Best degree programs for Survey Researchers, ranked by enrollment
9 college programs and 867 schools train Survey Researchers. Compare graduates per year, cost and pay, $69,460 median wage, 8,290 U.S. jobs. Federal data.
9 college programs at 867 schools train survey researchers, graduating 40,370 people a year (IPEDS completions). The largest is Economics, General. The job pays a median of $69,460 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
About survey researchers
Plan, develop, or conduct surveys. May analyze and interpret the meaning of survey data, determine survey objectives, or suggest or test question wording. Includes social scientists who primarily design questionnaires or supervise survey teams.
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.
9 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 45.0601 | 19,798 | 49.0% | 638 | $51,725 | $22,907 |
| 2 | CIP 27.0501 | 7,215 | 17.9% | 200 | $59,718 | $20,150 |
| 3 | CIP 52.1302 | 5,978 | 14.8% | 107 | $62,069 | $23,500 |
| 4 | CIP 52.0601 | 3,971 | 9.8% | 194 | $53,269 | $21,962 |
| 5 | CIP 45.0102 | 2,284 | 5.7% | 65 | $35,590 | $24,095 |
| 6 | CIP 27.0601 | 562 | 1.4% | 38 | — | — |
| 7 | CIP 45.0602 | 378 | 0.9% | 28 | $51,725 | $22,907 |
| 8 | CIP 52.1402 | 182 | 0.5% | 19 | $44,670 | $24,250 |
| 9 | CIP 13.0608 | 2 | 0.0% | 1 | $33,086 | $26,000 |
Top 50 schools by graduates into this job
Counting every feeder program a school offers, not just its largest one.
| # | School | Graduates / yr | Top feeder program | Grad rate | Net price | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI Public · 4 feeder programs | 893 | Economics, General | 93% | — | 16% |
| 2 | Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs | 881 | Business Statistics | 94% | $11,888 | 6% |
| 3 | Southern New Hampshire University Manchester, NH Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 787 | Business Statistics | 43% | $34,565 | 100% |
| 4 | University of Wisconsin - Madison Madison, WI Public · 2 feeder programs | 725 | Economics, General | 90% | — | 45% |
| 5 | University of Chicago Chicago, IL Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 695 | Research Methodology and Quantitative Methods | 96% | $13,333 | 4% |
| 6 | University of California - Irvine Irvine, CA Public · 4 feeder programs | 638 | Business/Managerial Economics | 87% | — | 29% |
| 7 | Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NY Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs | 587 | Statistics, General | 96% | $15,315 | 4% |
| 8 | University of Illinois Urbana - Champaign Champaign, IL Public · 3 feeder programs | 541 | Statistics, General | 85% | — | 42% |
| 9 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX Public · 2 feeder programs | 539 | Economics, General | 89% | — | 27% |
| 10 | Texas A&M University - College Station College Station, TX Public · 4 feeder programs | 488 | Economics, General | 84% | — | 57% |
| 11 | University of Connecticut Storrs, CT Public · 4 feeder programs | 486 | Economics, General | 83% | — | 52% |
| 12 | Boston University Boston, MA Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs | 440 | Economics, General | 89% | $21,956 | 11% |
| 13 | University of California - Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA Public · 2 feeder programs | 436 | Statistics, General | 83% | — | 33% |
| 14 | University of New Haven West Haven, CT Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 434 | Business Statistics | 63% | $32,614 | 60% |
| 15 | University of Florida Gainesville, FL Public · 2 feeder programs | 433 | Economics, General | 91% | — | 24% |
| 16 | Georgetown University Washington, DC Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 398 | Research Methodology and Quantitative Methods | 95% | $22,242 | 13% |
| 17 | Sacred Heart University Fairfield, CT Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 387 | Business Statistics | 73% | $42,705 | 65% |
| 18 | Emory University Atlanta, GA Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 381 | Research Methodology and Quantitative Methods | 91% | $20,586 | 11% |
| 19 | Rutgers University - New Brunswick New Brunswick, NJ Public · 2 feeder programs | 377 | Economics, General | 84% | — | 58% |
| 20 | Harvard University Cambridge, MA Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs | 363 | Research Methodology and Quantitative Methods | 98% | $15,013 | 4% |
| 21 | Washington University in St Louis St. Louis, MO Private not-for-profit · 5 feeder programs | 361 | Business Statistics | 94% | $14,126 | 12% |
| 22 | Michigan State University East Lansing, MI Public · 4 feeder programs | 358 | Economics, General | 81% | — | 85% |
