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Job outlook for senior research analysts in the United States
Senior research analyst job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected senior research analyst job growth rate is 19% from 2018-2028.
About 150,300 new jobs for senior research analysts are projected over the next decade.
Senior research analyst salaries have increased 5% for senior research analysts in the last 5 years.
There are over 39,938 senior research analysts currently employed in the United States.
There are 71,891 active senior research analyst job openings in the US.
The average senior research analyst salary is $75,056.
Are senior research analyst jobs in demand?
Senior research analyst job and salary trends over time
Senior research analyst jobs over time
Senior research analyst job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 39,938 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 37,886 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 37,246 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 35,033 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 32,742 | 0.01% |
Average senior research analyst salary over time
Senior research analyst salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $75,056 | $36.08 | +3.2% |
| 2024 | $72,752 | $34.98 | +1.1% |
| 2023 | $71,988 | $34.61 | --0.2% |
| 2022 | $72,113 | $34.67 | +1.1% |
| 2021 | $71,349 | $34.30 | +0.7% |
Senior research analyst jobs by state
Most common states for senior research analysts
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 351 | 51% |
| 2 | Vermont | 623,657 | 136 | 22% |
| 3 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 210 | 20% |
| 4 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,604 | 19% |
| 5 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,202 | 18% |
| 6 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 744 | 18% |
| 7 | Delaware | 961,939 | 172 | 18% |
| 8 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 227 | 17% |
| 9 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 889 | 16% |
| 10 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 884 | 16% |
| 11 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 131 | 15% |
| 12 | California | 39,536,653 | 5,385 | 14% |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 1,816 | 14% |
| 14 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 419 | 14% |
| 15 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 260 | 14% |
| 16 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 1,667 | 13% |
| 17 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 1,181 | 13% |
| 18 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 782 | 13% |
| 19 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 132 | 13% |
| 20 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 96 | 13% |
Most common cities for senior research analysts
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Frankfort | 2 | 7% | $63,092 |
| 2 | Cambridge | 5 | 5% | $71,529 |
| 3 | Lansing | 3 | 3% | $75,763 |
| 4 | Bethesda | 2 | 3% | $66,929 |
| 5 | Baltimore | 13 | 2% | $67,107 |
| 6 | Newport Beach | 2 | 2% | $84,264 |
| 7 | Washington | 8 | 1% | $80,139 |
| 8 | Atlanta | 6 | 1% | $73,288 |
| 9 | Boston | 4 | 1% | $71,554 |
| 10 | Des Moines | 3 | 1% | $65,920 |
| 11 | Los Angeles | 10 | 0% | $85,718 |
| 12 | Chicago | 6 | 0% | $76,653 |
| 13 | Houston | 3 | 0% | $78,931 |
| 14 | Phoenix | 3 | 0% | $57,479 |
| 15 | Denver | 2 | 0% | $73,286 |
| 16 | Miami | 2 | 0% | $64,791 |
| 17 | New York | 2 | 0% | $89,140 |
| 18 | Oakland | 2 | 0% | $98,879 |
Senior Research Analyst job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of senior research analyst experts
UMass Lowell
Merrimack College
University of Cincinnati Clermont College
College of New Jersey, The
University of Washington
Western Kentucky University
Coastal Carolina University
Drexel University
Molloy College
University of New Mexico
St. Mary's College of Maryland
Wake Forest University
North Dakota State University
University of Nebraska - Omaha
Middlebury College
Lafayette College
Furman University
Michael Ciuchta Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Program Coordinator, Masters of Science in EntrepreneurshipUMass Lowell
Department of Marketing, Entrepreneurship & Innovation
What will help Senior 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.
Chrissy Daeschner OTD, MS, OTR/L
Capstone CoordinatorWhat general advice would you give to a Senior 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 Senior 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 Senior 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 will help Senior 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 will help Senior 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 Senior 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 Senior 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 Senior 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 general advice would you give to a Senior Research Analyst?
Victor Menaldo: Learn, learn and learn some more. Adopt a growth mindset where you never stop learning. Gain economic literacy and financial literacy and historical literacy and statistical literacy. This will allow you to complement AI: ask it good questions, contextualize and evaluate its answers, and ask good follow up questions.
What Senior 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 Senior 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.
What Senior 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 Senior 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.
Mark Chandler
Director of Government Relations and Professor of PracticeCoastal Carolina University
Intelligence, Command Control And Information Operations
What Senior 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 Senior 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 Senior 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.
Dr. Maggie Siebert Ph.D.
Epidemiologist, NMDOHUniversity of New Mexico
Health/Medical Preparatory Programs
What will help Senior Research Analysts increase their earning potential?
Dr. Maggie Siebert Ph.D.: Programming languages for reporting, querying, and optimizing/automating
What general advice would you give to a Senior Research Analyst?
