Survey Researcher salary in the U.S.
Survey Researchers in the U.S. earn a median of $69,460 a year ($33.40 an hour), based on BLS data for 8,290 workers.
Pay ranges from $39,260 for the lowest-paid 10% to $130,860 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $79,580, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for survey researchers in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,260 | $18.87 |
| 25th percentile | $51,270 | $24.65 |
| Median | $69,460 | $33.40 |
| 75th percentile | $99,760 | $47.96 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $130,860 | $62.91 |
| Average (mean) | $79,580 | $38.26 |
Half of survey researchers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,788.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,894.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,671.54 |
| Weekly | $1,335.77 |
| Hourly | $33.40 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Survey Researcher salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | $104,220 | 340 |
| District of Columbia | $102,390 | 150 |
| Michigan | $101,550 | 150 |
| North Carolina | $96,560 | 350 |
| New Jersey | $95,580 | 100 |
| Wisconsin | $92,660 | 60 |
| Colorado | $89,870 | 110 |
| Connecticut | $88,320 | 110 |
| New York | $86,890 | 380 |
| Wyoming | $84,360 | 40 |
| Maryland | $84,030 | 390 |
| California | $83,520 | 1,180 |
| Iowa | $83,170 | 90 |
| Utah | $79,090 | 50 |
| Massachusetts | $74,890 | 160 |
| Alaska | $70,560 | 40 |
| Washington | $69,590 | 130 |
| Tennessee | $66,900 | 210 |
| Missouri | $66,460 | 130 |
| Oregon | $64,660 | 190 |
| Nebraska | $64,530 | 210 |
| Pennsylvania | $63,310 | n/a |
| New Mexico | $61,380 | 130 |
| Arizona | $59,210 | n/a |
| Kansas | $57,700 | 210 |
| Ohio | $57,630 | 320 |
| Oklahoma | $57,200 | 50 |
| Illinois | $54,080 | 320 |
| Georgia | $51,590 | n/a |
| Maine | $47,330 | 60 |
| Texas | $47,330 | 680 |
Best-paying metro areas for survey researchers
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $110,540 | 180 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $109,350 | n/a |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $103,140 | 60 |
| New Haven, CT | $98,570 | 30 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $97,780 | 620 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $92,160 | 40 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $87,620 | 190 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $87,570 | n/a |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $86,890 | 210 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $83,520 | 550 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $83,190 | 40 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $78,560 | 40 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $77,500 | 60 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $74,890 | 150 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $74,010 | 40 |
Metro areas with the most survey researchers
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 620 | $97,780 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 550 | $83,520 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 310 | $54,080 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 260 | $37,500 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | 210 | $86,890 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 190 | $87,620 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 180 | $110,540 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 150 | $74,890 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 110 | $69,590 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 100 | $48,810 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 100 | $69,100 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 100 | $70,400 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 100 | $64,460 |
| Albuquerque, NM | 80 | $60,820 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 80 | $49,940 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $100,580 | $48.36 |
| School Psychologist | $95,990 | $46.15 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $89,320 | $42.94 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $101,110 | $48.61 |
| Psychologists, All Other | $110,840 | $53.29 |
| Economist | $124,720 | $59.96 |
| Anthropologists and Archeologists | $70,770 | $34.02 |
| Political Scientist | $142,080 | $68.31 |
| Historian | $76,750 | $36.90 |
| Sociologist | $106,030 | $50.98 |
| Geographer | $102,040 | $49.06 |
| Industrial-Organizational Psychologist | $193,950 | $93.24 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $103,410 | $49.72 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $90,150 | $43.34 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 19-3022. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a survey researcher make in the U.S.?
The median salary for survey researchers in the U.S. is $69,460 a year, or $33.40 an hour. Pay ranges from $39,260 for the lowest-paid 10% to $130,860 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid survey researchers make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of survey researchers in the U.S. earn at least $130,860 a year. The top 25% earn $99,760 or more.
What is the starting pay for survey researchers in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $39,260 a year, and a quarter of survey researchers earn $51,270 or less.
How many survey researchers work in the U.S.?
About 8,290 survey researchers are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.