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Market research manager job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected market research manager job growth rate is 19% from 2018-2028.
About 150,300 new jobs for market research managers are projected over the next decade.
Market research manager salaries have increased 5% for market research managers in the last 5 years.
There are over 12,630 market research managers currently employed in the United States.
There are 59,408 active market research manager job openings in the US.
The average market research manager salary is $89,450.
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 12,630 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 11,981 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 11,778 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 11,079 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 10,354 | 0.00% |
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $89,450 | $43.00 | +3.2% |
| 2024 | $86,704 | $41.68 | +1.1% |
| 2023 | $85,793 | $41.25 | --0.2% |
| 2022 | $85,943 | $41.32 | +1.1% |
| 2021 | $85,032 | $40.88 | +0.7% |
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 146 | 21% |
| 2 | Vermont | 623,657 | 102 | 16% |
| 3 | Delaware | 961,939 | 145 | 15% |
| 4 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 753 | 14% |
| 5 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 584 | 14% |
| 6 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 145 | 14% |
| 7 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 748 | 13% |
| 8 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 170 | 13% |
| 9 | California | 39,536,653 | 4,592 | 12% |
| 10 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 967 | 11% |
| 11 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 202 | 11% |
| 12 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 1,300 | 10% |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 1,262 | 10% |
| 14 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 929 | 10% |
| 15 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 349 | 10% |
| 16 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 316 | 10% |
| 17 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 132 | 10% |
| 18 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 106 | 10% |
| 19 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 89 | 10% |
| 20 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 57 | 10% |
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Frankfort | 2 | 7% | $64,219 |
| 2 | North Chicago | 2 | 7% | $99,773 |
| 3 | Annapolis | 2 | 5% | $89,997 |
| 4 | Arlington Heights | 2 | 3% | $99,434 |
| 5 | Hartford | 3 | 2% | $93,113 |
| 6 | Lansing | 2 | 2% | $74,345 |
| 7 | Atlanta | 3 | 1% | $76,380 |
| 8 | Baton Rouge | 2 | 1% | $78,276 |
| 9 | Los Angeles | 9 | 0% | $101,472 |
| 10 | New York | 9 | 0% | $105,084 |
| 11 | Chicago | 4 | 0% | $99,372 |
| 12 | Boston | 2 | 0% | $95,642 |
| 13 | Philadelphia | 2 | 0% | $103,248 |
| 14 | Phoenix | 2 | 0% | $87,389 |
| 15 | Sacramento | 2 | 0% | $111,225 |
| 16 | San Diego | 2 | 0% | $97,301 |
College of New Jersey, The
North Dakota State University
University of Nebraska - Omaha
Middlebury College
Lafayette College
Furman University
University of Cincinnati
Pepperdine University

Humboldt State University

University of Mary Washington

Virginia Commonwealth University
Luther College

Indiana University Kokomo

Florida Gulf Coast University
San Francisco State University

Pennsylvania State University
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.
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.
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.)
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.
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.
Christina Weber PhD: As stated above, I think that having the skills listed above with help a lot with this. I also think that doing research on the field they are entering, so they know the typical salary can help folks with negotiating their salary.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Brett Hendrickson PhD, MDiv (he/him): The skills that will be even more important in the near and long-term future are culturally-competent communication, problem-solving and critical thinking, and information literacy.
Lori Bruce MA, MBE, HEC-C: If you only have a Bachelor’s degree in bioethics, your best bet is probably to get a position within research ethics. These positions are in academic institutions or private industry, and you can move up in management. You could work in Human Research Subject Protection, or for an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees. All these positions mean you would review research studies and suggest modifications to ensure they are in line with federal standards. This is important work to safeguard trust in medicine!
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.
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.
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.
Dr. Jennifer Caplan PhD: Technology advances so quickly these days that staying on top of advances will be really important. Luckily, any religion major has spent a ton of time thinking about the way society advances and develops, so you're well-positioned to be an early adopter of new software and tech platforms.
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!
Anna Penner: Other than getting a job teaching sociology, there really aren't jobs that will be advertised as looking for a sociologist. But sociology gives you tools to be able to work in nearly whatever industry you want to be in. Don't limit yourself to a "sociology" job and don't sell yourself short because you don't have a major the job may be aimed at. Because many people don't have a clear understanding of what sociology is, you will likely need to explain how your degree has positioned you to be uniquely qualified to do the job you're applying for. You have a lot of skills that employers want and need; look over job descriptions and find ways that you can meet and exceed the expectations for those jobs and make sure to call attention to them in job applications and interviews.
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.
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: As AI takes over, there will still be a need for people who can read and interpret texts---perhaps even a greater need. Burnish and be able to demonstrate your critical reading and critical analysis skills. Also, take every opportunity to develop your skills in digital Humanities. Classical languages graduates are problem solvers and very good at pattern identification. They have strong research skills. All of these will remain very important.
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: Research the industries that really speak to your values and philosophies. Look for the companies you want to work for not necessarily the role. Align your skills with the roles you are interested make sure you are a good fit. Ask questions to those who are in the industry or jobs you would love to be. These are just conversations with successful people.
Giovanna Percontino: The soft skills are really important now: Communication, Adaptability, Reliability, Leadership, Writing, Rigor