Dr. Kristina Howansky: Framing is everything! You likely have 'project management' experience if you worked as a research assistant. If you received a grant for your senior thesis, that's 'managing a budget.' Consider your experiences in an academic or research setting and how they might be reframed to fit the context of a corporate environment. Get as close as you can to the position you ultimately want to obtain. If you want to be a therapist, volunteer in the wellness center. If you want to be a professor, TA for a course or work as a research assistant. If you want to work in a corporate setting, get an internship in market research. This will allow you to determine whether you would enjoy the actual day-to-day of those positions and will get you mentors/recommendation letters from folks who know the right terminology to use.
What general advice would you give to a Senior Research Analyst?
Dr. Mark Evans: Add value beyond what you are asked to do. Take ownership of your work. Volunteer for the most difficult jobs and clients.
What Senior Research Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Mark Evans: Don't stop learning. Treat your first job like more graduate school. Learn everything you can.
What general advice would you give to a Senior Research Analyst?
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 Senior Research Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
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.
What will help Senior Research Analysts increase their earning potential?
Christina Weber PhD: My advice to students is to use the Career Center for support—practice interviewing, have several people read their resume. I also suggest people get on LinkedIn and start to develop their professional networks. Finally, I think folks should understand that careers happen over time and that your first job will likely not be your only job and that many people have winding career trajectories. It’s important to stay open and adaptable to the job market. Also, do not sell your skills short. You have a lot to add to the professional landscape.
What general advice would you give to a Senior Research Analyst?
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 Senior Research Analyst 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 Senior Research Analysts 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 Senior Research Analyst?
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 Senior Research Analyst 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 Senior Research Analysts 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 Senior Research Analyst?
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 Senior Research Analyst 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 will help Senior Research Analysts increase their earning potential?
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.
What general advice would you give to a Senior Research Analyst?
Lori Bruce MA, MBE, HEC-C: Multidisciplinary partnership is critical, since bioethicists can be “gatekeepers;” their policies may influence which members of the public receive certain health services, and which do not receive them. Knowledge, applied cautiously! It’s important to have a nuanced understanding of many bioethics principles and theories, and apply them with caution, so that the most relevant values are influencing your work.
What Senior Research Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
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!
What will help Senior Research Analysts increase their earning potential?
Lori Bruce MA, MBE, HEC-C: Multidisciplinary partnership is critical, since bioethicists can be “gatekeepers;” their policies may influence which members of the public receive certain health services, and which do not receive them.
Knowledge, applied cautiously! It’s important to have a nuanced understanding of many bioethics principles and theories, and apply them with caution, so that the most relevant values are influencing your work.
What will help Senior Research Analysts increase their earning potential?
Dr. Anna McAlister Ph.D: It’s very important to be polite but at the same time, not too humble. Showcase your talents! Even if you have not mastered a skill, if you have some level of proficiency you should let people know about it! As an example, I teach a video editing course to undergraduate students. When students leave my class, they are proficient using Camtasia. They may not be experts, but they are certainly proficient. They have a skill that many other entry level employees do not possess. I nag them to put it on their resumés. Many entry level employees looking for marketing jobs do not have experience with video editing. Show off the skill!
Also, show off any extracurricular activities you’ve engaged in. For example, students who take leadership roles in clubs and organizations on campus should put that on their resumes. The nature of the club doesn’t really matter. What matters is that the student can show they’re organized, committed, etc. For example, at Endicott College I advise Charity Craft Club. This club does crafts (knitting, painting, jewelry making) and we sell items to raise money for charity. In the past I’ve had students say to me things like “Should I really put Charity Craft Club on my resumé? It’s not a business club.” I say “absolutely!”. Showing you have a leadership role in that club is a signal that you’re a leader!
Negotiate! The time between getting the job offer and accepting the job is the prime time for negotiating. But don’t be too cocky. It’s a difficult line to walk and so it is essential to seek input from “seasoned” professionals. Talk to people in the industry who are a bit more advanced than you. Talk to internship supervisors, professors, or employees at the company if you are able to connect with them. Also review online resources (eg. Glassdoor, ZipRecruiter, Salary.com). As much as possible, try to know your worth. You don’t want to be too cocky and ask for an outrageous salary. But you also don’t want to accept a lowball offer. Sometimes the salary isn’t very flexible but other benefits or perks might be.
Finally, I would say it’s important to think about bringing solutions. What can you do for the company you hope will hire you? What problems can you solve for them? Again, this speaks to that idea of being a lifelong learner. An entry level employee can offer a fresh perspective and a willingness to explore new options. Current employees may be a little set in their ways. An entry level employee can be ready to learn and adapt and bring new knowledge to the company. Don’t worry about not knowing enough or not having enough experience. Just be ready to hit the ground running. You may be the breath of fresh air the company needs!
What general advice would you give to a Senior Research Analyst?
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 Senior Research Analyst 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 Senior Research Analysts 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.