Survey Researchers Salaries by State
Mean and median pay, wage percentiles, employment, and top-paying metro areas for survey researcherss across the U.S. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (data.bls.gov OEWS tool /OESServices/combo/table, all-occupation crawl by area).
Job Outlook, 2024–2034
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.
Salary Map
Brighter tiles = higher average pay; dashed tiles have no data. Click a state for details.
💰 Top 5 Highest-Paying States
- District of Columbia$121,060
- New Jersey$106,680
- Michigan$103,410
- North Carolina$102,230
- California$102,180
📉 5 Lowest-Paying States
- Texas$47,730
- Maine$50,540
- Pennsylvania$57,090
- Kansas$57,760
- Oklahoma$60,510
State Rankings
| # | State | Mean | Median | Hourly | vs. U.S. | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $121,060 | $102,390 | $58 | +52.1% | 150 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $106,680 | $95,580 | $51 | +34.1% | 100 |
| 3 | Michigan | $103,410 | $101,550 | $50 | +29.9% | 150 |
| 4 | North Carolina | $102,230 | $96,560 | $49 | +28.5% | 350 |
| 5 | California | $102,180 | $83,520 | $49 | +28.4% | 1,180 |
| 6 | Utah | $101,930 | $79,090 | $49 | +28.1% | 50 |
| 7 | Minnesota | $98,450 | $104,220 | $47 | +23.7% | 340 |
| 8 | Wisconsin | $95,970 | $92,660 | $46 | +20.6% | 60 |
| 9 | Colorado | $93,840 | $89,870 | $45 | +17.9% | 110 |
| 10 | Maryland | $92,410 | $84,030 | $44 | +16.1% | 390 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $91,780 | $88,320 | $44 | +15.3% | 110 |
| 12 | New York | $90,370 | $86,890 | $43 | +13.6% | 380 |
| 13 | Iowa | $82,010 | $83,170 | $39 | +3.1% | 90 |
| 14 | Wyoming | $79,550 | $84,360 | $38 | +0% | 40 |
| 15 | Washington | $75,960 | $69,590 | $37 | -4.5% | 130 |
| 16 | Illinois | $75,800 | $54,080 | $36 | -4.7% | 320 |
| 17 | Alaska | $74,640 | $70,560 | $36 | -6.2% | 40 |
| 18 | Oregon | $73,510 | $64,660 | $35 | -7.6% | 190 |
| 19 | Tennessee | $71,030 | $66,900 | $34 | -10.7% | 210 |
| 20 | Massachusetts | $68,860 | $74,890 | $33 | -13.5% | 160 |
| 21 | Ohio | $68,770 | $57,630 | $33 | -13.6% | 320 |
| 22 | Arizona | $68,740 | $59,210 | $33 | -13.6% | — |
| 23 | New Mexico | $67,260 | $61,380 | $32 | -15.5% | 130 |
| 24 | Missouri | $64,590 | $66,460 | $31 | -18.8% | 130 |
| 25 | Georgia | $62,640 | $51,590 | $30 | -21.3% | — |
| 26 | Nebraska | $60,890 | $64,530 | $29 | -23.5% | 210 |
| 27 | Oklahoma | $60,510 | $57,200 | $29 | -24% | 50 |
| 28 | Kansas | $57,760 | $57,700 | $28 | -27.4% | 210 |
| 29 | Pennsylvania | $57,090 | $63,310 | $27 | -28.3% | — |
| 30 | Maine | $50,540 | $47,330 | $24 | -36.5% | 60 |
| 31 | Texas | $47,730 | $47,330 | $23 | -40% | 680 |
Top-Paying Metro Areas
Highest median pay among 37 metro areas.
| # | Metro area | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $110,540 | $142,860 | 180 |
| 2 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $109,350 | $127,690 | — |
| 3 | Ann Arbor, MI | $103,140 | $101,790 | 60 |
| 4 | New Haven, CT | $98,570 | $100,610 | 30 |
| 5 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $97,780 | $101,780 | 620 |
| 6 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $92,160 | $96,130 | 40 |
| 7 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $87,620 | $92,340 | 190 |
| 8 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $87,570 | $90,030 | — |
| 9 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $86,890 | $89,840 | 210 |
| 10 | Eastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $84,360 | $79,550 | 40 |
Pay by Industry
Highest-paying industries employing survey researcherss (BLS OEWS, by median).
| # | Industry | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities | $108,310 | $110,140 | 1,080 |
| 2 | Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $106,190 | $92,930 | 230 |
| 3 | Scientific Research and Development Services | $98,470 | $107,030 | 1,430 |
| 4 | Management of Companies and Enterprises | $93,170 | $99,470 | 60 |
| 5 | Management of Companies and Enterprises | $93,170 | $99,470 | 60 |
| 6 | Sector 55 - Management of Companies and Enterprises | $93,170 | $99,470 | 60 |
| 7 | Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences | $89,660 | $97,590 | 350 |
| 8 | Educational Support Services | $85,820 | $93,810 | 70 |
| 9 | Educational Support Services, Privately Owned | $85,820 | $93,430 | 60 |
| 10 | Engineering Services | $83,170 | $81,060 | — |
| 11 | Social Assistance | $82,080 | $81,140 | — |
| 12 | Individual and Family Services | $80,390 | $79,910 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do survey researchers make in the U.S.?
The median survey researchers salary in the United States is $69,460 per year (mean $79,580), and about 80% earn between $39,260 and $130,860.
How much do survey researchers make per hour?
Roughly $38 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $79,580 and 2,080 work hours per year.
Which state pays survey researchers the most?
District of Columbia has the highest average pay for survey researchers at $121,060 per year (median $102,390).
What is the job outlook for survey researchers?
Employment is projected to change -5.2% from 2024 to 2034 (Decline), with about 700 openings per year.
What People Search
Common U.S. search queries related to this occupation.