Best degree programs for Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists, ranked by enrollment
16 college programs and 1,146 schools train Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists. Compare graduates per year, cost and pay, $78,760 median wage, 899,580 U.S. jobs. Federal data.
16 college programs at 1,146 schools train market research analysts and marketing specialists, graduating 65,773 people a year (IPEDS completions). The largest is Marketing/Marketing Management, General. The job pays a median of $78,760 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
About market research analysts and marketing specialists
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.
Fields of study that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level, the tier our program pages are built on. Numbers are graduates per year.
16 degree programs that lead to this job
Ranked by graduates per year (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are College Scorecard figures for people who finished the program, reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. That is a different measurement from the occupation-wide wages further down this page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CIP 52.1401 | 49,123 | 74.7% | 973 | $44,670 | $24,250 |
| 2 | CIP 30.7102 | 11,181 | 17.0% | 205 | — | — |
| 3 | CIP 52.1404 | 1,960 | 3.0% | 106 | $44,670 | $24,250 |
| 4 | CIP 52.1499 | 1,226 | 1.9% | 82 | $44,670 | $24,250 |
| 5 | CIP 19.0905 | 530 | 0.8% | 32 | $36,635 | $24,750 |
| 6 | CIP 52.1403 | 516 | 0.8% | 13 | $44,670 | $24,250 |
| 7 | CIP 45.0602 | 378 | 0.6% | 28 | $51,725 | $22,907 |
| 8 | Special Products Marketing Operationsmain feeder CIP 52.1909 | 204 | 0.3% | 8 | $35,157 | $26,750 |
| 9 | CIP 52.1402 | 182 | 0.3% | 19 | $44,670 | $24,250 |
| 10 | CIP 52.1905 | 141 | 0.2% | 15 | $35,157 | $26,750 |
| 11 | CIP 19.0203 | 107 | 0.2% | 11 | $40,949 | $23,344 |
| 12 | Apparel and Accessories Marketing Operationsmain feeder CIP 52.1904 | 74 | 0.1% | 8 | $35,157 | $26,750 |
| 13 | CIP 52.1910 | 56 | 0.1% | 8 | $35,157 | $26,750 |
| 14 | CIP 52.1907 | 46 | 0.1% | 4 | $35,157 | $26,750 |
| 15 | CIP 52.1908 | 33 | 0.1% | 4 | $35,157 | $26,750 |
| 16 | Tourism Promotion Operationsmain feeder CIP 52.1906 | 16 | 0.0% | 4 | $35,157 | $26,750 |
Top 50 schools by graduates into this job
Counting every feeder program a school offers, not just its largest one.
What market research analysts and marketing specialists earn
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
Top-paying states
Top-paying metro areas
Job outlook
Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.
Where the jobs are, state by state
Pick a state for in-state pay, the schools there, and the programs they run.
| State | Median pay | Jobs | Concentration | Schools | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | $72,520 | 63,350 | 0.78× | 67 | 7,780 |
| Florida | $75,450 | 60,770 | 1.06× | 48 | 4,101 |
| Ohio | $72,790 | 27,370 | 0.85× | 55 | 3,484 |
| Utah | $62,630 | 14,510 | 1.44× | 13 | 2,887 |
| New York | $98,580 | 80,500 | 1.44× | 74 | 2,870 |
| Pennsylvania | $68,760 | 31,040 | 0.88× | 67 | 2,797 |
| Massachusetts | $101,810 | 39,710 | 1.89× | 42 | 2,532 |
| Illinois | $79,120 | 40,560 | 1.15× | 54 | 2,399 |
| Georgia | $75,850 | 27,810 | 0.98× | 42 | 2,267 |
| Wisconsin | $64,800 | 15,600 | 0.92× | 36 | 2,022 |
| Indiana | $63,700 | 14,400 | 0.78× | 30 | 2,015 |
| Arizona | $71,940 | 15,850 | 0.85× | 17 | 1,946 |
| Michigan | $66,780 | 24,220 | 0.95× | 43 | 1,910 |
| California | $94,700 | 119,070 | 1.13× | 50 | 1,614 |
| Alabama | $59,530 | 8,390 | 0.69× | 16 | 1,448 |
| North Carolina | $78,410 | 30,700 | 1.07× | 22 | 1,412 |
| South Carolina | $69,440 | 11,920 | 0.89× | 18 | 1,358 |
| New Jersey | $88,190 | 22,990 | 0.93× | 25 | 1,335 |
| Tennessee | $69,790 | 13,040 | 0.69× | 25 | 1,290 |
| Connecticut | $77,740 | 9,930 | 1.01× | 12 | 1,208 |
| Minnesota | $87,510 | 21,280 | 1.25× | 33 | 1,125 |
| Washington | $95,120 | 24,460 | 1.19× | 27 | 1,062 |
| Virginia | $76,980 | 25,610 | 1.08× | 20 | 1,060 |
| Missouri | $70,140 | 14,890 | 0.88× | 28 | 923 |
| Oklahoma | $61,940 | 6,620 | 0.67× | 18 | 911 |
| New Hampshire | $64,570 | 4,200 | 1.06× | 11 | 845 |
| Iowa | $66,390 | 8,880 | 0.98× | 17 | 841 |
| Kansas | $70,430 | 8,090 | 0.97× | 20 | 836 |
| Kentucky | $61,480 | 6,290 | 0.54× | 13 | 826 |
| Idaho | $60,970 | 3,780 | 0.76× | 9 | 820 |
| Mississippi | $56,640 | 2,620 | 0.39× | 20 | 778 |
| Louisiana | $59,690 | 5,360 | 0.48× | 14 | 764 |
| Arkansas | $65,430 | 6,250 | 0.83× | 16 | 718 |
| Maryland | $76,370 | 13,570 | 0.85× | 16 | 595 |
| Colorado | $93,050 | 27,880 | 1.68× | 14 | 579 |
| Rhode Island | $86,240 | 3,210 | 1.11× | 9 | 541 |
| Oregon | $79,150 | 11,310 | 0.99× | 15 | 497 |
| Nebraska | $60,000 | 3,780 | 0.64× | 8 | 449 |
| Delaware | $101,270 | 3,570 | 1.27× | 5 | 390 |
| Nevadamoderate | $71,840 | 5,780 | 0.64× | 4 | 305 |
| West Virginia | $52,340 | 1,650 | 0.41× | 8 | 286 |
| District of Columbia | $98,090 | 6,340 | 1.56× | 5 | 276 |
| Hawaiimoderate | $59,390 | 1,610 | 0.44× | 3 | 193 |
| North Dakota | $61,580 | 1,550 | 0.62× | 7 | 191 |
| Maine | $71,980 | 2,390 | 0.64× | 6 | 181 |
| South Dakota | $63,490 | 1,530 | 0.58× | 7 | 163 |
| New Mexicomoderate | $61,950 | 1,610 | 0.32× | 4 | 109 |
| Wyominglimited | $60,990 | 850 | 0.52× | 2 | 59 |
| Vermontlimited | $74,880 | 860 | 0.49× | 2 | 54 |
| Montanalimited | $68,080 | 1,460 | 0.49× | 2 | 47 |
| Alaskalimited | $66,710 | 570 | 0.31× | 1 | 16 |
Skills and tools
From O*NET, the U.S. Department of Labor's occupational database. Importance is a 1 to 5 scale.