| 23 | Binghamton University Vestal, NY Public · 2 feeder programs | 336 | Economics, General | 82% | — | 39% |
| 24 | University of California - Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, CA Public · 2 feeder programs | 328 | Business/Managerial Economics | 75% | — | 66% |
| 25 | University of Georgia Athens, GA Public · 4 feeder programs | 323 | Business/Managerial Economics | 90% | — | 38% |
| 26 | University of Colorado Boulder Boulder, CO Public · 3 feeder programs | 307 | Economics, General | 74% | — | 78% |
| 27 | University of South Carolina - Columbia Columbia, SC Public · 5 feeder programs | 303 | Business Statistics | 79% | — | 60% |
| 28 | Southern Methodist University Dallas, TX Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 296 | Economics, General | 84% | $33,246 | 63% |
| 29 | The University of Tennessee - Knoxville Knoxville, TN Public · 4 feeder programs | 293 | Business Statistics | 74% | — | 42% |
| 30 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NC Public · 3 feeder programs | 268 | Statistics, General | 85% | — | 42% |
| 31 | University of California - Davis Davis, CA Public · 1 feeder programs | 268 | Statistics, General | 86% | — | 42% |
| 32 | University of California - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA Public · 2 feeder programs | 259 | Statistics, General | 93% | — | 9% |
| 33 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC Public · 1 feeder programs | 258 | Economics, General | 91% | — | 15% |
| 34 | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Minneapolis, MN Public · 3 feeder programs | 256 | Economics, General | 85% | — | 80% |
| 35 | Santa Monica College Santa Monica, CA Public · 1 feeder programs | 254 | Economics, General | 36% | — | — |
| 36 | Pasadena City College Pasadena, CA Public · 1 feeder programs | 250 | Economics, General | 48% | — | — |
| 37 | Miami University - Oxford Oxford, OH Public · 4 feeder programs | 246 | Business Statistics | 80% | — | 75% |
| 38 | San Diego State University San Diego, CA Public · 2 feeder programs | 244 | Economics, General | 76% | — | 36% |
| 39 | Los Angeles Pierce College Woodland Hills, CA Public · 1 feeder programs | 239 | Economics, General | 46% | — | — |
| 40 | University of Maryland - College Park College Park, MD Public · 2 feeder programs | 236 | Business Statistics | 89% | — | 45% |
| 41 | Brown University Providence, RI Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 223 | Research Methodology and Quantitative Methods | 96% | $14,644 | 5% |
| 42 | Moorpark College Moorpark, CA Public · 1 feeder programs | 219 | Economics, General | 44% | — | — |
| 43 | Grossmont College El Cajon, CA Public · 1 feeder programs | 216 | Economics, General | 37% | — | — |
| 44 | University of Massachusetts - Amherst Amherst, MA Public · 4 feeder programs | 213 | Economics, General | 83% | — | 60% |
| 45 | Los Angeles Valley College Valley Glen, CA Public · 1 feeder programs | 209 | Economics, General | 32% | — | — |
| 46 | University of Missouri - Columbia Columbia, MO Public · 3 feeder programs | 202 | Economics, General | 75% | — | 78% |
| 47 | Brigham Young University Provo, UT Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 201 | Economics, General | 81% | $13,712 | 68% |
| 48 | University of Miami Coral Gables, FL Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 201 | Economics, General | 84% | $26,589 | 19% |
| 49 | CUNY Bernard M Baruch College New York, NY Public · 4 feeder programs | 200 | Business/Managerial Economics | 72% | — | 48% |
| 50 | Santa Barbara City College Santa Barbara, CA Public · 1 feeder programs | 195 | Economics, General | 34% | — | — |
What survey researchers 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $83,520 | 1,180 | 1.21× | 147 | 9,149 |
| New York | $86,890 | 380 | 0.74× | 61 | 3,115 |
| Texas | $47,330 | 680 | 0.91× | 44 | 2,312 |
| Illinois | $54,080 | 320 | 1.00× | 34 | 1,864 |
| Massachusetts | $74,890 | 160 | 0.83× | 34 | 1,848 |
| Michigan | $101,550 | 150 | 0.64× | 25 | 1,722 |
| Connecticut | $88,320 | 110 | 1.25× | 14 | 1,653 |
| Florida | — | 310 | 0.59× | 23 | 1,449 |
| Maryland | $84,030 | 390 | 2.64× | 16 | 1,428 |
| Pennsylvania | $63,310 | — | — | 53 | 1,217 |
| North Carolina | $96,560 | 350 | 1.31× | 22 | 1,098 |
| Georgia | $51,590 | — | — | 16 | 1,028 |
| Wisconsin | $92,660 | 60 | 0.35× | 19 | 963 |
| Ohio | $57,630 | 320 | 1.08× | 32 | 883 |
| New Jersey | $95,580 | 100 | 0.44× | 19 | 855 |
| Missouri | $66,460 | 130 | 0.81× | 18 | 809 |
| Colorado | $89,870 | 110 | 0.71× | 17 | 684 |
| District of Columbiamoderate | $102,390 | 150 | 4.03× | 4 | 551 |
| Minnesota | $104,220 | 340 | 2.15× | 17 | 502 |
| Arizona | $59,210 | — | — | 15 | 427 |
