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Job outlook for market research consultants in the United States
Market research consultant job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected market research consultant job growth rate is 19% from 2018-2028.
About 150,300 new jobs for market research consultants are projected over the next decade.
Market research consultant salaries have increased 5% for market research consultants in the last 5 years.
There are over 14,248 market research consultants currently employed in the United States.
There are 76,424 active market research consultant job openings in the US.
The average market research consultant salary is $85,073.
Are market research consultant jobs in demand?
Market research consultant job and salary trends over time
Market research consultant jobs over time
Market research consultant job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 14,248 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 13,516 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 13,288 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 12,499 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 11,681 | 0.00% |
Average market research consultant salary over time
Market research consultant salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $85,073 | $40.90 | +3.2% |
| 2024 | $82,462 | $39.64 | +1.1% |
| 2023 | $81,595 | $39.23 | --0.2% |
| 2022 | $81,738 | $39.30 | +1.1% |
| 2021 | $80,872 | $38.88 | +0.7% |
Market research consultant jobs by state
Most common states for market research consultants
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 273 | 39% |
| 2 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 249 | 29% |
| 3 | Vermont | 623,657 | 132 | 21% |
| 4 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 767 | 19% |
| 5 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 204 | 19% |
| 6 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 243 | 18% |
| 7 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 948 | 17% |
| 8 | Oklahoma | 3,930,864 | 652 | 17% |
| 9 | Delaware | 961,939 | 162 | 17% |
| 10 | Alabama | 4,874,747 | 719 | 15% |
| 11 | California | 39,536,653 | 5,357 | 14% |
| 12 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 1,261 | 14% |
| 13 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 781 | 14% |
| 14 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 267 | 14% |
| 15 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 148 | 14% |
| 16 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 79 | 14% |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 1,699 | 13% |
| 18 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 1,653 | 13% |
| 19 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,094 | 13% |
| 20 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 96 | 13% |
Most common cities for market research consultants
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fayetteville | 1 | 1% | $60,505 |
| 2 | Little Rock | 1 | 1% | $62,846 |
| 3 | Topeka | 1 | 1% | $54,037 |
| 4 | Chicago | 3 | 0% | $79,704 |
| 5 | Boston | 2 | 0% | $81,142 |
| 6 | Irving | 1 | 0% | $68,502 |
| 7 | Madison | 1 | 0% | $64,964 |
| 8 | Oakland | 1 | 0% | $91,778 |
Market Research Consultant job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of market research consultant experts
College of New Jersey, The
North Dakota State University
University of Nebraska - Omaha
Middlebury College
Lafayette College
Furman University
University of Cincinnati
Pepperdine University
University of West Florida
Coastal Carolina University
Florida State University
University of Nevada, Reno
Lasell University
Bucknell University
University of Central Missouri
Texas Tech University
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Chrissy Daeschner OTD, MS, OTR/L
Capstone CoordinatorWhat general advice would you give to a Market Research Consultant?
Chrissy Daeschner OTD, MS, OTR/L: By saying "Yes". Most companies have standard salaries or small scale for adjusting salary. Per Diem jobs, research interventionist, additional weekend on call, adjunct jobs, and other opportunities gives you the ability to increase salary and opportunities.
What will help Market Research Consultants increase their earning potential?
Chrissy Daeschner OTD, MS, OTR/L: I would suggest they keep an open mind and don't be fearful of the unknown, embrace it. I think there is a lot of stress of a getting a certain job or style of job, but taking different opportunities increases your connections and experiences.
What general advice would you give to a Market Research Consultant?
Dr. Piper Williams PhD: Students who major in AAS bring additional expertise and qualifications to any application - so a clear articulation of these could help to maximize salary potential. They will have: skills that will enable them to contribute to innovation in the workplace, a demonstrated capacity to think critically, communicate clearly, and solve complex problems, demonstrate ethical judgment and integrity; intercultural skills; and the capacity for continued new learning, critical thinking, complex problem-solving, written and oral communication, and applied knowledge in real-world settings.
