Survey Researchers
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.
Also called: Data Analyst · Market Survey Representative · Research Associate · Research Fellow · Research Interviewer · Research Scientist
Median pay (national)
$63,380
$36,950–$118,730 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
7,720
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
-5.2%
~700 openings/yr
Typical entry
Master's degree
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for survey researchers shows an unusually wide range: the top 10% earn $118,730 versus $36,950 at the bottom 10% — 3.2x. The median of $63,380 leaves roughly 87% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change -5.2% from 2024 to 2034 — a projected decline, against +3% across all occupations. Even so, BLS projects about 700 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 31 states with released data, New Jersey pays the most for this role (median $102,410, +62% vs the national median), while Texas sits lowest at $36,950 — a 177% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Writing as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list. On the tools side, O*NET flags IBM SPSS Statistics, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft PowerPoint as in-demand technologies for this role.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Mathematics
- Active Learning
- Learning Strategies
- Monitoring
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- 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.
- 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.
- Direct and review the work of staff members, including survey support staff and interviewers who gather survey data.
- Direct updates and changes in survey implementation and methods.
- Produce documentation of the questionnaire development process, data collection methods, sampling designs, and decisions related to sample statistical weighting.
Tools & technology
- IBM SPSS Statistics
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Python
- Qualtrics Insight
- R
- REDCap Research Electronic Data Capture
- SAS
- StataCorp Stata
- C++
- Extensible markup language XML
- JavaScript
- Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP
- Microsoft Teams
- Oracle Java
Knowledge areas
- English Language
- Sociology and Anthropology
- Mathematics
- Computers and Electronics
- Administration and Management
- Customer and Personal Service
- Psychology
- Administrative