| Tennessee | $66,900 | 210 | 1.22× | 13 | 413 |
| Utah | $79,090 | 50 | 0.57× | 10 | 403 |
| Oklahoma | $57,200 | 50 | 0.56× | 7 | 254 |
| Washington | $69,590 | 130 | 0.70× | 11 | 235 |
| Iowa | $83,170 | 90 | 1.12× | 15 | 207 |
| Kansas | $57,700 | 210 | 2.70× | 8 | 197 |
| Oregon | $64,660 | 190 | 1.78× | 11 | 192 |
| Delawarelimited | — | 80 | 3.27× | 2 | 145 |
| New Mexicomoderate | $61,380 | 130 | 2.70× | 4 | 106 |
| Maine | $47,330 | 60 | 1.65× | 5 | 62 |
| Nebraska | $64,530 | 210 | 3.85× | 5 | 42 |
| Wyominglimited | $84,360 | 40 | 2.61× | 2 | 26 |
| Alaskalimited | $70,560 | 40 | 2.10× | 2 | 12 |
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
- Conduct surveys and collect data, using methods such as interviews, questionnaires, focus groups, market analysis surveys, public opinion polls, literature reviews, and file reviews.
- Prepare and present summaries and analyses of survey data, including tables, graphs, and fact sheets that describe survey techniques and results.
- Consult with clients to identify survey needs and specific requirements, such as special samples.
- Determine and specify details of survey projects, including sources of information, procedures to be used, and the design of survey instruments and materials.
- Support, plan, and coordinate operations for single or multiple surveys.
- Monitor and evaluate survey progress and performance, using sample disposition reports and response rate calculations.
- Collaborate with other researchers in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of surveys.
- Conduct research to gather information about survey topics.
Skills
- Reading Comprehension4.3
- Active Listening4.3
- Critical Thinking4.3
- Writing4.3
- Speaking4.3
- Mathematics4.0
- Active Learning3.9
- Learning Strategies3.3
Knowledge areas
- English Language4.6
- Sociology and Anthropology3.9
- Mathematics3.7
- Computers and Electronics3.6
- Administration and Management3.5
- Customer and Personal Service3.5
Abilities
- Inductive Reasoning4.5
- Written Expression4.4
- Written Comprehension4.3
- Oral Expression4.1
- Information Ordering4.1
- Deductive Reasoning4.1
Core activities
- Working with Computers4.8
- Processing Information4.7
- Analyzing Data or Information4.7
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems4.4
- Getting Information4.3
- Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others4.3
Tools and technology
hotmarks an O*NET hot technologyHow to get in
How to become a Survey Researcher
Job zone 5 of 5 · SVP 8.0 and above- Typical entry education
- Master's degree
Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Every major mapped to this job
The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.
All 9 majors mapped to Survey Researchers9 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
- 13.0608Institutional Research
- 27.0501Statistics, General
- 27.0601Applied Statistics, General
- 45.0102Research Methodology and Quantitative Methods
- 45.0601Economics, General
- 45.0602Applied Economics
- 52.0601Business/Managerial Economics
- 52.1302Business Statistics
- 52.1402Marketing Research
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 Survey Researcher?+
Master's degree is the typical entry-level education BLS reports for this occupation. The most common program people actually graduate from is Economics, General, which awarded 19,798 degrees in 2024-25, 49.0% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.
Which college majors lead to becoming a Survey Researcher?+
The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 9 programs to this occupation. The largest are Economics, Statistics, Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods, Business/Managerial Economics, plus 4 more. Together they graduate about 40,370 people a year.
How much do survey researchers earn?+
The median is $69,460 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). The middle range runs from $39,260 at the 10th percentile to $130,860 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 survey researchers growing?+
BLS projects a -5.2% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, decline, with roughly 700 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.
How many schools offer programs for this career?+
867 institutions reported graduates from at least one of the 9 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 survey researchers work under?+
Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Survey Researcher, Research Associate, Research Scientist, Survey Methodologist among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 19-3022.
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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