The median pay for Survey Researchers is $69,460 a year ($33.40/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to fall 4.8% through 2035, with about 600 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Master's degree.
- SOC 19-3022
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Survey Researcher in four numbers
- Median pay
- $69,460a year, or $33.40/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $39KTop 10% $131K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- -4.8%DecliningBLS EP, 2025–2035This career−4.8%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career −4.8% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 6009,800 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 20259.8K
- Projected 20359.3K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 9.8K Projected 2035 9.3K - Typical education
- Master'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Bachelor's50%
- Master's38.5%
- Post-master’s certificate3.9%
- Professional degree3.9%
- Doctorate3.9%
Highest education held by survey researchers Segment Value Bachelor's 50% Master's 38.5% Post-master’s certificate 3.9% Professional degree 3.9% Doctorate 3.9%
Also advertised as: Data Analyst, Market Survey Representative, Research Associate, Research Fellow, Research Interviewer, Research Scientist.
Pay
How much do Survey Researchers make?
Every survey researcher in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$69,460
Middle half earn $51,270 to $99,760
- 10th
- $39,260
- 25th
- $51,270
- 75th
- $99,760
- 90th
- $130,860
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $39,260 |
| 25th | $51,270 |
| Median | $69,460 |
| 75th | $99,760 |
| 90th | $130,860 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $69,460
- Median hourly wage
- $33.40/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $79,580
- People employed
- 8,290
Versus all US occupations
At $69,460, Survey Researchers earn 36% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $18,480 a year.
Versus life, physical, and social science occupations
Inside the Life, Physical, and Social Science group, where the middle occupation pays $82,220, this is 16% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $130,860 or more while the bottom 10% earn $39,260, a gap of 3.3×. That is an unusually wide spread, which usually tracks specialisation, employer type and years of experience.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 44% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Minnesota pays the most at $104,220, and still leads at $105,677 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Survey Researchers the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Minnesota | $104,220 | $105,677 | 340 |
| 2District of Columbia | $102,390 | $93,166 | 150 |
| 3Michigan | $101,550 | $105,543 | 150 |
| 4North Carolina | $96,560 | $102,368 | 350 |
| 5New Jersey | $95,580 | $87,845 | 100 |
| 6Wisconsin | $92,660 | $98,475 | 60 |
| 7Colorado | $89,870 | $87,208 | 110 |
| 8Connecticut | $88,320 | $85,243 | 110 |
| 9New York | $86,890 | $80,513 | 380 |
| 10Wyoming | $84,360 | $91,012 | 40 |
Job outlook
Is Survey Researcher a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Declining. -4.8% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Survey Researchers | −4.8% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Declining
BLS projects employment of Survey Researchers to change -4.8% over 2025–2035, while total US employment is projected to rise 3.5%. That is 500 fewer jobs.
Annual openings
About 600 openings are projected each year, 6.1% of the 9,800 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Survey researchers will continue to be employed in marketing, research, and polling establishments to plan and design surveys and to analyze data. However, ongoing adoption of data mining, finding trends in large sets of existing data, and collecting information from social media sites are expected to lessen the need for some traditional survey methods, such as telephone and in-person interviews. The use of big data in market research is expected to continue to make survey research work more efficient and therefore will likely reduce the demand for survey researchers to gather survey information.
Getting in
How to become a Survey Researcher
Survey researchers typically need at least a master’s degree to enter the occupation. However, a bachelor’s degree may be sufficient for some entry-level positions.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Master's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Considerable preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as survey researchers.
- Bachelor's Degree50%
- Master's Degree38.5%
- Post-Master's Certificate3.9%
- First Professional Degree3.9%
- Doctoral Degree3.9%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree | 50% |
| Master's Degree | 38.5% |
| Post-Master's Certificate | 3.9% |
| First Professional Degree | 3.9% |
| Doctoral Degree | 3.9% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Survey Researcher do?
Plan, develop, or conduct surveys. May analyze and interpret the meaning of survey data, determine survey objectives, or suggest or test question wording. Includes social scientists who primarily design questionnaires or supervise survey teams.
Survey researchers design surveys and analyze data. Surveys are used to collect factual data, such as employment and salary information, or to ask questions in order to understand people’s opinions, preferences, beliefs, or desires.
