Survey researchers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $39,260 | $18.87 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $69,460 | $33.40 |
| Mean (average) | $79,580 | $38.26 |
| 90th percentile | $130,860 | $62.91 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Survey researchers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 33 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $70,560 | $63,490 | $89,230 | 40 | 2.1 |
| Arizona | $59,210 | $46,930 | $142,980 | ||
| California | $83,520 | $52,110 | $171,640 | 1,180 | 1.21 |
| Colorado | $89,870 | $47,600 | $145,040 | 110 | 0.71 |
| Connecticut | $88,320 | $56,800 | $129,980 | 110 | 1.25 |
| Delaware | Data unavailable | 80 | 3.27 | ||
| District of Columbia | $102,390 | $79,040 | $217,080 | 150 | 4.03 |
| Florida | Data unavailable | 310 | 0.59 | ||
| Georgia | $51,590 | $41,780 | $92,800 | ||
| Illinois | $54,080 | $42,750 | $135,730 | 320 | 1 |
| Iowa | $83,170 | $74,350 | $93,950 | 90 | 1.12 |
| Kansas | $57,700 | $33,730 | $79,080 | 210 | 2.7 |
| Maine | $47,330 | $35,820 | $77,880 | 60 | 1.65 |
| Maryland | $84,030 | $44,730 | $135,520 | 390 | 2.64 |
| Massachusetts | $74,890 | $43,730 | $90,780 | 160 | 0.83 |
| Michigan | $101,550 | $57,050 | $155,830 | 150 | 0.64 |
| Minnesota | $104,220 | $55,420 | $124,140 | 340 | 2.15 |
| Missouri | $66,460 | $29,270 | $97,990 | 130 | 0.81 |
| Nebraska | $64,530 | $33,070 | $83,540 | 210 | 3.85 |
| New Jersey | $95,580 | $54,900 | $190,360 | 100 | 0.44 |
| New Mexico | $61,380 | $52,270 | $80,450 | 130 | 2.7 |
| New York | $86,890 | $60,890 | $127,820 | 380 | 0.74 |
| North Carolina | $96,560 | $53,680 | $171,270 | 350 | 1.31 |
| Ohio | $57,630 | $36,130 | $112,490 | 320 | 1.08 |
| Oklahoma | $57,200 | $44,490 | $84,640 | 50 | 0.56 |
| Oregon | $64,660 | $57,270 | $107,290 | 190 | 1.78 |
| Pennsylvania | $63,310 | $18,180 | $82,930 | ||
| Tennessee | $66,900 | $45,760 | $97,380 | 210 | 1.22 |
| Texas | $47,330 | $26,040 | $82,060 | 680 | 0.91 |
| Utah | $79,090 | $51,160 | $175,100 | 50 | 0.57 |
| Washington | $69,590 | $48,760 | $97,150 | 130 | 0.7 |
| Wisconsin | $92,660 | $66,800 | $125,410 | 60 | 0.35 |
| Wyoming | $84,360 | $55,940 | $108,300 | 40 | 2.61 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for survey researchers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 600. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 9.6%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for survey researchers
- Typical entry education
- Master's degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Institutional Research CIP 13.0608
- Statistics, General CIP 27.0501
- Applied Statistics, General CIP 27.0601
- Research Methodology and Quantitative Methods CIP 45.0102
- Economics, General CIP 45.0601
- Applied Economics CIP 45.0602
- Business/Managerial Economics CIP 52.0601
- Business Statistics CIP 52.1302
- Marketing Research CIP 52.1402
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Conduct surveys and collect data, using methods such as interviews, questionnaires, focus groups, market analysis surveys, public opinion polls, literature reviews, and file reviews.
- Prepare and present summaries and analyses of survey data, including tables, graphs, and fact sheets that describe survey techniques and results.
- Consult with clients to identify survey needs and specific requirements, such as special samples.
- Determine and specify details of survey projects, including sources of information, procedures to be used, and the design of survey instruments and materials.
- Support, plan, and coordinate operations for single or multiple surveys.
- Monitor and evaluate survey progress and performance, using sample disposition reports and response rate calculations.
- Collaborate with other researchers in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of surveys.
- Conduct research to gather information about survey topics.
Technology skills
- IBM SPSS Statistics (in demand)
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (in demand)
- Python (in demand)
- R (in demand)
- SAS (in demand)
- Qualtrics Insight (in demand)
- REDCap Research Electronic Data Capture (in demand)
- StataCorp Stata (in demand)
- C++ (hot technology)
- Extensible markup language XML (hot technology)
- JavaScript (hot technology)
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP (hot technology)
- Microsoft Project (hot technology)
Transferable skills for career changers: Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Coordination, Systems Analysis, Systems Evaluation, Social Perceptiveness.
Common job titles: Data Analyst, Market Survey Representative, Research Associate, Research Fellow, Research Interviewer, Research Scientist, Survey Methodologist, Survey Researcher, Survey Statistician, Telephone Interviewer.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do survey researchers make?
The national median annual wage for survey researchers was $69,460 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $39,260 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $130,860. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do survey researchers need?
BLS lists master's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is survey researchers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of survey researchers to change -4.8% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 600 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay survey researchers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Minnesota ($104,220), District of Columbia ($102,390), Michigan ($101,550). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.