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Job outlook for research analysts in the United States
Research analyst job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected research analyst job growth rate is 19% from 2018-2028.
About 150,300 new jobs for research analysts are projected over the next decade.
Research analyst salaries have increased 5% for research analysts in the last 5 years.
There are over 51,143 research analysts currently employed in the United States.
There are 81,374 active research analyst job openings in the US.
The average research analyst salary is $70,232.
Are research analyst jobs in demand?
Research analyst job and salary trends over time
Research analyst jobs over time
Research analyst job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 51,143 | 0.02% |
| 2020 | 47,365 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 46,528 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 45,488 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 42,611 | 0.01% |
Average research analyst salary over time
Research analyst salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $70,232 | $33.77 | +3.2% |
| 2024 | $68,076 | $32.73 | +1.1% |
| 2023 | $67,361 | $32.39 | --0.2% |
| 2022 | $67,479 | $32.44 | +1.1% |
| 2021 | $66,764 | $32.10 | +0.7% |
Research analyst jobs by state
Most common states for research analysts
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 432 | 62% |
| 2 | Vermont | 623,657 | 156 | 25% |
| 3 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 239 | 23% |
| 4 | Delaware | 961,939 | 212 | 22% |
| 5 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,769 | 21% |
| 6 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,363 | 20% |
| 7 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 819 | 20% |
| 8 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 266 | 20% |
| 9 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 997 | 18% |
| 10 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 996 | 18% |
| 11 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 513 | 17% |
| 12 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 145 | 17% |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 1,951 | 15% |
| 14 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 1,338 | 15% |
| 15 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 885 | 15% |
| 16 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 297 | 15% |
| 17 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 115 | 15% |
| 18 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 86 | 15% |
| 19 | California | 39,536,653 | 5,688 | 14% |
| 20 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 1,787 | 14% |
Most common cities for research analysts
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Annapolis | 5 | 13% | $60,320 |
| 2 | Juneau | 4 | 12% | $78,605 |
| 3 | Dover | 4 | 11% | $75,339 |
| 4 | Cambridge | 4 | 4% | $69,332 |
| 5 | Hartford | 4 | 3% | $77,870 |
| 6 | Lansing | 4 | 3% | $59,565 |
| 7 | Boston | 13 | 2% | $69,370 |
| 8 | Atlanta | 11 | 2% | $56,580 |
| 9 | Washington | 11 | 2% | $67,275 |
| 10 | Des Moines | 5 | 2% | $51,571 |
| 11 | Little Rock | 4 | 2% | $53,942 |
| 12 | Indianapolis | 8 | 1% | $47,322 |
| 13 | Baltimore | 7 | 1% | $60,628 |
| 14 | Detroit | 4 | 1% | $60,359 |
| 15 | Chicago | 11 | 0% | $66,701 |
| 16 | Los Angeles | 5 | 0% | $63,927 |
| 17 | Phoenix | 5 | 0% | $50,082 |
Research Analyst job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of research analyst experts
UMass Lowell
Merrimack College
University of Cincinnati Clermont College
College of New Jersey, The
University of Washington
University of Southern Maine
Western Kentucky University
John Jay College of Criminal Justice of the City University of New York
University of California, Santa Cruz
Pennsylvania State University
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Coastal Carolina University
Drexel University
Molloy College
Michael Ciuchta Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Program Coordinator, Masters of Science in EntrepreneurshipUMass Lowell
Department of Marketing, Entrepreneurship & Innovation
What general advice would you give to a Research Analyst?
Michael Ciuchta Ph.D.: Remember that your first job does not define your career. You may build a career around that first job or you may use it as a valuable learning experience to change careers at some point. Eventually, what we call our careers are only really seen in hindsight. They are part of a narrative we construct about ourselves. So, don't worry to much about whether you are on the 'right path'. The right path is the one you chose at the time given the constraints and alternatives before you. But make the most of every opportunity you can to learn more about yourself - what you like, what you don't like, and what you find fulfilling about your work.
What Research Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Michael Ciuchta Ph.D.: Obviously we are seeing a tremendous increase in AI and other digital technologies. These will become a more crucial skill set for many careers going forward. But I wouldn't downplay the role of what are traditionally seen as soft skills like empathy, communications, and judgment. Not only can these distinguish you from robots but from your human competitors as well.
What will help Research Analysts increase their earning potential?
Michael Ciuchta Ph.D.: If all you want is the highest potential starting salary, then you should aim for careers that offer them. But that is a shortsighted way to view things. For example, many careers that have tournament-like pay structures (think entertainment) often have very low starting salaries but the so-called winners enjoy outsized financial gains. If you are thinking about a more traditional career, I think it's important to make sure you are more valuable to your employer than they are to you. This means you have to market yourself, both to your current employer as well as to potential ones. Of course, this approach may not be for everyone and maximizing your salary potential is only one thing you should be considering when assessing job and career opportunities.
