Survey Researchers Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for survey researchers is $69,460, or $33.40 per hour. About 8,290 people work in this occupation nationwide. Wages vary substantially by state — from $104,220 in Minnesota to $47,330 in Maine.
Wage distribution nationwide
Earnings spread across all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Salary by state
All 31 states with published data, ranked by median annual wage.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnesota | $104,220 | $50.11 | 340 | 2.15 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $102,390 | $49.23 | 150 | 4.03 |
| 3 | Michigan | $101,550 | $48.82 | 150 | 0.64 |
| 4 | North Carolina | $96,560 | $46.43 | 350 | 1.31 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $95,580 | $45.95 | 100 | 0.44 |
| 6 | Wisconsin | $92,660 | $44.55 | 60 | 0.35 |
| 7 | Colorado | $89,870 | $43.21 | 110 | 0.71 |
| 8 | Connecticut | $88,320 | $42.46 | 110 | 1.25 |
| 9 | New York | $86,890 | $41.77 | 380 | 0.74 |
| 10 | Wyoming | $84,360 | $40.56 | 40 | 2.61 |
| 11 | Maryland | $84,030 | $40.40 | 390 | 2.64 |
| 12 | California | $83,520 | $40.16 | 1,180 | 1.21 |
| 13 | Iowa | $83,170 | $39.99 | 90 | 1.12 |
| 14 | Utah | $79,090 | $38.02 | 50 | 0.57 |
| 15 | Massachusetts | $74,890 | $36.01 | 160 | 0.83 |
| 16 | Alaska | $70,560 | $33.93 | 40 | 2.10 |
| 17 | Washington | $69,590 | $33.46 | 130 | 0.70 |
| 18 | Tennessee | $66,900 | $32.16 | 210 | 1.22 |
| 19 | Missouri | $66,460 | $31.95 | 130 | 0.81 |
| 20 | Oregon | $64,660 | $31.09 | 190 | 1.78 |
| 21 | Nebraska | $64,530 | $31.02 | 210 | 3.85 |
| 22 | Pennsylvania | $63,310 | $30.44 | — | — |
| 23 | New Mexico | $61,380 | $29.51 | 130 | 2.70 |
| 24 | Arizona | $59,210 | $28.47 | — | — |
| 25 | Kansas | $57,700 | $27.74 | 210 | 2.70 |
| 26 | Ohio | $57,630 | $27.71 | 320 | 1.08 |
| 27 | Oklahoma | $57,200 | $27.50 | 50 | 0.56 |
| 28 | Illinois | $54,080 | $26.00 | 320 | 1.00 |
| 29 | Georgia | $51,590 | $24.81 | — | — |
| 30 | Texas | $47,330 | $22.76 | 680 | 0.91 |
| 31 | Maine | $47,330 | $22.76 | 60 | 1.65 |
Related occupations
Same job family, ranked by national employment.
Frequently asked questions
How much do survey researchers make?
The median annual wage for survey researchers in the United States is $69,460, or $33.40 per hour. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) earn $39,260, and the top 10% earn $130,860.
How many survey researchers are employed in the U.S.?
About 8,290 people work as survey researchers nationwide.
Which state pays survey researchers the most?
Minnesota pays the most at a median of $104,220, followed by District of Columbia ($102,390) and Michigan ($101,550).
Which state pays survey researchers the least?
Maine has the lowest median at $47,330.
Where are survey researchers jobs most concentrated?
The location quotient measures employment concentration relative to the national average. The highest is District of Columbia at 4.03×.