What Market Research Consultant skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Piper Williams PhD: I would advise a graduate to reflect on what they've learned about the contributions, experiences, history and present reality of people of African descent in the New World. In addition, thinking about the skills they developed related to the major in African American Studies, including but not limited to: Research and Analysis, Writing, Public Speaking, Project Development and Completion, Ethical Reasoning, Listening, Teamwork and Collaboration, Perspective-Taking, Awareness of Context and what they call 'Cultural Competence. Use this education, to make the case that in addition to all the skills you can bring, the education offered by AAS will allow you to distinguish yourself as a candidate who can meet the needs the current moment demands. Black Americans encounter implicit racism in all walks of life: medicine and healthcare, law, politics and gov't, business and industry, performing arts and entertainment, sports, education, news media and social, community and humanitarian services. With this degree, you can enter almost any field and be more equitable to everyone you meet. (And by the way, in the list above, there are a number of people with a degree in African American Studies.)
What will help Market Research Consultants increase their earning potential?
Dr. Piper Williams PhD: As the chair of African American Studies (AAS) at TCNJ, I know that an AAS major combines the strengths of the traditional liberal arts major with the community engagement, cultural, and social awareness that is at the heart of the African American scholarly tradition. Students graduating with a degree in African American Studies will have the intellectual and practical tools to pursue any number of careers requiring analytical ability, cultural competence, and creative problem-solving skills.
What general advice would you give to a Market Research Consultant?
Christina Weber PhD: There are a number of skills that will be important. Soft skills such as creativity, adaptability, collaboration, emotional intelligence, and persuasion. In addition, there is a growing need for folks who have high cultural competence, especially with understanding the experiences of diverse groups. Finally, there is a need for folks to have skills in social science research—understanding how to develop research projects, conduct surveys, focus groups, as well as experience with programs such as GIS, SPSS, and r-studio.
What general advice would you give to a Market Research Consultant?
John Lyden: Research skills (ability to find and interpret information), oral and written communication skills (ability to present information clearly), data analysis and interpretation, language interpretation and translation. Computer facility will be highly valued. Employers will include those in higher education, government, non-profits, research institutes, and museums.
What Market Research Consultant skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
John Lyden: You should realize that your degree can lead to many careers, and that you can even change your career direction easily. Your degree has given you important skills in communication, critical thinking, analysis, and problem solving. Employers will see that you are good at adapting to new tasks and learning new skills that go well beyond the content you have studied.
What will help Market Research Consultants increase their earning potential?
John Lyden: Convey to potential employers the range of skills you possess and the ways you have used them. If you had an internship, describe the skills you used and explain how they can apply to various jobs. Emphasize and demonstrate your communication and research skills. Give examples from the courses you took and explain the connections between them that have allowed you to utilize higher order thinking of analysis and synthesis. Your degree in Religion can also be combined with a complementary minor or double major and may lead you to graduate school in almost any field you choose to pursue.
What general advice would you give to a Market Research Consultant?
Jeffrey Knopf: Some of the most important skills are traditional skills. Good communication skills are still number one. The ability to write well and communicate clearly will always help you. Qualitative research skills also remain important. The ability to learn from history or understand other cultures will always be valuable. Beyond this, I am seeing increasing demand for a variety of hard practical skills, such as data analytics or imagery analysis. Finally, in a world where the problems of misinformation and disinformation keep getting worse, critical thinking skills and the ability to discern what is true and what is fake will only increase in importance.
What Market Research Consultant skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Jeffrey Knopf: Getting your foot in the door is still the most important first step. For example, if you can get a government job, even if it's not your preferred position, it becomes easier to learn about other openings and to move lateral to something better. Doing a good job also helps. If you prove your worth to employers, they will want to keep you and promote you, or your bosses may want to bring you with them if they move elsewhere. Finally, it is good to have specific skills or training you can highlight. These might include being fluent in other languages or having data analytics skills, among others.
What will help Market Research Consultants increase their earning potential?
Jeffrey Knopf: It's a good idea to be open to different possibilities. If a graduate is willing to say yes to an opportunity, even if it is not ideally what they were looking for, this can open the door to better opportunities down the road. Relationships with other people are also very important. The better you can get along with and work with other people, the more those people will become part of your network and maybe able to help you later on.
What general advice would you give to a Market Research Consultant?
Brett Hendrickson PhD, MDiv (he/him): Remember that employers in many sectors want and need people with the skill set that Religious Studies teaches you. With a Religious Studies major, you have high levels of cultural competence and cultural empathy. Your critical thinking skills are matched by your ability to communicate your ideas in both oral and written formats. When it comes to problem-solving, you are highly skilled in studying and understanding the historical, political, and ethical contexts that guide people's decision making. You are an expert researcher, able to read and digest large amounts of text in a short amount of time.
