Prevailing Wage for Operations Research Analysts
The prevailing wage for Operations Research Analysts under SOC 15-2031 is set by DOL across four experience levels, from entry through fully competent. Whether your offer lists you as a Decision Analyst, an Analytical Strategist, or an Operations Research Scientist, the floor that applies depends on both your experience level and your worksite city.
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Level 1 covers entry-level analysts with limited experience, typically fresh from a bachelor's or master's program. They work under close supervision on defined tasks, applying standard quantitative methods with minimal independent judgment over project scope or methodology.
Level 2 is the most common filing level for Operations Research Analysts. It covers professionals with a few years of experience who apply modeling and optimization methods independently but still operate within established frameworks and receive general rather than close supervision.
Level 3 applies to experienced analysts who design and lead complex modeling projects, interpret results for management decision-making, and may guide junior staff. They exercise significant independent judgment and are expected to adapt methods to novel or ambiguous problem structures.
Level 4 covers fully competent senior analysts or lead scientists who set methodological direction, oversee program-level decision support systems, and contribute to policy formulation. They operate with a high degree of autonomy and are often responsible for the work of others.
Prevailing Wage for Operations Research Analysts by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Operations Research Analysts and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Watch for SOC mismatches on analytics titles
Titles like Advanced Analytics Associate or Optimization Analyst sometimes get filed under Data Scientists (SOC 15-2051) or Statisticians (SOC 15-2041), each with different prevailing wage floors. Confirm your LCA cites SOC 15-2031 before signing an offer.
Factor out signing bonuses before comparing offers
DOL prevailing wage compliance is measured against base salary only. Signing bonuses and RSU grants do not count toward the floor, so an offer that clears the Operations Research Analysts wage threshold on paper may fall short if base pay is padded with one-time payments.
Check sponsorship history for defense and government contractors
Lexington Park, MD and Huntsville, AL pay among the highest wages for this occupation because defense contractors dominate hiring there. Migrate Mate shows which of those employers have historically sponsored Operations Research Analysts, letting you target companies with an established H-1B or green card track record.
Anticipate level progression when negotiating multi-year roles
Operations Research Analysts often move from L2 to L3 within two to three years as project complexity grows. Employers who file at L2 initially must refile at a higher wage level on renewal, so building room for that increase into your initial negotiation protects your sponsorship continuity.
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Find Jobs for Operations Research AnalystsPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 15-2031.00 alongside Operations Research Analysts, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Advanced Analytics Associate Prevailing Wage
Advanced Analytics Associate Prevailing Wage
Advanced Analytics Associate positions fall under SOC 15-2031.00 (Operations Research Analysts). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Analytical Strategist Prevailing Wage
Analytical Strategist Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Analytical Strategist for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 15-2031.00 (Operations Research Analysts). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Decision Analyst Prevailing Wage
Decision Analyst Prevailing Wage
Decision Analyst is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 15-2031.00 (Operations Research Analysts). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Operations Research Analyst (Ops Research Analyst) Prevailing Wage
Operations Research Analyst (Ops Research Analyst) Prevailing Wage
Operations Research Analyst (Ops Research Analyst) positions fall under SOC 15-2031.00 (Operations Research Analysts). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Operations Research Scientist (Ops Research Scientist) Prevailing Wage
Operations Research Scientist (Ops Research Scientist) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Operations Research Scientist (Ops Research Scientist) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 15-2031.00 (Operations Research Analysts). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Optimization Analyst Prevailing Wage
Optimization Analyst Prevailing Wage
Optimization Analyst is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 15-2031.00 (Operations Research Analysts). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Researcher Prevailing Wage
Researcher Prevailing Wage
Researcher positions fall under SOC 15-2031.00 (Operations Research Analysts). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Operations Research Analysts?
DOL derives prevailing wages for Operations Research Analysts from Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics across hundreds of metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. OFLC converts those survey results into four wage levels using a standard percentile formula. Employers sponsoring a visa must pay at or above the level that matches the job's requirements before DOL certifies the Labor Condition Application.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I identify which applies to me?
The four levels reflect experience and supervision: Level 1 is entry-level under close supervision, Level 2 is independently performing standard work, Level 3 involves leading complex projects with significant judgment, and Level 4 covers senior or principal roles with program-wide authority. Your level is determined by the job duties in the LCA, not your title. Review the position description your employer submits to OFLC and confirm it matches your actual responsibilities.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same analyst role vary so much by city?
OFLC uses regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data, so the prevailing wage reflects local labor market conditions where the work actually takes place. Defense and intelligence contractor clusters in Lexington Park, MD and Huntsville, AL drive wages well above the national median, while markets with fewer high-complexity analyst employers, such as Tallahassee, FL, produce much lower floors. The LCA must list the specific worksite, so a remote arrangement with a worksite in a low-wage metro uses that metro's floor, not headquarters.
What happens if my offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
If the offered salary falls below the DOL prevailing wage for the applicable level and worksite, OFLC will not certify the Labor Condition Application, and USCIS will not approve the H-1B or other sponsored visa petition. The employer must either increase the base salary to meet the floor before refiling or reclassify the role at a lower experience level if the duties genuinely support that. Accepting a below-floor offer does not make the petition compliant.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for an Operations Research Analysts role in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up SOC 15-2031 by metropolitan area and select the wage level that matches the job duties. Cross-reference with recent LCA disclosure data published by OFLC to see what wages employers have actually filed for comparable positions. O*NET provides additional context on the occupation's job zone and typical requirements. For finding employers with a documented history of sponsoring this role, Migrate Mate filters by occupation and visa type so you can identify which companies have sponsored Operations Research Analysts before.
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