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Job outlook for survey researchers in the United States
Are survey researcher jobs in demand?
Survey researcher job and salary trends over time
Survey researcher jobs over time
Survey researcher job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,058 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 2,407 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 2,309 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 2,719 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 2,621 | 0.00% |
Average survey researcher salary over time
Survey researcher salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $50,405 | $24.23 | +1.2% |
| 2024 | $49,816 | $23.95 | +2.5% |
| 2023 | $48,578 | $23.35 | +6.3% |
| 2022 | $45,690 | $21.97 | --0.4% |
| 2021 | $45,859 | $22.05 | +1.0% |
Survey researcher jobs by state
Most common states for survey researchers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 28 | 4% |
| 2 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 156 | 2% |
| 3 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 116 | 2% |
| 4 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 85 | 2% |
| 5 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 72 | 2% |
| 6 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 18 | 2% |
| 7 | New York | 19,849,399 | 203 | 1% |
| 8 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 85 | 1% |
| 9 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 84 | 1% |
| 10 | Ohio | 11,658,609 | 82 | 1% |
| 11 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 82 | 1% |
| 12 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 80 | 1% |
| 13 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 75 | 1% |
| 14 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 31 | 1% |
| 15 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 15 | 1% |
| 16 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 13 | 1% |
| 17 | West Virginia | 1,815,857 | 10 | 1% |
| 18 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 10 | 1% |
| 19 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 10 | 1% |
| 20 | Alaska | 739,795 | 8 | 1% |
Most common cities for survey researchers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Annapolis | 3 | 8% | $73,764 |
| 2 | Frankfort | 2 | 7% | $63,708 |
| 3 | Juneau | 2 | 6% | $48,946 |
| 4 | Dover | 2 | 5% | $47,712 |
| 5 | Rockville | 3 | 4% | $73,218 |
| 6 | Hartford | 2 | 2% | $49,319 |
| 7 | Lansing | 2 | 2% | $45,161 |
| 8 | Baton Rouge | 2 | 1% | $45,580 |
| 9 | Des Moines | 2 | 1% | $44,602 |
| 10 | Little Rock | 2 | 1% | $40,709 |
| 11 | Montgomery | 2 | 1% | $32,740 |
| 12 | Boston | 3 | 0% | $48,020 |
| 13 | Indianapolis | 3 | 0% | $63,935 |
| 14 | Washington | 3 | 0% | $65,644 |
| 15 | Atlanta | 2 | 0% | $41,088 |
| 16 | Denver | 2 | 0% | $61,386 |
| 17 | Phoenix | 2 | 0% | $58,517 |
| 18 | Sacramento | 2 | 0% | $52,315 |
Survey Researcher job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of survey researcher experts
Vanderbilt University
Duquesne University
University of Wisconsin - Green Bay
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
University of St Andrews
Seattle University
New Mexico State University
University of Wisconsin – La Crosse
The University of Iowa
Adelphi University
Swarthmore College
DePauw University
University of Minnesota Duluth
Christian Brothers University
Penn State Altoona
West Virginia State University
Western Illinois University
Chestnut Hill College
What Survey Researcher skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Autumn Mathias Ph.D., LCSW: My general advice for undergraduate students majoring in sociology would be to begin thinking
(as early as possible) about how studying sociology might prepare you for different careers.
Explore resources online, including the websites of professional organizations such as the
American Sociological Association and the Society for the Study of Social Problems, and
occupational outlook data provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In addition, I would advise
students to speak with their academic advisors, professors, and their college/university career
services personnel about their specific interests, strengths, and opportunities to further develop
various transferable skills throughout (and beyond) their college career. For some students, this
may mean taking certain electives (such as those geared towards maximizing research skills),
and/or adding a minor or a second major. This can also include internships and other experiential
learning opportunities. In addition, students should think about which subfields of sociology
interest them most, and how they see themselves applying their knowledge in a specific field.
Some subfields include urban sociology, medical sociology, political sociology, global and
transnational sociology, law and crime, social inequality, collective behavior, economic
sociology, environmental sociology, and the sociology of education. Sociology students develop
knowledge and skills that are valuable to several fields, including education, legal assistance,
business, public relations, human services/social work, government, public health, urban
planning, criminal justice, market and/or user experience research, and administration. Sociology
students learn to apply a historically and theoretically grounded lens to understanding human
behavior, social institutions, and the interactions between various actors in society across
national and cultural contexts. In addition, they develop both qualitative and quantitative
research skills and are uniquely positioned to apply these skills in a variety of roles to find
solutions to social problems. Accordingly, they are encouraged to develop both cultural humility
and cultural competence, which is critical for promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in any
professional setting. As a result, sociology graduates may pursue jobs including (but not limited
to) the following: research assistant at a non-profit organization, probation officer, community
health worker, residential counselor, case manager, legislative aide, policy analyst, and user
experience researcher for a corporation.