Renee Robinson Ph.D.
Professor of CommunicationWhat will help Research Analysts increase their earning potential?
Renee Robinson Ph.D.: That would be awesome! We were hoping you could answer the following questions: 1. What general advice would you give to a graduate beginning their career in the field?
What general advice would you give to a Research Analyst?
Rebecca Bird MAS, BS MT(ASCP): Skills that will become more important in the future are understanding quality measures. Six Sigma Lean principles are very applicable to what we do and help to keep a balanced workflow. A second thing is to understand that you and your coworkers are human. Find resilience tools that help you to keep a calm focus and practice good communication. Stay connected to national organizations for articles and training to stay connected to the future.
What Research Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Rebecca Bird MAS, BS MT(ASCP): To maximize your salary potential, obtain some experience while you are in school. If there is a clinic to volunteer at or a student job in a lab, take it. Higher pay is almost always offered to the evening and night shift technicians. If your new workplace is on 8-hour nights or evenings, create a schedule where evenings and nights do 10s or 12s and suggest it to the leadership. This makes a much better work-life balance.
What will help Research Analysts increase their earning potential?
Rebecca Bird MAS, BS MT(ASCP): As a new graduate, remember why you decided on this career. Was it because you liked to help people? Then remember your results are improving the quality of life for another person. Is it because you like detective work? Then view each sample as a puzzle to work through. Is it because you want to further your education? Then never stop learning.
What general advice would you give to a Research Analyst?
Marilyn Krogh: Statistical and communication skills are always in demand, and familiarity with a little AI would be a bonus.
What Research Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Michael Zhang: Don’t worry about your job title. Regardless of what you do, prepare yourself with data and modeling skills and hands-on experience in applying knowledge for developing, evaluating, refining and implementing analytics solutions to your career.
Chrissy Daeschner OTD, MS, OTR/L
Capstone CoordinatorWhat general advice would you give to a Research Analyst?
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 Research Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Chrissy Daeschner OTD, MS, OTR/L: Research skills will be extremely important as the use of evidence-based research in practice and value-based services are imperative. Leadership and entrepreneurship skills will also be important as we promote programming and services in community-based settings.
What will help Research Analysts 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 Research Analyst?
Melissa Zimdars: To remember that you're going to learn a lot on the job and that failure is part of the learning process. It's okay to ask questions and to not know things, but you must be willing to take feedback, adjust, and grow.
What will help Research Analysts increase their earning potential?
Melissa Zimdars: Recognize that your first career opportunity won't be your last. If the job you land after college does not have opportunities for growth or advancement, it's imperative that you keep an eye out for them elsewhere as you continue to gain experience in your field.
Fawen Zhang PhD
Professor of AudiologyUniversity of Cincinnati Clermont College
Communication Disorders Sciences And Services
What general advice would you give to a Research Analyst?
Fawen Zhang PhD: This is perfect! Thank you so much. We will be sure to feature your response in the article and send a draft over for your review before we promote it.
What Research Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Fawen Zhang PhD: This is perfect! Thank you so much. We will be sure to feature your response in the article and send a draft over for your review before we promote it.
What will help Research Analysts increase their earning potential?
Fawen Zhang PhD: This is perfect! Thank you so much. We will be sure to feature your response in the article and send a draft over for your review before we promote it.
What general advice would you give to a Research Analyst?
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 Research Analyst 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 Research Analysts 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 Research Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Victor Menaldo: Interacting with AI and knowing how to best exploit it to get the most out of it: increase productivity and value added in whatever field one is in.
What will help Research Analysts increase their earning potential?
Victor Menaldo: Develop oral communication skills that allow you to speak in an articulate manner and organize your thoughts to signal your competence, knowledge, work ethic, and willingness to keep learning and improving.
Tove Rasmussen
LecturerUniversity of Southern Maine
Specialized Sales, Merchandising And Marketing Operations
What general advice would you give to a Research Analyst?
Tove Rasmussen: Tove Rasmussen advises graduates beginning their career in the field to...
What Research Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Tove Rasmussen: Tove Rasmussen believes that the skills that will become more important and prevalent in the field in the next 3-5 years are...
What will help Research Analysts increase their earning potential?
Tove Rasmussen: Tove Rasmussen suggests that to maximize salary potential when starting a career in the field, individuals should...
What general advice would you give to a Research Analyst?
Timothy Rich PhD: Social science research skills, including research design and quantitative analysis, have broad applications (e.g. local government, think tanks, campaigns, non-profits, business) and students need to be comfortable with data. Writing skills aren't being replaced by ChatGPT, and students need to learn how to write for different audiences and not just for the typical final paper. That means being able to explain complex events or data and synthesize information to someone who has little knowledge about the topic. Students tend to distrust group projects, but learning to work in groups is also a transferable skill and an important one even if working remotely.
