SOC 15-2031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Operations Research Analysts — Montana
Montana · 1 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Montana is $80,400 a year, trailing the national median of $88,940 by 9.6%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Montana is $80,400 a year, trailing the national median of $88,940 by 9.6%. Half of workers earn between $62,560 and $80,400. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $61,750 and the ninetieth at $99,930.
The area has 150 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.42 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Among the 47 states with published data for this occupation, Montana ranks 33rd by median wage. Helena leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $80,400. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 133rd of 604 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $61,750 | −30.6% |
| 25th | $62,560 | −29.7% |
| Median (50th) | $80,400 | −9.6% |
| 75th | $80,400 | −9.6% |
| 90th | $99,930 | +12.4% |
| Mean | $78,530 | −11.7% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Montana
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Helena | $80,400 | 100 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Montana run 5.4% below the national average, so the median of $80,400 goes as far as $84,989 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 4.4% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$80,400as reported by BLSLocal price level
94.6US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$84,989US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $80,400 a year, 9.6% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $61,750 to $99,930 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 150 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 33rd of 47 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Helena, at $80,400.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Operations Research Analysts in Montana?
The median annual wage is $80,400, or $38.66 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $88,940, so pay in Montana is 9.6% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Montana earns more than $99,930 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $61,750 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Helena, at $80,400 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 150 jobs in this occupation in Montana. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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