Day-to-day 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.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeSeated for more than half the working day.
Standing
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantDealing with customers or the public is very important.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Where survey researchers work
Share of jobs by employer type
- Other professional, scientific, and technical services28%
- Educational services; state, local, and private20%
- Scientific research and development services15%
- Self-employed workers10%
- Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations4%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Other professional, scientific, and technical services | 28% |
| Educational services; state, local, and private | 20% |
| Scientific research and development services | 15% |
| Self-employed workers | 10% |
| Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations | 4% |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Reading Comprehension4.3
- Active Listening4.3
- Writing4.3
- Speaking4.3
- Critical Thinking4.3
- Mathematics4.0
- Active Learning3.9
- Learning Strategies3.3
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.3 |
| Active Listening | 4.3 |
| Writing | 4.3 |
| Speaking | 4.3 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.3 |
| Mathematics | 4.0 |
| Active Learning | 3.9 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Complex Problem Solving3.9
- Judgment and Decision Making3.8
- Coordination3.4
- Systems Analysis3.3
- Systems Evaluation3.3
- Social Perceptiveness3.1
- Service Orientation3.1
- Time Management3.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.9 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.8 |
| Coordination | 3.4 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.3 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.3 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.1 |
| Service Orientation | 3.1 |
| Time Management | 3.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Analytical or scientific software · in demand
- Business intelligence and data analysis software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Enterprise application integration software · in demand
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software · in demand
- Object or component oriented development software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Project management software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Video conferencing software · in demand
- Web platform development software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Survey Researcher?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Survey Researcher |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 2 |
| Investigative | 6 |
| Artistic | 2 |
| Social | 2 |
| Enterprising | 3 |
| Conventional | 5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Investigative6.1
- Conventional5.3
- Enterprising3.0
- Social2.3
- Artistic2.3
- Realistic1.7
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Survey Researcher
O*NET related occupations
- Computer and Mathematical
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Business and Financial Operations
- Office and Administrative Support
- Computer and Mathematical
- Business and Financial Operations
Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist
$78,760median a year
Most earn $43K to $155K
+7.0%Bachelor's
More life, physical, and social science careers
Median annual pay, with survey researchers highlighted
- Industrial-Organizational Psychologist$193,950
- Physicist$172,250
- Medical Scientist, Except Epidemiologists$103,410
- Chemist$91,240
- Environmental Scientist and Specialist, Including Health$82,220
- Conservation Scientist$73,010
- Survey Researcher$69,460
- Chemical Technician$60,390
- Biological Technician$57,510
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Industrial-Organizational Psychologist | $193,950 |
| Physicist | $172,250 |
| Medical Scientist, Except Epidemiologists | $103,410 |
| Chemist | $91,240 |
| Environmental Scientist and Specialist, Including Health | $82,220 |
| Conservation Scientist | $73,010 |
| Survey Researcher | $69,460 |
| Chemical Technician | $60,390 |
| Biological Technician | $57,510 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Survey Researcher appears on
Questions
Survey Researcher: frequently asked questions
How much do Survey Researchers make?
Survey Researchers earn a median of $69,460 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 36% above the $50,980 US median across all occupations. That works out at $33.40/hr. The middle half earn between $51,270 and $99,760. The top 10% earn $130,860 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Survey Researcher?
Yes. BLS reports a master's degree as the typical entry-level education for Survey Researchers, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as considerable preparation. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 50.0% hold bachelor's degree.
Is Survey Researcher a growing career?
No. BLS projects employment to fall 4.8% over 2025–2035, a loss of 500 jobs (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 600 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Survey Researcher do?
Survey researchers design surveys and analyze data. A core O*NET task: conduct surveys and collect data, using methods such as interviews, questionnaires, focus groups, market analysis surveys, public opinion polls, literature reviews, and file reviews. Employers most often ask for Analytical or scientific software, Business intelligence and data analysis software, Data base user interface and query software.
Which states pay Survey Researchers the most?
The highest state medians for Survey Researchers are Minnesota ($104,220), District of Columbia ($102,390), Michigan ($101,550) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Survey Researcher?
O*NET scores Survey Researchers highest on the Investigative, Conventional and Enterprising interest areas, so the work mixes investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with INTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.