Dr. Anne Paulet Ph.D.: In terms of soft skills, those probably won't change much, they will simply be practiced differently. Being flexible is important since jobs may switch between home and office and since one may be dealing with someone else working from home and the challenges that can present-what cat owner hasn't had their cat walk in front of the camera or step on the wrong computer key? The ability to work in groups will continue to have importance as well as the ability to manage your own time and meet deadlines. At the same time, the nature of computer camera interaction means that people will have to learn to "read" others differently than they would in an in-person environment. Many recent articles have talked about how it is harder to read facial cues or detect emotional responses on the computer. Again, those presently taking synchronous classes have the opportunity to practice these skills--providing students turn on their cameras rather than relying only on audio. If the past year has demonstrated anything, it is that people need to be more culturally aware and sensitive and also be able to work with people of diverse backgrounds. History classes are a great way for students to better understand what others have gone through and how that might impact interaction today. Additionally, history classes-as well as college in general-should provide students with the skills to help create the kind of changes in institutions and companies that need to be made to make them more inclusive. Perhaps the greatest skill college students have is the ability to learn. I never intended to teach online, yet here I am doing just that. It required learning new ways to approach teaching, reconsideration of the ways students learned in the new environment, and figuring out new online programs to make all this happen. I was forced to do this as a result of the pandemic but most students will find that this sort of adjustment-whether foreseen or not-will be a regular part of their career path. The ability to learn these new skills, to apply new methods and to approach issues in new and innovative ways will help them stand out when it comes to looking for a job.
Dr. Anne Paulet Ph.D.: I believe that a number of companies will keep some of their employees working from home or at least be more flexible about it. This obviously gives an advantage to anyone with computer skills, which most college students should have these days. Additionally, graduates will have to be both articulate in written correspondence-including emails-as that will become an increasing part of work and will also have to be comfortable and professional in front of a computer camera. For students who will be graduating soon and are presently taking online classes which involve discussion-as many history classes do-this is a great time to practice those on camera communication skills before hitting the job market. Students should also be practicing their group work skills. Increasingly companies tend to use groups of people with differing skills to achieve their project goals. The ability to work well with a group can be hard to master and anyone with experience successfully doing so-say in a class assignment-would have an advantage. At the same time, with the increased likelihood of working from home, those seeking employment will also want to demonstrate their ability to manage their time, be self-motivated, stay organized and meet deadlines with very limited supervision. The ability to do well in your classes while juggling other issues during the pandemic can be a good example of this ability. Moreover, the mix of synchronous and asynchronous classes many students are taking will provide a really good opportunity to establish a system for managing the workflow and meeting deadlines even before entering the job market. While some sectors of the economy will take longer to recover-restaurants for instance-areas where history students might shine, such as museum work, should rebound relatively well. Additionally, museums, along with other institutions, will be seeking to increase their online presence so any ability to envision interactive and engaging ways for these institutions to reach a broader audience would be a sought after quality. Finally, there will be a growing number of jobs that may not even exist now-jobs that foster environmental awareness or sustainability, jobs that seek to bring people together across distances and dividing lines whether racial, ethnic, gender-based, political or religious, and jobs that use technology in new and innovative ways. I know that I have had to rethink the way I teach and the methods I use (as well as learn some new computer programs) to better meet the needs of teaching online. As companies continue to increase their online presence, students will need these skills as well.

University of Mary Washington
Department of Geography
Dr. Jackie Gallagher: Are there any particularly good places in the United States for graduates to find work opportunities in this field after they graduate?
I have always heard that there are more jobs in geography in the greater D.C. region than any other part of the county. There are more job titles including "geographer" here than elsewhere. I don't know how to assess that or find that information, but it makes sense given the large U.S. agencies that hire geographers (NGA, CIA, FBI, USGS, NOAA, etc.) and all of their contractors, plus the various branches of the military. For this reason, UMW is in a phenomenally good location for geography majors: our students can work on internships while attending classes by working locally or by taking the train north toward D.C. or south toward Richmond. The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists geospatial technologies as hiring at a rate higher than average, and earning more than average; this is one aspect of geography. We have had alumni move to Texas and to California for work: these are other "hot spot" places for GIS, in particular.