What Market Research Consultant skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Brett Hendrickson PhD, MDiv (he/him): Religious Studies majors who wish to maximize their salary potential should be bold in articulating the digital research tools that they learned as part of their education. Religious Studies graduates know how to use and assess historical and cultural data from multiple online data sources. They should also emphasize their excellent interpersonal skills and that they are well-versed in interacting with diverse people on highly sensitive topics.
What general advice would you give to a Market Research Consultant?
Dr. Claire Gilliland PhD: The skills we prioritize in sociology (generating research questions, thinking critically, examining social systems, analyzing multiple types of data) are all skills that are well-suited to multiple different careers, but it may require some translation to match the priorities of a particular field.
What Market Research Consultant skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Claire Gilliland PhD: I've only worked in academia, so I don't have a good sense about salary potential or where the field is heading. Someone in career services would know more about what job ads are looking for in current graduates.
What will help Market Research Consultants increase their earning potential?
Dr. Claire Gilliland PhD: my general advice is for students to be thoughtful and strategic about how they sell the skills they've gained in sociology to potential employers. The skills we prioritize in sociology (generating research questions, thinking critically, examining social systems, analyzing multiple types of data) are all skills that are well-suited to multiple different careers, but it may require some translation to match the priorities of a particular field. For example, students would describe a class paper where they searched for and read about empirical research as a "literature review," a term that mostly applies to academic work. However, the skills required for a literature review are gathering, analyzing, and synthesizing information from a range of sources, which is a skill many employers would want in a future employee.
What Market Research Consultant skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Jennifer Caplan PhD: The great thing about a religion major, of course, is that there IS no one field you're funneled into! Religion majors succeed highly in EVERY field, because you get such well-rounded training. So the best way to maximize your salary potential is to harness the skills you have gained, and to tap into the innate curiosity and interest in the world to throw yourself into your new career and ensure you shine. Religion majors know how to see the big picture of the world around them and how to really analyze the documents or tasks in front of them. Those are talents that are perfect to help you rise to the top!
What will help Market Research Consultants increase their earning potential?
Dr. Jennifer Caplan PhD: My biggest advice would be to use the skills you have spent 4 years developing to your best advantage! The transition from being a senior who knows a lot to a new member of a field can be rough, so just remember that you have killer reading comprehension, excellent writing skills, and an ability to synthesize information that far outstrips colleagues who came through less interdisciplinary majors, so use those to learn quickly and nail your new workload!
What Market Research Consultant skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Anna Penner: Market yourself strategically. Think about what you learned by getting a sociology degree--the ability to do original research and analyze data, the ability to understand how institutions shape society and individuals, the ability to think critically about problems you see in the world around you. Make sure to highlight the assets that you bring to the table as a possible outsider to the industry you are applying for. Also be aware that you may need to spend some time making less than you'd like, but know what you're worth, and after some time proving yourself at your organization make sure you're properly compensated for what you add to the team.
What will help Market Research Consultants increase their earning potential?
Anna Penner: Methodological skills are important. Knowing how to construct a good survey or conduct an interview to get rich data is critical. But I think just as important as being able to analyze qualitative or statistical data, is finding ways to communicate results in clear and compelling ways so that stakeholders know what action to take is equally important. Some of the gaps we are seeing between science and the general public today could be ameliorated by someone explaining findings in concise and applicable ways that show why we should care about this information. You could be the bridge from expertise to the general public.
Martha Taylor
Professor and Chair of ClassicsWhat Market Research Consultant skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Martha Taylor: Stay abreast of new trends. Read broadly and be widely curious. Keep up with advances in English literature (since so much of interpretation of Classical texts follows similar lines).
Giovanna Percontino
Communication Career Coach, M.Ed.What Market Research Consultant skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Giovanna Percontino: The soft skills are really important now: Communication, Adaptability, Reliability, Leadership, Writing, Rigor
What will help Market Research Consultants increase their earning potential?