What Research Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Timothy Rich PhD: Think about the types of jobs that interest you and the skills necessary for those jobs early. So many students start thinking about post-graduation life spring their senior year, when it should be an incremental process much earlier. Another pieces of advice would be to talk to faculty and alum about your interests, find internship or research opportunities when possible, and try to figure out early your strengths and weaknesses. It's easy for students, especially high performing ones, to not fully consider what their weaknesses are. I encourage students to jot down what they see as their skills too and to share them with others. It helps them to identify what's a common skill versus something that might make them stick out.
What will help Research Analysts increase their earning potential?
Timothy Rich PhD: In social science fields, many of the highest paid jobs straight out are government related or data analysis related. Without developing research, writing, and in some cases foreign language skills, this will be a limitation. Depending on the desired job, a graduate degree may be required and students should be maximizing their exposure to graduate-style experiences as undergrads to not only get into prestigious law schools, master's programs, etc., but to take advantage of the internship and research opportunities that first year entrants are rarely equipped to handle.
Professor Shonna Trinch Ph.D.
ProfessorJohn Jay College of Criminal Justice of the City University of New York
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, And Group Studies
What general advice would you give to a Research Analyst?
Professor Shonna Trinch Ph.D.: Being able to negotiate a salary is also a skill that students need to learn and one that is rarely taught in college. Students need to be able to ask for more than they are offered, but also take jobs at entry levels, prove themselves and then ask for an increase in pay six months into the job after they have shown that they are doing the work and achieving their goals.
What Research Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Professor Shonna Trinch Ph.D.: Analysis and critical thinking, writing and making strong arguments are indispensable job market skills. Concepts such as 'ethnicity,' 'gender' and 'minority' are constructed in social and historical spaces and times, and students with college degrees can help de-naturalize these categories to make others understand how policy, programming and marketing might not be achieving their stated goals.
What Research Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Stephanie Lain Ph.D.: I would advise graduates to be open to considering jobs in lots of different fields. The skills acquired through their major- such as problem-solving, critical thinking, and writing- are ones that transfer well to a variety of situations.
What Research Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Nicole Kreisberg: As new technologies and artificial intelligence become increasingly prevalent across industries, it would behoove all new graduate students to learn technical skills in data science, big data computing, and coding to keep pace.
What will help Research Analysts increase their earning potential?
Nicole Kreisberg: All graduate students can benefit from knowing their worth, as well as advocating for themselves at the hiring stage. I always advise students to do their homework in researching average salaries in a given field, and tell them there is never any harm in asking!
What general advice would you give to a Research Analyst?
Dr. Paige Novak P.E. (Minnesota), BCEE: Ask questions, stay curious and open minded, take opportunities to learn and develop new skills.
What Research Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Naomi Bick: I think in the next several years research and policy analysis will be very important, particularly in the state of California. Being able to understand new policies and apply those to day-to-day administration in various organizations will be key. Increasingly, being able to work with diverse groups of people and respect diversity is also becoming increasingly important, as the field becomes more diverse and public administrators continue to serve diverse communities. Skills such as communication and problem-solving will continue to be important for public-serving employees.
Mark Chandler
Director of Government Relations and Professor of PracticeCoastal Carolina University
Intelligence, Command Control And Information Operations
What Research Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Mark Chandler: First, focus on being good at your job. Focus on learning your specific assigned area. Get the basics down – analytic skills, communication skills. Build a strong work ethic and professional foundation. If you can find a good mentor, link up with them. Be willing to go the “extra mile” in being a team player and doing things to help others on the team, and put in the hours. In intelligence, you will not always like what policy makers do or say. It’s not our job to agree or disagree with the policy, our job is to study the situation, present the facts and then present a fact-based analytic assessment. Keep opinion, bias, and politics out of our work. This will be a challenge, but it’s one you have to recognize in order to not succumb to it.
What Research Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Mark Stehr PhD: At the start of your career, it's very important to land a role where you learn a lot and find good mentors. The additional skills will pay dividends as your career progresses.
What Research Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Michael Rosino PhD: First, I would suggest taking stock of your community or the communities where you would like to work or serve and looking at the local demographics, opportunities, institutions, and organizations. You can then use those resources to network by contacting others who do the type of work you are interested in. Building your reputation and connections with others in the career or field, whether in the space of policy work, nonprofit organizations, business, law, or education, will help you gain further access to mentorship and opportunities. Another suggestion I would give is to develop and refine an area of expertise, whether that is a specific type of research skill or topic to help figure out what your network should look like (for instance, connecting with other folks passionate about health equity, housing, environment, consumer insights, opinion data, etc.) Look at what areas of the economy are growing or what complex problems are emerging as there are always organizations and institutions that will be addressing those issues and opportunities. The payoffs of networking may not come immediately but they will absolutely help down the line in terms of resources and opportunities and help you feel less alone in your work.