Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Master's degree
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These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
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Survey researchers focus on designing and analyzing surveys to generate reliable information for organizations and decision-makers. Nationally, this occupation has a median annual salary of $63,380, with about 9,000 people employed. The field is relatively small and projected employment growth is -5.2%, with an estimated 1,000 annual openings. This combination suggests limited overall expansion but ongoing turnover-based opportunities for new entrants. Successful survey researchers rely on a blend of mathematics, computers and information technology, writing and reading, and critical and analytical thinking. Strong speaking and listening, project management, leadership, creativity, adaptability, and problem solving also play an important role. Typical entry into this field requires a master’s degree, making it a more advanced professional pathway. People considering survey research may also be interested in related careers such as market research analysts and marketing specialists, health information technologists and medical registrars, economists, epidemiologists, or atmospheric and space scientists.
Survey researchers earn a national median annual salary of $63,380, but pay varies considerably by location. Several states report higher median salaries, including California at $83,520, Massachusetts at $74,890, New York at $86,890, Colorado at $89,870, and Washington at $69,590. At the metro level, some areas stand out for even higher earnings. The San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CA metro shows a median salary of $110,540, while Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WV reports $97,780 and New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ reports $87,620. Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CA aligns with California’s statewide figure at $83,520, and Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NH matches Massachusetts at $74,890. These differences indicate that earnings potential can be significantly influenced by where you work, with certain metros offering substantially higher median pay than the national median.
Survey researchers currently have national employment of about 9,000, reflecting a relatively specialized occupation. Projected employment growth for this field is -5.2%, indicating an expected decline in overall employment levels over time. Despite this negative growth projection, there are an estimated 1,000 annual openings. This suggests that while the total number of positions may shrink, there will still be recurring opportunities due to factors such as turnover and replacement needs. For career planning, this combination means job seekers should anticipate a competitive environment and may need to be strategic about location and skill development. The presence of related occupations—such as market research analysts and marketing specialists, health information technologists and medical registrars, economists, epidemiologists, and atmospheric and space scientists—also offers alternative paths for individuals who build a strong analytical and research-focused skill set relevant to survey research.
Location plays a major role in opportunity and compensation for survey researchers. At the state level, California leads with an opportunity score of 67.38, a median salary of $83,520, and employment of 1,180, indicating a relatively larger concentration of jobs. Massachusetts (opportunity score 65.87, salary $74,890, employment 160) and New York (65.78, $86,890, 380) also offer notable combinations of pay and openings. Colorado and Washington present opportunity scores of 56.97 and 56.29, with median salaries of $89,870 and $69,590 and employment of 110 and 130, respectively, highlighting smaller but potentially attractive markets. Metro data show even more pronounced differences. New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ has the highest opportunity score at 77.27, with a median salary of $87,620 and employment of 190. San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CA features the highest listed median salary at $110,540 and an opportunity score of 68.75. Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WV offers both relatively high employment (620) and a median salary of $97,780, while Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NH and Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CA provide solid mixes of pay and employment.
The typical educational requirement for survey researchers is a master’s degree, making this a career that usually demands advanced academic preparation. This higher level of education aligns with the field’s emphasis on rigorous analysis and complex information handling. The skill profile highlights the importance of mathematics and computers and information technology, reflecting the quantitative and technical aspects of the work. Strong writing and reading abilities, along with critical and analytical thinking, are also central, supporting clear interpretation and communication of survey findings. Speaking and listening skills help in explaining results and collaborating with others, while project management and leadership support the coordination of survey efforts. Creativity and innovation, adaptability, and problem solving and decision making round out the skill set, helping professionals respond to challenges and refine their methods over time. Together, the education level and skill mix indicate a role suited to individuals prepared for intensive, research-oriented work.
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