Dr. Haris Alibašić Ph.D., MPA: "In the next 3-5 years, specific skills are poised to become increasingly important in business: Data Literacy, Digital Proficiency, Emotional Intelligence, Sustainability, Resilience, and Social Responsibility. However, the most necessary lasting skill that benefited my career is Effective Communication. Being able to communicate effectively is an indispensable skill."
Sourav Batabyal Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Finance and EconomicsCoastal Carolina University
Finance and Economics Department
What skills stand out on Market Research Consultant resumes?
Sourav Batabyal Ph.D.: Problem-solving, Creative thinking, Data Analytics, Competitive Strategies, Communication, Leadership and Team Building, Decision making.
C. Darren Brooks Ph.D.
Assistant Department Chair and Executive Director, Center for Human Resource ManagementFlorida State University
Department of Management and the Center for Human Resource Management
What soft skills should all Market Research Consultants possess?
C. Darren Brooks Ph.D.: While advancements in technology, artificial intelligence (AI), and data analytics occupy center stage in many areas of management practice, soft skills continue to be seen as equally or even more important skills for success in the field of management. Soft skills are typically described as personal attributes, qualities, and characteristics that enable us to interact more effectively with others. In most fields of management, our ability to communicate, work with, and interact with other people constitutes a significant portion of the work we do. Consequently, employers are focused on identifying candidates who possess strong skills are areas of communication (verbal, written, and non-verbal), leadership and followership, collaboration, an ability to work in teams, intellectual curiosity, adaptability, conflict management, problem-solving, creativity.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Market Research Consultants?
C. Darren Brooks Ph.D.: As stated earlier, the field of management is broad and encompasses all industries and sectors. Consequently, the technical skills necessary to succeed will vary according to the specific knowledge and experiences required to understand the nuances of an organization. Accordingly, graduates who have business acumen and technical competency in a particular discipline or industry would be better positioned for employment opportunities. As a result, I always place emphasis on gaining internships and work experience concurrently with academic study. These experiences will provide a real-world understanding of the type of skills necessary to succeed in organizations as well as offer industry-specific knowledge. However, for many graduates, their practical skills are limited. In this case, it is important to ensure you have more generalizable skills that are applicable across industries, such as building digital fluency, analytical fluency, writing skills, and strong Excel skills. When speaking with consulting firms and industry employers, they repeatedly reference the need for graduates to demonstrate more advanced Excel skills.
Jim McClenahan
Director of Career and Corporate OutreachUniversity of Nevada, Reno
College of Business
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Market Research Consultant job market given the pandemic?
Jim McClenahan: Rethinking work locations. Companies may recruit in areas that have lots of talent, cheaper cost of living and better quality of life. As an example, Incline Village is a small community on Lake Tahoe about 40 minutes from our campus. Every store is packed and the traffic is worse than any holiday weekend. Silicon Valley companies (about 4 hours away) have seen lots of people "temporarily relocate" to Lake Tahoe from the Bay Area. Now that some companies have permanently moved to at least a portion of their workforce as "work anywhere," communities like Reno, Boise, Missoula-ones with lower cost of living and better quality of life compared to the Bay Area may experience a mini-boom. It's already happening more in Reno.
The best candidates will be "swiss army knives." They have lots of different skillsets and with the flexibility everyone has demonstrated during the pandemic knowing how to do a lot of different things allows organizations to run a little leaner. Someone told me I was the ultimate "utility infielder" last week which I took as a high compliment! I think mastering lots of different skills is a key to employability for the candidate and success for the organization.
Finally, I expect small business hiring to be a mixed bag. Some are doing very well and expanding. Many others are struggling to survive and waiting to see how quickly lockdowns end and business returns before they start hiring.
What skills stand out on Market Research Consultant resumes?
Jim McClenahan: Most importantly, skills that are customized for the job you are applying. Someone could work in a restaurant and have great customer management skills that would work well in a bank. The key is identifying "transferrable skills"-how what you did is relevant for the job you are applying. The applicant has to articulate that-don't expect the committee, screener, or HR Recruiter to make the connections. For business majors, the skills that differentiate applicants are technical skills when they are relevant to the job. Data analysis, coding, SQL are often looked for by employers that have a tech focus as preferred skills.
Dr. Brian Wardyga
Professor of Communication; General Manager, 109.2FM WLAS & LCTVLasell University
School of Communication and The Arts
What skills will help Market Research Consultants earn the most?