In terms of job searching, I would recommend consulting with professors, advisors, and your
college/university's career services office on the best strategies for highlighting your transferable
skills and tailoring your resume and cover letter to specific job postings. Many organizations
utilize AI to review and narrow down job application materials before they are even reviewed by
human eyes. Also, I would encourage graduates to keep an open mind as they search job postings
as their knowledge and skills can be applied in a variety of settings. Additionally, students may
think about whether or not their long-term career goals require a graduate degree. Some
employers offer tuition reimbursement for graduate education.
Phillis Sheppard Ph.D.
E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Chair Professor of Religion, Psychology, and Culture and Womanist ThoughtVanderbilt University
Theological And Ministerial Studies
What general advice would you give to a Survey Researcher?
Phillis Sheppard Ph.D.: I tell recent graduates to read the contract and the faculty manual. Make sure you understand the long term implications of your early salary. Second, plan for retirement now; do not wait until you are making the salary of your fantasies. Take advantage of opportunities to learn about financial health and management. Third, position yourself. Write and publish directly and clearly in your field of study and adjacent areas. Fourth, create a plan with vision for the career you think you want. Finally, one way or the other, you will carve out a career or job, but a vocation is nurtured by paying attention to where you experience passion and a deep sense of belonging. A vocation is where your heart and intellect find a meaningful place in responding to the world's needs. Your salary best positions you when it supports your whole life and commitments.
Jan Levine
Professor of Law and Director, Legal Research & Writing ProgramDuquesne University
School of Law
What skills will help Survey Researchers earn the most?
Jan Levine: Efficiency in research, clarity in explanation of the use of researched materials, and having a conscious plan of how to conduct research.
Mario Jimenez Chacon
Assistant ProfessorUniversity of Wisconsin - Green Bay
Humanities Department
What soft skills should all Survey Researchers possess?
Mario Jimenez Chacon: Interpersonal skills, work ethic, the ability to work in teams, flexibility, and communication skills are all fundamental soft skills. Researchers are also humans and work with humans, so it's essential to have these soft skills to create a welcoming research community.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Survey Researchers?
Mario Jimenez Chacon: Of course, a researcher needs to have the ability to perform high-level, intense research; therefore, a qualified researcher needs to have the hard skills associated with their field, for example, the appropriate certification/ degrees or the ability to use technology effectively. Moreover, nowadays, a researcher needs to dominate more than one language; being multilingual is a skill that makes the candidate really stand out.
What skills will help Survey Researchers earn the most?
Mario Jimenez Chacon: The skills that will make you earn the most depend very much on their field of research. However, doing the best research possible all the time, having great interpersonal skills, and understanding that one must never stop learning will make you an outstanding candidate in any field.
Dr. Sharon Locke Ph.D.
Director, Center for STEM Research, Education, and Outreach, Professor, Department of Environmental Sciences, ISSP Sustainability Excellence AssociateSouthern Illinois University Edwardsville
Department of Environmental Sciences
What soft skills should all Survey Researchers possess?
Dr. Sharon Locke Ph.D.: -Strong written and oral communication are most important. If you cannot write well, you cannot be a successful scientist. Period.
-Evidence of skills in working as part of a team of diverse people and ability to understand the culture and language across scientific/technical disciplines--for example, an environmental chemist who understands something about policy or an environmental health specialist that would be able to collect and interpret data collected from community members.
-Willingness to be a lifelong learner.
-Something that helps an applicant stand out, such as experience with project management software or a foreign language.
Dr. Jeffrey Hughes
Deputy DirectorUniversity of St Andrews
Graduate School for Interdisciplinary Studies
What soft skills should all Survey Researchers possess?
Dr. Jeffrey Hughes: The ability to communicate to academics and practitioners from out-with immediate disciplinary boundaries. The ability to listen to differing perspectives and work to understand differing perspectives through bridging knowledge gaps.
Harriet Phinney Ph.D.
Associate ProfessorSeattle University
Department of Anthropology and Sociology
What hard/technical skills are most important for Survey Researchers?
Harriet Phinney Ph.D.: Empirical data collection: Research skills for collecting original data, analyzing the data, writing up the information collected, and presenting it in a professional manner.
What skills will help Survey Researchers earn the most?
Harriet Phinney Ph.D.: Anthropologists are analysts and researchers with sharp thinking skills who have the ability to collect, manage, evaluate, and interpret large volumes of data on human behavior.
Dr. David LoConto Ph.D.
Professor of Sociology, Interim Department HeadNew Mexico State University
Department of Sociology
What hard/technical skills are most important for Survey Researchers?
