Senior Operations Research Analyst.
Little Rock.
$99,000
median salary, 19% below the national average
$77,000 to $128,000. Last updated April 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
A Senior Operations Research Analyst in Little Rock earns a median of $99,000 in 2026. That is 19% below the national average. The range runs from $77,000 to $128,000, and where you land depends on your experience, your skills, and how well you negotiate. Senior Operations Research Analyst compensation is driven by publication record, domain specialization, and whether the work involves production model training or applied research.
Salary range
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $89,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$64,000
to $79,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$84,000
to $104,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$109,000
to $129,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$124,000
to $153,000
Salary trend
+5% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $29,000 to the total package.
Base
$99,000
Equity
$17,000
Bonus
$10,000
Signing
$2,000
Estimated total: $128,000
How Little Rock compares
Little Rock, AR
$99,000
Cost of living: 18% below average
National Average
$122,000
Little Rock is $23,000 below
Senior Operations Research Analyst salary by city
Salary by role in Little Rock
What you should know
Here is what the Senior Operations Research Analyst market actually looks like in Little Rock. Little Rock's economy is driven by Walmart's nearby headquarters ecosystem, state government, healthcare, and logistics. The metro's extremely low cost of living means even moderate salaries deliver strong purchasing power. Tech jobs are growing as companies seek affordable alternatives to major metros. Senior Operations Research Analyst compensation is driven by publication record, domain specialization, and whether the work involves production model training or applied research. Signing bonuses near $10K are standard for lateral hires and reset every 2 to 4 years. Within tech-sector Senior Operations Research Analysts specifically, employer tier (FAANG and frontier-AI labs vs mid-stage startups vs traditional enterprise) drives 66%+ variance across the compensation band.
Senior Operations Research Analysts progress Research Engineer → Senior → Staff → Principal → Distinguished over 8 to 15 years. Frontier-AI labs compress this ladder — a strong PhD can land at L5/Senior directly. The VP Research track diverges around year 10 for those who choose to lead labs. For Senior Operations Research Analysts specifically, the seniority anchor typically means 7 to 12 years of experience with demonstrated independent scope. In Little Rock, your dollars stretch further. Cost of living runs 18% below the national average, which means even a median salary buys a stronger lifestyle.
Base salary is not the full picture. Total compensation for Senior Operations Research Analysts includes a meaningful signing bonus near $10K, which resets every 2 to 4 years for lateral hires. Base plus bonus (12% of base at target) forms the bulk of ongoing annual comp; signing bonuses are best thought of as a 4-year amortized component. At tech companies specifically, equity and sign-on are often the largest delta between offers — two roles with matching base can differ by $100K+ at total when equity is included. And on the tax side: arkansas has a top income tax rate of 4.4%. Little Rock has no city income tax. The combination of low taxes and very affordable housing creates one of the best net pay environments in the country. When someone quotes you $99,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Reference the Walmart and Tyson ecosystem when negotiating. Northwest Arkansas and Little Rock employers benchmark against national corporate pay scales. The range for Senior Operations Research Analysts in Little Rock runs from $77,000 to $128,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: SEC filings, H-1B LCA (DOL), BLS OES, 50+ job posting platforms. COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified April 8, 2026. Full methodology
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