Dr. Brian Wardyga: That answer is dependent on the specific market, really. Any combination of the above and the more of those skills, the better chance at negotiating higher earnings.
Neil Boyd Ph.D.
David J. & Deborah West Professor of Management; Chair, Management and Organizations DepartmentBucknell University
Management and Organizations Department
What soft skills should all Market Research Consultants possess?
Neil Boyd Ph.D.: Humility, empathy, integrity, emotional intelligence, a concern for others, a desire to create community at work, a concern for social and environmental justice.
What skills will help Market Research Consultants earn the most?
Neil Boyd Ph.D.: A combination of hard and soft skills, but at the end of the day, soft skills are critical to truly helping clients. And, for sure, they can be learned. This is a challenge for management education, but places like the Freeman College of Management at Bucknell work hard to develop soft skills in students primarily through coaching, experiential and community-based pedagogies, and professional development programming.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Market Research Consultant job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Dan Jensen: There will be a combination of opportunities and losses across the next 3-5 years because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many industries will find it difficult to recover such as hospitality (hotels, restaurants, etc.), entertainment (movie theatres, night clubs, casinos, etc.), manufacturing, and educational services. But many industries and career pathways are opening up because of the use of online technologies. Positions that include remote work that leverage technology will remain and probably increase across time. Supply chain, project management, eCommerce, computer science, data science ("big data"), digital content, and artificial intelligence specialists will continue to increasingly be in demand. The healthcare industry has been in flux because of increasing costs but will emerge on the other side of the pandemic with opportunities for nurses, healthcare support staff, and related technologies (e.g., the "electronic healthcare record"). Irrespective of the pandemic, careers in sales or customer relationship management (CRM) will continue to be a popular launching point for recent college graduates.
The recruitment/hiring process is likely to become much longer than in the past and will rely on virtual interviews instead of face-to-face. With a high unemployment rate, it will be more difficult for younger, less experienced candidates to get hired. This is not great news for recent college graduates, but all is not lost.
Networking has always been the number one way that people find work opportunities. The skill is more important than ever. My recommended approach is to: identify a list of companies where you would like to work; research job postings within the company (and apply!) while simultaneously identifying contacts at the company (LinkedIn is a great tool to do this); then reaching out to contacts by using your existing network for an introduction (identify someone you know is already connected to the person you want to meet and ask them to forward a letter of introduction on your behalf). This leads to an "informational interview" (not a job interview); a chance to speak with someone about the company and its culture.
How have salaries changed over time for Market Research Consultants?
Dr. Dan Jensen: According to the Society for Human Resources, salary projections for 2021 are being reconsidered by many employers and plans for salary increases or bonuses may not be as large as projected. Salary expectations will vary with industry, role, and level of experience. 35-40% of US businesses have frozen salaries at 2020 levels. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a modest 3.0-3.5% increase is expected overall. Technology-driven roles are seeing among the largest increases in starting salaries as the battle to acquire talent continues to be highly competitive. Customer-focused roles with a technological focus (e.g., Customer Experience, CX) positions are also increasing compared to the past. Roles in accounting, finance, and general administration will see minimal change from the past year and vary based on industry rather than on the specific job title.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Market Research Consultant job market given the pandemic?
Sean Cunningham Ph.D.: Schools have been incorporating online/virtual components into the learning experience for several years now, but the pandemic has accelerated that process by quite a bit. Graduates entering the market in 2021 and beyond will need to be able to speak to these technological realities. Whether it's in the classroom as a teacher or in some other field, the ability to foster effective communication through non-traditional means will be important.
What will help Market Research Consultants increase their earning potential?
Heidi Jo Newberg: Students who have a strong command of programming are in heavy demand whether they stay in astronomy or decide to pursue employment in the private sector. Taking programming classes and getting computational experience in research settings will put students in a good position to earn higher salaries.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Market Research Consultants?
Heidi Jo Newberg: The pandemic has certainly had an impact on me that will be hard to forget, as I'm sure it has everyone. I suspect that we will have much more remote interaction in the workplace since everyone is now very familiar with video conferencing! Also, it will be more common to work part of the time from home. But remote working is not a good substitute for visiting observatories, face-to-face meetings, in person classes, or working in the laboratory. Most of astronomy will continue as usual after vaccinations.