Dr. David LoConto Ph.D.: Increasingly, we see that the hard skills, due to technology changing so fast, become antiquated quickly. Employees must be retrained yearly or every other year. Therefore, the hard skills have lost some value. We provide our students the opportunity to learn not only statistical packages like SPSS and R, but they have the opportunity to do computational research, textual analysis, and data visualization. This provides our students the opportunity to learn skills they can apply to STEM fields, but our students have the bonus of understanding human behavior. Something that in the workforce is rarely taught.
What skills stand out on Survey Researcher resumes?
Dr. David LoConto Ph.D.: Typically, especially now, would be proficiency in statistical analyses-specifically carried out in SPSS or R. Students also can develop a survey instrument and interview schedules. They can orchestrate several methodologies, including participant observation, historical analyses, focus groups, and a host of other skills. And they can understand human behavior to contextualize events and frame what is occurring.
What skills will help Survey Researchers earn the most?
Dr. David LoConto Ph.D.: The hard skills at this point provide the most earning potential, but we are finding now that the soft skills that are learned in the social sciences, specifically here, Sociology, provide an avenue that has higher earning potential.
What technical skills for a Survey Researcher stand out to employers?
Shelly Lesher: Employers value our graduates for their ability to independently solve complex problems, whether in or out of the lab. This skill has not and will not change regardless of instructional mode.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Survey Researcher job market given the pandemic?
Katina Lillios: Anthropologists are trained in critical thinking and in developing solutions to the challenges that we face in our global community. Because of their distinctive skills in critical thinking and in analyzing problems that engage with cultural differences, graduates with anthropology degrees are found in a wide range of job settings, from educational institutions, governmental agencies, non-profit organizations, and corporations, particularly those involving cross-cultural markets and goods. Most students graduating with a BA or BS in Anthropology do not go into academia. The pandemic has created significant budget challenges in all these settings, however. Given that, there with likely be a bottleneck in new positions for a few years, and college graduates will need to be patient, resourceful, and flexible. They should seek or create opportunities to keep up their skills, perhaps even in settings they did not imagine working in, and maintain connections with the communities they hope to work with and in. In academic institutions, there will likely be an increasing shift to online delivery of courses, so aspiring instructors (students graduating with an MA or PhD) might want to think about developing the skills and content for some online courses they hope to teach.
What Survey Researcher skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Brian Wygal: Many things you can do without enrolling in college can improve your chances on the job market. For example, train yourself in the use of ArcGIS or Q. Having Geographic Information Systems (GIS) skills is highly marketable skillset for many sectors that hire graduates in anthropology. You can also learn R or other similar statistical programs that can bolster your research and analyses skills. Of course, anthropology is about people, so projects or volunteer opportunities that facilitate community building are excellent ways to help the people around you and build your experience portfolio. Giving back or studying social processes in a way that can help improve people's lives is a great place to start applying your anthropological knowledge. Whatever you do, do not spend your gap year playing video games in your parent's basement. You really need to work toward a set of goals. That could be writing an article for your local newspaper or a popular website or volunteering at a nearby clinic or shelter. Also remember, there is really no replacement for college credentials so not finishing those degrees will not serve you well in the future market.
What general advice would you give to a Survey Researcher?
Brian Wygal: For students graduating with a degree in the social sciences the job market is always a bit tricky. Fortunately, anthropology and similar disciplines prepare students with technical and social skills useful for navigating difficult terrain-and these skills do not go out of date. First, if you are interested in pursuing a research or teaching position, then obviously graduate school is the necessary choice. However, many of my students chose to enter the workforce following their undergraduate degree. With an archaeological field school or other technical training (like GIS) under your belt and a willingness to move around, recent graduates can almost always find entry level jobs as a field technicians, conducing survey, or excavation work with private sector consulting firms. This is also true of certain environmental sectors. A better route would be to secure an internship with federal or state government agency to begin building job experience but this strategy is easier as a current student rather than after graduating so keep this in mind during your junior and senior years. Try applying specifically to planning departments or a nearby NGO to use your skills working with maps or conducting research. Clearly, there is a lot of funding right now for public health departments and there may soon be funding for climate change related fields. With recent reductions in work forces and shrinking budgets, look to economies of the future like preparation work related to solar panel or wind farm installations and support sites.
Above all, follow your passion. Eventually a niche you love will open up and you'll find your place. The world needs anthropologists now more than ever before. Remember that anthropology is ultimately about helping people. Find the best way for you to be contribute and eventually a professional path will emerge.
What general advice would you give to a Survey Researcher?
Hansjakob Werlen Ph.D.: If your degree is not in a particular high-demand field, such as computer science or organic chemistry, consider positions that, while not exactly matching the field of your degree (e.g. in management, health care), provide job opportunities where strong language and writing skills are in demand while the specifics of the position can be learned. Make full use of the advantage your fluency in a foreign language gives you. Even a cursory look at job advertisements by German international companies shows that verbal and written knowledge of German is a prerequisite for being hired.
