICA OASDI)
Statutory 6.20% (Cap $184,500)
-$4,830
Medicare Hospital Insurance
Statutory 1.45%
-$1,130
North Carolina Individual Income Tax
State Marginal Bracket
-$2,413
Net Take-Home Annual Realized
$57,580 ($2,214.62 / check)
Category 2 of 6

Winston-Salem, NC Operations Research Analyst Wage Distribution

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

Your Salary: $77,910
MIDDLE 50% (IQR RANGE) 10th $60.0k 25th $68.2k Median: $77,910 50th (Median) $77.9k 75th $111k 90th $128k You: $77,910
10th (Entry) $60,050 $28.87/hr
25th (Junior) $68,170 $32.77/hr
50th (Median) $77,910 $37.46/hr
75th (Senior) $110,620 $53.18/hr
90th (Lead/Master) $127,610 $61.35/hr
Career Progression & Licensing Milestones for Operations Research Analyst in Winston-Salem, NC
1
Junior Operations AnalystMathematical optimization, linear programming, Python/R, SQL data mining
$50,807$24.43/hr · 0-2 Years
2
Operations Research AnalystStochastic modeling, supply chain simulation, network optimization
$77,963$37.48/hr · 2-5 Years
3
Senior Decision ScientistEnterprise predictive analytics, algorithmic decision systems, heuristics
$108,622$52.22/hr · 5-8 Years
4
Director of Operations AnalyticsExecutive analytical strategy, operational resource allocation
$138,405$66.54/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 Winston-Salem, NC under the HUD 30% housing cost guideline.

Rent-to-Take-Home Ratio (HUD 30% Standard)
26% of Net Income
✓ Passes 30% Housing Affordability Standard
HUD Fair Market Rent (1-Bedroom) $1,224/month Requires minimum annual gross of $48,960
HUD Fair Market Rent (2-Bedroom) $1,332/month Requires minimum annual gross of $53,280
Hourly Living Wage Benchmark (EPI model)
1 Adult Earner: $22.69/hr
Per adult, 2 working adults + 1 child: $19.52/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 Winston-Salem, 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$77,910-$15,655$57,580$2,214.62
+5h Overtime/Wk45 hrs$92,518-$20,342$66,625$2,562.52
+10h Overtime/Wk50 hrs$107,126-$25,028$75,671$2,910.41
+15h Overtime/Wk55 hrs$121,734-$29,714$84,716$3,258.30
+20h Overtime/Wk60 hrs$136,343-$34,528$93,634$3,601.31
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 Winston-Salem, 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
$77,910/yr
$37.46/hr · SOC 15-2031
Statutory Tax Drag
20.09% Effective
-$15,655 in Total Taxes
HUD 1BR Shelter Ratio
26% Net Pay
✓ Passes 30% HUD Rule
Monthly Discretionary
+$3,574/mo
Post-$1,224/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 Winston-Salem, NC: Market Snapshot

Operations Research Analyst roles in Winston-Salem, NC report a median annual wage of $77,910, 12.4% below the national median of $88,940. The 10th to 90th percentile band runs from $60,050 to $127,610, and HUD’s $1,224 monthly one-bedroom fair market rent equals 18.9% of that median gross pay. The single-adult living wage benchmark for the area is $22.69 per hour.

Highest-paying metropolitan areas for Operations Research Analyst

Metropolitan areaMedian annual wageVs this market
Colorado Springs, CO$140,590+80.5%
Lexington Park, MD$135,300+73.7%
Huntsville, AL$132,000+69.4%
Peoria, IL$129,300+66.0%
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO$127,810+64.0%
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$127,600+63.8%
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$123,360+58.3%
Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH$122,570+57.3%
Bakersfield-Delano, CA$119,020+52.8%
Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL$118,810+52.5%

Top-paying occupations benchmarked in Winston-Salem, NC

OccupationMedian annual wageMedian hourly
Chief Executives$273,710$131.59/hr
Computer and Information Systems Managers$160,900$77.36/hr
Marketing Managers$160,570$77.20/hr
Fundraising Managers$158,460$76.18/hr
Architectural and Engineering Managers$155,200$74.62/hr
Financial Manager$155,030$74.53/hr
Natural Sciences Managers$148,710$71.50/hr
Public Relations Managers$140,680$67.63/hr
Human Resources Managers$137,110$65.92/hr
Sales Managers$132,550$63.73/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 Winston-Salem, NC (2026) Overview

Operations Research Analyst median pay in Winston-Salem, NC is $77,910 a year ($37.46/hr). See take-home pay after 2026 taxes, BLS wage percentiles, HUD rents. Official 2026 economic data for Operations Research Analyst in Winston-Salem, 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 Winston-Salem, NC?

The median annual wage is $77,910 ($37.46 per hour). The middle 80% of earners make between $60,050 and $127,610. Source: BLS OEWS (May 2025).

What is the take-home pay for an Operations Research Analyst in Winston-Salem, NC after taxes?

On the median wage of $77,910, a single filer with no pre-tax deductions takes home about $61,040 a year ($5,087 a month) after $16,870 in federal, FICA, state and local taxes, an effective rate of 21.65%, using 2026 tax rules.