What they do day to day
- Prepare reports of findings, illustrating data graphically and translating complex findings into written text.
- Collect and analyze data on customer demographics, preferences, needs, and buying habits to identify potential markets and factors affecting product demand.
- Conduct research on consumer opinions and marketing strategies, collaborating with marketing professionals, statisticians, pollsters, and other professionals.
- Measure and assess customer and employee satisfaction.
- Devise and evaluate methods and procedures for collecting data, such as surveys, opinion polls, or questionnaires, or arrange to obtain existing data.
- Measure the effectiveness of marketing, advertising, and communications programs and strategies.
- Seek and provide information to help companies determine their position in the marketplace.
- Forecast and track marketing and sales trends, analyzing collected data.
Skills
- Reading Comprehension3.9
- Critical Thinking3.9
- Active Listening3.8
- Writing3.8
- Speaking3.8
- Active Learning3.6
- Monitoring3.3
- Mathematics3.0
Knowledge areas
- Sales and Marketing4.3
- English Language4.3
- Mathematics3.8
- Computers and Electronics3.8
- Communications and Media3.7
- Customer and Personal Service3.6
Abilities
- Oral Comprehension4.0
- Oral Expression4.0
- Written Comprehension4.0
- Deductive Reasoning3.9
- Fluency of Ideas3.9
- Written Expression3.9
Core activities
- Working with Computers4.7
- Analyzing Data or Information4.7
- Getting Information4.7
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems4.6
- Processing Information4.6
- Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others4.5
Tools and technology
hotmarks an O*NET hot technologyHow to get in
How to become a Market Research Analyst
Job zone 4 of 5 · SVP 7.0 to < 8.0- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Every major mapped to this job
The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.
All 16 majors mapped to Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists16 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
- 19.0203Consumer Merchandising/Retailing Management
- 19.0905Apparel and Textile Marketing Management
- 30.7102Business Analytics
- 45.0602Applied Economics
- 52.1401Marketing/Marketing Management, General
- 52.1402Marketing Research
- 52.1403International Marketing
- 52.1404Digital Marketing
- 52.1499Marketing, Other
- 52.1904Apparel and Accessories Marketing Operations
- 52.1905Tourism and Travel Services Marketing Operations
- 52.1906Tourism Promotion Operations
- 52.1907Vehicle and Vehicle Parts and Accessories Marketing Operations
- 52.1908Business and Personal/Financial Services Marketing Operations
- 52.1909Special Products Marketing Operations
- 52.1910Hospitality and Recreation Marketing Operations
Related careers
Jobs O*NET identifies as close to this one, with their own pay and outlook.
Common questions
What degree do you need to become a Market Research Analyst?+
Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education BLS reports for this occupation. The most common program people actually graduate from is Marketing/Marketing Management, General, which awarded 49,123 degrees in 2024-25, 74.7% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.
Which college majors lead to becoming a Market Research Analyst?+
The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 16 programs to this occupation. The largest are Marketing, Data Analytics, Specialized Sales, Apparel and Textiles, plus 2 more. Together they graduate about 65,773 people a year.
How much do market research analysts and marketing specialists earn?+
The median is $78,760 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). The middle range runs from $43,390 at the 10th percentile to $155,480 at the 90th. This is pay for people already working in the occupation, not the same thing as graduate earnings one year after finishing a degree.
Is demand for market research analysts and marketing specialists growing?+
BLS projects a +6.7% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, faster than average, with roughly 87,200 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.
How many schools offer programs for this career?+
1,146 institutions reported graduates from at least one of the 16 programs that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.
What other job titles do market research analysts and marketing specialists work under?+
Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Market Analyst, Digital Media Planner, Paid Search Strategist, Market Research Analyst, Market Research Consultant, Market Research Specialist among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 13-1161.
About the data on this page
Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024-25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).
BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics
May 2025Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.
BLS Employment Projections
2024–34Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.
IPEDS Completions
2024-25 (provisional)Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.
College Scorecard, Field of Study
2020-21 cohortsMedian graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.
Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes
latest availableGraduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.
NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk
CIP 2020 / SOC 2018Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.
O*NET Database 30.3
30.3Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.
Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA
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