What general advice would you give to a Survey Researcher?
Pedar Foss Ph.D.: The advice to students who are graduating is that college prepares them not just for their first job but for a lifetime of adapting to the changing labor landscape. What matters is not what one is doing at age 25, but at age 40. Flexibility, adaptability, and nimbleness, combined with an open mind and exposure to multiple points of view and numerous disciplinary approaches to problems, will ensure that a student can surf their career and not get swamped by a wave of change that overcomes someone who has learned/done only one thing and is therefore stuck in that job.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Survey Researchers to find work opportunities?
David Woodward: While the traditional path to employment in History has been through education licensure (secondary education) or through graduate degrees to become university faculty, most historians and heritage professionals are employed outside of academia. Prior to COVID 19, the field of public History was expanding. Public History covers museums, historic site management, historic preservation and compliance, and heritage interpretation. Many of our graduates over the past couple of years have found positions with local and regional museums and historical societies; others have found employment in historic preservation.
The preservation industry revolves around certain local, state, and federal laws that protect heritage and historic sites. The most comprehensive of these is the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. There are also state and local ordinances that also address historic preservation. Federal, state, and local governments, along with private developers, often enlist historians and public History professionals to help comply with these regulations. Most large infrastructure projects (roads, mines, pipelines, energy development) have a historic preservation component.
Dr. Neal Palmer Ph.D.
Chair, Associate ProfessorChristian Brothers University
Department of History and Political Science
How do you envision technology impacting Survey Researchers in the next 5 years?
Dr. Neal Palmer Ph.D.: History, like all fields, will surely move to more virtual forms of communication and internet-based work. I think history majors and professors will continue to become more creative and skilled in their use of technology to communicate, teach, and research. I expect professional historians will increasingly use virtual platforms to share their research and communicate with the general public. I expect history majors to enter the workforce with increased comfort, confidence, and knowledge regarding technology.
What Survey Researcher skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Neal Palmer Ph.D.: The answer to that question likely won't change from pre- to post-pandemic. Southern cities such as Nashville and Memphis were booming before the pandemic, and that will likely continue. These are good places to find jobs because the cost of living is relatively low, there are vibrant culture and entertainment, and there is not as much college-educated competition for jobs as in larger cities.
How do you envision technology impacting Survey Researchers in the next 5 years?
Doug Page Ph.D.: Our technology is changing and becoming more sophisticated at such a rapid pace; it is challenging to imagine what it will bring to the field of History. I can imagine improvements in the delivery of historical materials in places like the classroom, but also in museums, archives, and libraries. Archival preservation and retrieval are bound to improve, benefitting the public world of libraries and museums, but also corporate and governmental offices as well. If we are extremely lucky, such growing access could create a more informed citizenry, dedicated to using all that History can teach us about ourselves and how to best work together for progress.
Dr. Michael Workman
Associate ProfessorWest Virginia State University
Department of History & Political Science
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Survey Researchers to find work opportunities?
Dr. Michael Workman: A History Degree at WVSU equips students for a variety of work opportunities-not just in the field of history. Graduates learn about U.S. & world history, but they also develop skills in research and analysis, writing and argument, as well as presentations that are valuable in many fields, including government and politics, education, and even business. Teaching and working for local, state, and federal government agencies will remain the main fields for our history graduates. With the American public's growing appreciation for history, our graduates will find jobs in historic preservation and interpretation.
Living in a mostly rural state does limit the number of new jobs available, so some graduates will find their way to more urbanized areas, where salaries are usually higher as well. We've also found that some of our graduates truly love our state and are willing to stay and work here, albeit at lower salaries, because of the high
quality of life and family-like relations.
Dr. Timothy Roberts
Professor and Director of Graduate StudiesWestern Illinois University
Department of History
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Survey Researchers to find work opportunities?
Dr. Timothy Roberts: Job-rich areas in history traditionally have been in cities, like other jobs. But again, as distance learning and jobs-from-home become more common, cities may not be as attractive. Some American cities are already seeing a "brain drain." In the last few decades, high school teaching jobs have ebbed and flowed; currently, there is a shortage of qualified teachers, not only in STEM but also in history, in some parts of the country, believe it or not. Reforms are being discussed in some states that that raise high school teachers' salaries, which will create opportunities for qualified new graduates.
How do you envision technology impacting Survey Researchers in the next 5 years?
Lorraine Coons Ph.D.: Technology has already impacted the field as it has in most academic areas of study. Students interested in careers in archives, museums, and historical societies need to be conversant with computer software specifically related to their work. Teachers, as this pandemic is showing, need to be brought up to speed with online instruction.