How much does a market researcher make?
a year · about $38 an hour
A typical market researcher in the United States makes $78,760 a year, about $38 an hour, about 1.5× a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
An analyst may build a survey, sort sales and customer data, and use software to spot what shoppers like. Then they turn the clues into charts or a report and explain them to the marketing team.
Did you know? Market researchers can study huge piles of social-media comments and online product reviews to learn what people like—not just ask them in surveys.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $43,390 and $155,480How do you become one?
In the U.S., a bachelor's degree in marketing, business, communications, or social science is the usual path; classes in statistics and research methods help. Internships or volunteer research help, and certification is optional.
School needed: Usually a bachelor's degree
Good for people who like leading and selling and keeping things organized
Why does pay differ?
In the United States, pay varies with experience, education, location, and industry. A master’s degree is often needed for technical research or leadership roles.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Massachusetts ($101,810), lowest in West Virginia ($52,340).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $43,390 | $78,760 | $155,480 | about 900,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $101,810 | about 40,000 |
| Delaware | $101,270 | about 4,000 |
| New York | $98,580 | about 81,000 |
| District of Columbia | $98,090 | about 6,000 |
| Washington | $95,120 | about 24,000 |
Official definition: Research conditions in local, regional, national, or online markets. Gather information to determine potential sales of a product or service, or plan a marketing or advertising campaign. May gather information on competitors, prices, sales, and methods of marketing and distribution. May employ search marketing tactics, analyze web metrics, and develop recommendations to increase search engine ranking and visibility to target markets. Excludes “Web and Digital Interface Designers” (15-1255), “Art Directors” (27-1011), “Graphic Designers” (27-1024), and “Public Relations Specialists” (27-3031).
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/market-research-analysts.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/13-1161.00
- www.bls.gov/oes/earnings.htm
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY