Survey Researcher salary in California
Survey Researchers in California earn a median of $83,520 a year ($40.16 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,180 workers.
Pay ranges from $52,110 for the lowest-paid 10% to $171,640 for the top 10%. That is 20% higher than the national median of $69,460. California ranks 12th of 31 states for survey researchers pay. There are 0.07 survey researchers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $102,180, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for survey researchers in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $52,110 | $25.05 |
| 25th percentile | $68,840 | $33.10 |
| Median | $83,520 | $40.16 |
| 75th percentile | $119,090 | $57.25 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $171,640 | $82.52 |
| Average (mean) | $102,180 | $49.12 |
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 | $6,960 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,480 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,212.31 |
| Weekly | $1,606.15 |
| Hourly | $40.16 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Survey Researcher salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $110,540 | 180 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $109,350 | n/a |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $83,520 | 550 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $69,620 | 60 |
Highest-paying states for survey researchers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Minnesota | $104,220 |
| District of Columbia | $102,390 |
| Michigan | $101,550 |
| North Carolina | $96,560 |
| New Jersey | $95,580 |
| Wisconsin | $92,660 |
| Colorado | $89,870 |
| Connecticut | $88,320 |
| New York | $86,890 |
| Wyoming | $84,360 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $116,000 | $55.77 |
| School Psychologist | $127,780 | $61.43 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $109,610 | $52.70 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $97,900 | $47.07 |
| Anthropologists and Archeologists | $72,240 | $34.73 |
| Psychologists, All Other | $157,540 | $75.74 |
| Economist | $119,410 | $57.41 |
| Sociologist | $125,770 | $60.47 |
| Historian | $97,420 | $46.84 |
| Geographer | $114,460 | $55.03 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $136,990 | $65.86 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $102,840 | $49.44 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $106,510 | $51.21 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $113,530 | $54.58 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in California
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 California?
The median salary for survey researchers in California is $83,520 a year, or $40.16 an hour. Pay ranges from $52,110 for the lowest-paid 10% to $171,640 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid survey researchers make in California?
The top 10% of survey researchers in California earn at least $171,640 a year. The top 25% earn $119,090 or more.
What is the starting pay for survey researchers in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $52,110 a year, and a quarter of survey researchers earn $68,840 or less.
How many survey researchers work in California?
About 1,180 survey researchers are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.