How much does a Survey Researcher make?
A Survey Researcher earns a median annual salary of $69,460 in the United States, which works out to roughly $33.39 per hour for full-time work. Most Survey Researchers earn between $39,260 at the entry level and $130,860 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $51,270 and $99,760 a year.
That is $8,070 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Survey Researcher salary range by percentile
Half of all Survey Researchers earn between $51,270 and $99,760 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,260 | $18.88 | |
| 25th percentile (early career) | $51,270 | $24.65 | |
| 50th percentile (median) | $69,460 | $33.39 | |
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $99,760 | $47.96 | |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $130,860 | $62.91 |
Highest-paying states for Survey Researcher
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Minnesota leads the country for Survey Researcher pay at $104,220 a year, followed by District of Columbia ($102,390) and Michigan ($101,550). At the other end, Texas posts the lowest median at $47,330 — a gap of $56,890 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
| # | State | Median salary | Hourly | vs national |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnesota | $104,220 | $50.11 | +50% |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $102,390 | $49.23 | +47% |
| 3 | Michigan | $101,550 | $48.82 | +46% |
| 4 | North Carolina | $96,560 | $46.42 | +39% |
| 5 | New Jersey | $95,580 | $45.95 | +38% |
Survey Researcher salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 31 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
Workforce and education
About 8,000 people work as Survey Researchers in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $79,580 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
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