Dr. Robert Gowdy: Companies want to hire people who can be productive immediately. The most important skill for any type of research or development job is a track record of work in the exact area that a company is hiring for. That record could come from thesis research, postdoctoral work, or from an internship experience. Beyond that, it helps to be familiar with a wide variety of research techniques, computer programs, and systems to increase the chance that one of them is what a given company is looking for.
Dr. Robert Gowdy: In my opinion, universities that were hit hard by the pandemic will be scaling back their hiring of permanent research faculty for a while, although postdoctoral positions should continue to be available. Industrial research should increase in several areas. I would expect many opportunities in new medical applications of physics and biology, such as the use of nanotechnology in cancer diagnosis and vaccine development and production. Science graduates should also find job opportunities in energy, its storage, technology, and robotics. Many of our graduates are finding work in the growing field of "big data" analysis, too.
Dr. Robert Gowdy: So long as one looks beyond narrow specialties, industrial research and development jobs are available in most parts of the country.
Luther College
Department of Sociology
Dr. Charlotte Kunkel: The newest trends given the pandemic of Covid19 and its aftermath is in both the study of public health and institutional racism. While the jobs won't change per se, the foci on the impacts of systemic inequalities will be foremost - perhaps more than they have ever been before. Therefore, a background in the sociology of inequalities may be the biggest factor in being competitive in the job market.
Nearly every field is experiencing and confronting the effects of systemic inequalities - educational systems are confronting unequal access to resources and technology since the move to distance learning, parents are confronting the inequities of double and triple shifts as schools and daycares close, social services are being overwhelmed with newly poor and struggling families. The fields of healthcare, housing, policing and unemployment, etc., may all have to take a look at how services can meet future needs as well as address the inequities in the distribution of resources. A background in Sociology and the ability to see systems at play rather than only individual agency will be the key to making organizations successful.
Dr. Charlotte Kunkel: The skills that will stand out on resumes are the ability to grapple with the complexities of a rapidly changing world, the ability to view the world from a critical perspective, and the ability to research social issues impacting society. It will also be an advantage to be able to critically analyze scholarship and synthesize sociological theory and ideas. Employers will be looking for skills to evaluate evidence and offer solutions. Sociology helps students to develop proficiency in the use of both quantitative and qualitative research methods, conduct scholarly research, gain proficiency in data analysis, and offer solutions at the root of social problems.

Indiana University Kokomo
Department of Sociology
Niki Weller Ph.D.: Looking ahead to the next 3-5 years, having a good grasp of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies will continue to be crucial in sociology. However, due to the growing emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration and technology integration into social research, skills such as data visualization, coding, and familiarity with big data analysis tools will become increasingly important. It will be essential for sociologists to be adaptable and willing to embrace new technologies and methodologies to stay relevant in the evolving landscape of sociology.
Niki Weller Ph.D.: As someone who has recently graduated and is now starting a career in sociology, I recommend seeking opportunities to network and find a mentor. Building solid relationships with other professionals can help open doors to job opportunities and provide valuable insights into the various career paths available in sociology. It is also important to continuously work on your research and analytical skills and to stay up-to-date on emerging trends and methodologies to improve your competitiveness in the job market.

Dr. Glenn Whitehouse: -Work from home arrangements are more common now and will probably continue after the pandemic - this should make it less necessary to migrate to a major city to find good work
-Along with virtual work goes the need to be able to do your job in a technologically mediated way. Workers in all fields will need to "tech up" and know workplace software, even if they are not employed in a "tech" field
-Career paths are likely to become less linear and less secure in an unstable economy. This puts a premium on career flexibility and the ability to pivot among opportunities and adapt to change. Philosophy majors actually have some advantages here, since the key skills of philosophy - critical thinking, problem solving, persuasion, writing - are all highly transferable between jobs.
San Francisco State University
Department of Marketing, Management, and Economics
Matthew Fisher SFSU, Hult, SMC: Students will need to have some exposure to more technical skills. I say "exposure" for the fact that not everyone needs to know how to code, but understanding what coders do goes a long way in empowering young professionals to work in roles adjacent to those with technical skills that they might not have. However, the core skill that will not be outmoded anytime soon is to have robust critical thinking skills and a motivation to keep learning. While firms may seek to fill an immediate need position, it's always better to hire individuals who can learn for the fact that you can almost always teach specific skills.
Matthew Fisher SFSU, Hult, SMC: Experience in the industry that you are applying always stands out more. However, many firms would benefit greatly by hiring individuals with experience in other fields to inject fresh perspectives into the business. As a result, this is one of those areas that many firms ought to be doing something different than their normal business-as-usual practices.

Pennsylvania State University
Department of Socilogy na Criminology
Stephen A. Matthews Ph.D.: I send job ads to our students every week, so I still see jobs. The majority of those I am sending out seem to be postdoctoral positions. Personally I welcome this as it provides a great opportunity for early-career scholars to build-up their experience and publication resume (hopefully) before fully committing to an academic career. At this time, it feels like I do not see as many academic jobs (i.e., assistant professor positions), but it would be misleading to say there are none. Indeed, I know of several institutions that are hiring and even conducting interviews over Zoom. I also believe that many universities are exploring ways to enhance their instruction and research around social inequities and race and ethnicity and themes such as racial health disparities but more broadly BLM.