SOC 15-2031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Operations Research Analysts — St. Louis
St. Louis, MO-IL · 2 metro areas compared
The median wage for Operations Research Analysts in St.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Operations Research Analysts in St. Louis, MO is $63,650 per year, substantially below the national median of $88,940 — a gap of 28.4%. Half of workers earn between $52,530 and $95,410. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $49,180 and the ninetieth at $125,800.
Employment stands at 900, or 0.7 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, Kansas City records the highest median at $85,380. Of the 652 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 272nd.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $49,180 | −44.7% |
| 25th | $52,530 | −40.9% |
| Median (50th) | $63,650 | −28.4% |
| 75th | $95,410 | +7.3% |
| 90th | $125,800 | +41.4% |
| Mean | $79,070 | −11.1% |
Other metro areas in Missouri
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kansas City | $85,380 | — | |
| 2 | Columbia | $62,830 | 30 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in St. Louis run 9.2% below the national average, so the median of $63,650 goes as far as $70,099 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 21.2% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$63,650as reported by BLSLocal price level
90.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$70,099US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $63,650 a year, 28.4% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $49,180 to $125,800 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 900 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Kansas City, at $85,380.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Operations Research Analysts in St. Louis, MO?
The median annual wage is $63,650, or $30.60 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 St. Louis, MO is 28.4% 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 St. Louis, MO earns more than $125,800 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $49,180 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 Kansas City, at $85,380 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 900 jobs in this occupation in St. Louis, MO. 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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