How to hire a market research manager

How to hire a market research manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step market research manager hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a market research manager job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new market research manager
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a market research manager do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your market research manager job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a market research manager for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A market research manager's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, market research managers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   Here's a comparison of market research manager salaries for various roles:

   Type of Market Research Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Market Research Manager	Market research analysts study market conditions to examine potential sales of a product or service. They help companies understand what products people want, who will buy them, and at what price.	$26-67
   Marketing Internship	Marketing interns are usually marketing students or fresh graduates who are interested in getting actual work experiences before taking on a full-time job. They usually have an interest or academic background related to marketing... Show more	$11-18
   Marketing Consultant	A marketing consultant is responsible for utilizing their extensive retail expertise to develop strategies on how to strengthen client base and achieve better sales. Furthermore, a marketing consultant must perform research and analysis to determine opportunities for financial gains, devise plans to improve client satisfaction, assess the competition, look out for any risks, and develop its brand and image... Show more	$21-53

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • PowerPoint
   • SPSS
   • Data Analysis
   • Data Collection
   • Healthcare
   • Research Design
   • Market Research
   • Project Management
   • Qualitative Research
   • Visualization
   • Research Findings
   • Consumer Insights
   • Customer Satisfaction
   • Research Vendors

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage syndicated data (Nielsen).
   • Manage Nielsen syndicate contract ($ 2.5MM annually), and four client team on-sites.
   • Lead customer and competitor research, functional acquisition due diligence, and portfolio management of existing products/services and new investments.
   • Work with clients to design research and analyze data using SAS statistical software.
   • Design and implement SAS routines to create mailing lists in support of various marketing campaigns.
   • Reconcile data between new and old platforms, utilizing SQL queries on large data sets.

   More market research manager duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your market research manager job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A market research manager salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, market research managers' average salary in mississippi is 55% less than in new jersey.
   • Seniority. Entry-level market research managers earn 60% less than senior-level market research managers.
   • Certifications. A market research manager with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a market research manager's salary.

   Average market research manager salary

   $89,450yearly

   $43.00 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level market research manager salary

   $56,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 23, 2026

   Average market research manager salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New Jersey	$126,164	$61
   2	Washington	$124,928	$60
   3	California	$111,457	$54
   4	District of Columbia	$109,357	$53
   5	New York	$105,427	$51
   6	Pennsylvania	$103,248	$50
   7	Colorado	$103,222	$50
   8	Oregon	$100,312	$48
   9	Illinois	$99,773	$48
   10	New Hampshire	$96,881	$47
   11	Massachusetts	$95,642	$46
   12	Texas	$94,174	$45
   13	Nevada	$87,238	$42
   14	Virginia	$80,938	$39
   15	Ohio	$79,380	$38
   16	Indiana	$79,369	$38
   17	North Carolina	$78,256	$38
   18	Georgia	$76,380	$37
   19	South Carolina	$75,188	$36
   20	Michigan	$74,580	$36

   Average market research manager salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Credit Karma	$184,845	$88.87
   2	Apple	$164,416	$79.05	81
   3	PayPal	$158,875	$76.38
   4	Intuit	$151,252	$72.72	11
   5	Microsoft	$147,091	$70.72	223
   6	Genentech	$144,235	$69.34	16
   7	LinkedIn	$142,110	$68.32	3
   8	GLG	$140,629	$67.61
   9	Unisys	$140,099	$67.36
   10	Uber Technologies	$139,642	$67.14
   11	AMAG Pharmaceuticals	$138,497	$66.59
   12	AbbVie	$137,276	$66.00	78
   13	Bristol-Myers Squibb	$135,524	$65.16	16
   14	Adobe	$131,728	$63.33	23
   15	Zoetis	$131,477	$63.21	2
   16	Autodesk	$129,956	$62.48	9
   17	AIG	$128,810	$61.93
   18	WebMD	$127,223	$61.16	4
   19	JPMorgan Chase & Co.	$126,443	$60.79	207
   20	Thomson Reuters	$125,580	$60.38	6

4. Writing a market research manager job description

   A good market research manager job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a market research manager job description:

   Market research manager job description example

   You could be the one who changes everything for our 26 million members. Centene is transforming the health of our communities, one person at a time. As a diversified, national organization, you'll have access to competitive benefits including a fresh perspective on workplace flexibility.
   
   Position Purpose: Join our Corporate Marketing organization and help create a world-class, digital-first marketing team. Centene is looking for data-driven, forward-looking, and influential marketing individuals. Manage research projects for company across all lines of business and state health plans. Work collaboratively to assist with research and analysis projects that help to uncover key market and consumer insights, communicate insights, and provide context and actionable strategies. Use statistical, analytical and market research techniques and tools to execute research individually as well as with agencies.
   
   Plan, conduct, and analyze surveys of consumers to gather information about their needs and preferences. Analyze past research projects to identify areas for improvement in future research efforts
   
   Lead a team responsible for collecting data for research projects, evaluating the quality of research by ensuring that the study design is appropriate for the objectives of the research project
   
   Lead the creation of focus groups or interviews with customers or other stakeholders to gather feedback about products or services
   
   Coordinate with clients and other stakeholders to understand their business needs and goals so that research meets those needs and is aligned with objectives
   
   Oversee the creation of reports based on findings from research projects, including recommendations for future action based on data analysis
   Education/Experience:
   
   Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Market Research, Statistics, Economics, Business Administration or related field required. Master's degree preferred. Expert in Microsoft office tools Word, PowerPoint, Excel. Experience using data visualization tools such as Tableau. Experience using marketing workflow and project management tools such as Workfront. Demonstrated ability to learn and or prior use of statistical tools (such as SPSS, R, Python) and statistical methods such as correlation. Experience with online data collection tools such as Qualtrics.
   
   Our Comprehensive Benefits Package: Flexible work solutions including remote options, hybrid work schedules and dress flexibility, Competitive pay, Paid time off including holidays, Health insurance coverage for you and your dependents, 401(k) and stock purchase plans, Tuition reimbursement and best-in-class training and development.
   
   Centene is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity, and values the ways in which we are different. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other characteristic protected by applicable law.
   
   **TITLE:** Manager, Market Research - Remote
   
   **LOCATION:** Tampa, Florida
   
   **REQNUMBER:** 1339283

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right market research manager for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your market research manager job on Zippia to find and recruit market research manager candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as swipe files, exit five, marketinghire, american marketing association.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit market research managers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new market research manager

   Once you have selected a candidate for the market research manager position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a market research manager?