Survey Researcher Salary
Survey Researchers earn a median $69,460 a year nationally. Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations
U.S. median
$69,460
$33.39 per hour
Range
$39,260 – $130,860
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
8,290
across the U.S.
Survey Researcher take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$57,695
per year · effective tax rate 16.9%
$4,808Monthly
$2,404Twice a month
$2,219Every 2 weeks
$27.74Hourly
- Federal income tax$6,451
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,307
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,007
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$57,695
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,260 | $18.88 | $33,725 |
| 25th percentile | $51,270 | $24.65 | $43,375 |
| Median (50th) | $69,460 | $33.39 | $57,695 |
| 75th percentile | $99,760 | $47.96 | $79,011 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $130,860 | $62.91 | $100,709 |
Best cities for survey researchers (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $97,780 | $72,275 | $66,378 | 620 |
| 2 | Los Angeles, CA | $83,520 | $62,963 | $55,442 | 550 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- Washington, DC — $97,780
- Los Angeles, CA — $83,520
Survey Researcher salary by state
| State | Median | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | $104,220 | $76,585 | $55,420 – $124,140 | 340 |
| District of Columbia | $102,390 | $75,127 | $79,040 – $217,080 | 150 |
| Michigan | $101,550 | $76,205 | $57,050 – $155,830 | 150 |
| North Carolina | $96,560 | $73,416 | $53,680 – $171,270 | 350 |
| New Jersey | $95,580 | $72,172 | $54,900 – $190,360 | 100 |
| Wisconsin | $92,660 | $70,486 | $66,800 – $125,410 | 60 |
| Colorado | $89,870 | $68,808 | $47,600 – $145,040 | 110 |
| Connecticut | $88,320 | $67,681 | $56,800 – $129,980 | 110 |
| New York | $86,890 | $65,862 | $60,890 – $127,820 | 380 |
| Wyoming | $84,360 | $68,177 | $55,940 – $108,300 | 40 |
| Maryland | $84,030 | $64,317 | $44,730 – $135,520 | 390 |
| California | $83,520 | $62,963 | $52,110 – $171,640 | 1,180 |
| Iowa | $83,170 | $64,831 | $74,350 – $93,950 | 90 |
| Utah | $79,090 | $61,877 | $51,160 – $175,100 | 50 |
| Massachusetts | $74,890 | $57,991 | $43,730 – $90,780 | 160 |
| Alaska | $70,560 | $58,469 | $63,490 – $89,230 | 40 |
| Washington | $69,590 | $57,787 | $48,760 – $97,150 | 130 |
| Tennessee | $66,900 | $55,894 | $45,760 – $97,380 | 210 |
| Missouri | $66,460 | $53,394 | $29,270 – $97,990 | 130 |
| Oregon | $64,660 | $49,306 | $57,270 – $107,290 | 190 |
| Nebraska | $64,530 | $51,973 | $33,070 – $83,540 | 210 |
| Pennsylvania | $63,310 | $51,106 | $18,180 – $82,930 | — |
| New Mexico | $61,380 | $49,780 | $52,270 – $80,450 | 130 |
| Arizona | $59,210 | $48,484 | $46,930 – $142,980 | — |
| Kansas | $57,700 | $46,122 | $33,730 – $79,080 | 210 |
| Ohio | $57,630 | $47,683 | $36,130 – $112,490 | 320 |
| Oklahoma | $57,200 | $46,112 | $44,490 – $84,640 | 50 |
| Illinois | $54,080 | $43,101 | $42,750 – $135,730 | 320 |
| Georgia | $51,590 | $41,578 | $41,780 – $92,800 | — |
| Maine | $47,330 | $38,197 | $35,820 – $77,880 | 60 |
| Texas | $47,330 | $40,210 | $26,040 – $82,060 | 680 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a survey researcher make?
The national median salary for survey researchers is $69,460 a year ($33.39 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $39,260 and the top 10% earn over $130,860. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays survey researchers the most?
Minnesota has the highest median pay at $104,220. After taxes and local prices, Washington, DC offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many survey researchers are there in the U.S.?
About 8,290 people work as survey researchers nationwide.