19 Series · SOC 19-3022
Survey Researchers Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $69,460
- Median / year
- $130,860
- Top 10% earn
- -5.2%
- Growth '23–'33
- 8,290
- US workers
Survey Researchers earn a median of $69,460 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $69,460, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $39,260 (10th percentile) to $130,860 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 8,290 US workers. Minnesota pays the most ($104,220), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Survey Researchers earn a median of $69,460, putting them above the typical US occupation and higher than 61% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Life, Physical, and Social Science, it ranks #36 of 48 by median pay. Employment is projected to fall 5.2% by 2033.
- $69,460
- Median annual wage
- Top 39%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #36 of 48
- in Life, Physical, and Social Science
- 3.3×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Minnesota at $104,220. Typical entry-level education: Master's degree.
Survey Researchers (SOC 19-3022) pays a national median of $69,460 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $39,260 at the 10th percentile to $130,860 at the 90th, with a mean of $79,580 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 8,290 Americans work in this occupation across 31 reporting states and 33 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a -5.2% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as declining relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 700 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is Master's degree. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of A for this role, with a fatality rate of 1.5 per 100,000 and injury rate of 0.7 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Minnesota pays the highest state median at $104,220, which is +50% above the national figure. The top metro is San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA at $110,540 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
Median Salary
$69,460
per year
Median Hourly
$33.40/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$79,580
average
Employment
8,290
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Survey Researchers pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$69,460 Top 39% higher than 61% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 19-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Survey Researchers; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 25 19-series occupations with growth data, Survey Researchers sits on the slower-growing side at -5.2% growth and $69,460 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
-5.2%
Declining
Annual Openings
700
per year (projected)
Typical Education
Master's degree
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Very Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
1.5/100K
Injury Rate
0.7/100
Danger Index
3.6/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Survey Researchers roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key Tasks
- ▸ Conduct surveys and collect data, using methods such as interviews, questionnaires, focus groups, market analysis surveys, public opinion polls, literature reviews, and file reviews.
- ▸ Prepare and present summaries and analyses of survey data, including tables, graphs, and fact sheets that describe survey techniques and results.
- ▸ Consult with clients to identify survey needs and specific requirements, such as special samples.
- ▸ Determine and specify details of survey projects, including sources of information, procedures to be used, and the design of survey instruments and materials.
- ▸ Support, plan, and coordinate operations for single or multiple surveys.
- ▸ Monitor and evaluate survey progress and performance, using sample disposition reports and response rate calculations.
- ▸ Collaborate with other researchers in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of surveys.
- ▸ Conduct research to gather information about survey topics.
- ▸ Direct and review the work of staff members, including survey support staff and interviewers who gather survey data.
- ▸ Direct updates and changes in survey implementation and methods.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$39,260
25th Percentile
$51,270
Median
$69,460
75th Percentile
$99,760
90th Percentile
$130,860
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
Lowest Paying States
View all 31 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnesota | $104,220 | +50% above national |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $102,390 | +47% above national |
| 3 | Michigan | $101,550 | +46% above national |
| 4 | North Carolina | $96,560 | +39% above national |
| 5 | New Jersey | $95,580 | +38% above national |
| 6 | Wisconsin | $92,660 | +33% above national |
| 7 | Colorado | $89,870 | +29% above national |
| 8 | Connecticut | $88,320 | +27% above national |
| 9 | New York | $86,890 | +25% above national |
| 10 | Wyoming | $84,360 | +21% above national |
| 11 | Maryland | $84,030 | +21% above national |
| 12 | California | $83,520 | +20% above national |
| 13 | Iowa | $83,170 | +20% above national |
| 14 | Utah | $79,090 | +14% above national |
| 15 | Massachusetts | $74,890 | +8% above national |
| 16 | Alaska | $70,560 | +2% above national |
| 17 | Washington | $69,590 | same as national |
| 18 | Tennessee | $66,900 | 4% below national |
| 19 | Missouri | $66,460 | 4% below national |
| 20 | Oregon | $64,660 | 7% below national |
| 21 | Nebraska | $64,530 | 7% below national |
| 22 | Pennsylvania | $63,310 | 9% below national |
| 23 | New Mexico | $61,380 | 12% below national |
| 24 | Arizona | $59,210 | 15% below national |
| 25 | Kansas | $57,700 | 17% below national |
| 26 | Ohio | $57,630 | 17% below national |
| 27 | Oklahoma | $57,200 | 18% below national |
| 28 | Illinois | $54,080 | 22% below national |
| 29 | Georgia | $51,590 | 26% below national |
| 30 | Maine | $47,330 | 32% below national |
| 31 | Texas | $47,330 | 32% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 33 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $110,540 | +59% above national |
| 2 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $109,350 | +57% above national |
| 3 | Ann Arbor, MI | $103,140 | +48% above national |
| 4 | New Haven, CT | $98,570 | +42% above national |
| 5 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $97,780 | +41% above national |
| 6 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $92,160 | +33% above national |
| 7 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $87,620 | +26% above national |
| 8 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $87,570 | +26% above national |
| 9 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $86,890 | +25% above national |
| 10 | Eastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $84,360 | +21% above national |
| 11 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $83,520 | +20% above national |
| 12 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $83,190 | +20% above national |
| 13 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $78,560 | +13% above national |
| 14 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $77,500 | +12% above national |
| 15 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $74,890 | +8% above national |
| 16 | Charlottesville, VA | $74,010 | +7% above national |
| 17 | Richmond, VA | $72,610 | +5% above national |
| 18 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $70,400 | +1% above national |
| 19 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $69,620 | same as national |
| 20 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $69,590 | same as national |
| 21 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $69,100 | 1% below national |
| 22 | Omaha, NE-IA | $67,780 | 2% below national |
| 23 | Eugene-Springfield, OR | $64,660 | 7% below national |
| 24 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $64,460 | 7% below national |
| 25 | Albuquerque, NM | $60,820 | 12% below national |
| 26 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $59,210 | 15% below national |
| 27 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $58,300 | 16% below national |
| 28 | Oklahoma City, OK | $57,200 | 18% below national |
| 29 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $54,080 | 22% below national |
| 30 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $49,940 | 28% below national |
| 31 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $48,810 | 30% below national |
| 32 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $45,350 | 35% below national |
| 33 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $37,500 | 46% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 19 (life physical and social science) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Survey Researchers make? ▼
What state pays Survey Researchers the most? ▼
What education do you need to become a Survey Researchers? ▼
How dangerous is being a Survey Researchers? ▼
Is Survey Researchers a good career? ▼
How does Survey Researchers pay vary by state? ▼
Which metro areas pay the most for Survey Researchers? ▼
What to do with this data
How to use Survey Researchers pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $99,760/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: Minnesota leads at $104,220/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.