Market research analysts
November 2004 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers
Market Research Analysts: Research market conditions in local, regional, or national areas to determine potential sales of a product or service. May gather information on competitors, prices, sales, and methods of marketing and distribution. May use survey results to create a marketing campaign based on regional preferences and buying habits.
Market and survey researchers held about a total of 155,000 jobs in 2002. Most of these jobs were held by market research analysts, who held 135,000 jobs. Private industry provided about 97 percent of salaried market research analyst jobs. Because of the applicability of market research to many industries, market research analysts are employed in most industries. The industries which employ the largest number of market research analysts are management, scientific, and technical consulting firms, insurance carriers, computer systems design and related firms, software publishers, securities and commodities brokers, and advertising and related firms.
Survey researchers held about 20,000 jobs in 2002. Survey researchers were mainly employed by professional, scientific, and technical services firms, including management, scientific and technical consulting firms, and scientific research and development firms; employment services, State government, and internet service providers and web search portals. A number of market and survey researchers combine a full-time job in government, academia, or business with part-time or consulting work in another setting. About 8 percent of market and survey researchers are self-employed.
Besides the jobs described above, many market and survey researchers held faculty positions in colleges and universities. Marketing faculties have flexible work schedules and may divide their time among teaching, research, consulting, and administration. (See the statement on teachers—postsecondary elsewhere in the Handbook.)
Median annual earnings of market research analysts in 2002 were $53,810. The middle 50 percent earned between $38,760 and $76,310. The lowest-paid 10 percent earned less than $29,390, and the highest-paid 10 percent earned more than $100,160. Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of market research analysts in 2002 were as follows:
| Management of companies and enterprises | $56,750 |
| Insurance carriers | 46,700 |
| Other professional, scientific, and technical services | 46,380 |
| Management, scientific, and technical consulting services | 44,580 |
Median annual earnings of survey researchers in 2002 were $22,200. The middle 50 percent earned between $17,250 and $38,530. The lowest-paid 10 percent earned less than $15,140, and the highest-paid 10 percent earned more than $57,080. Median annual earnings of survey researchers in 2002 in other professional, scientific, and technical services were $19,610.
(from the Occupational Outlook Handbook: Market and survey researchers)
See more recent statistics for employed workers below.
November 2004 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers
National Occupational Employment and Earnings by Industry (NAICS sector and 3-digit industry group)
| Market research analysts | |||||
| Percentile earnings distribution | |||||
| 10th | 25th | 50th | 75th | 90th | |
| Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, and Hunting employment: 60 mean earnings: $42,090 (def) (IG) | $28,810 | $30,600 | $33,490 | $45,840 | $72,900 |
| Mining employment: 330 mean earnings: $70,330 (EC) (def) (IG) | $40,140 | $51,990 | $69,270 | $90,850 | $106,260 |
| Oil and Gas Extraction employment: 280 mean earnings: $72,430 | $43,210 | $54,010 | $71,730 | $93,270 | $107,400 |
| Support Activities for Mining employment: 30 mean earnings: $60,380 | $33,810 | $40,280 | $62,210 | $73,740 | $93,150 |
| Utilities employment: 1,240 mean earnings: $65,930 (EC) (def) (IG) | $39,140 | $49,540 | $64,460 | $81,050 | $94,150 |
| Utilities employment: 1,240 mean earnings: $65,930 | $39,140 | $49,540 | $64,460 | $81,050 | $94,150 |
| Construction employment: 2,100 mean earnings: $59,710 (EC) (def) (IG) | $31,080 | $39,360 | $52,750 | $73,650 | $102,210 |
| Construction of Buildings employment: 1,360 mean earnings: $58,130 | $30,920 | $38,320 | $51,610 | $70,900 | $97,630 |
| Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction employment: 500 mean earnings: $63,340 | $32,430 | $42,380 | $57,440 | $77,360 | $109,960 |
| Specialty Trade Contractors employment: 240 mean earnings: $61,090 | $30,620 | $38,200 | $51,150 | $79,340 | $107,790 |
| Manufacturing employment: 23,550 mean earnings: $70,690 (EC) (def) (IG) | $35,620 | $47,130 | $67,340 | $90,530 | $113,710 |
| Food Manufacturing employment: 740 mean earnings: $59,210 | $30,770 | $39,360 | $55,250 | $76,000 | $94,720 |
| Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing employment: 300 mean earnings: $58,550 | $31,270 | $37,970 | $52,530 | $75,640 | $93,960 |
| Textile Mills employment: 120 mean earnings: $58,180 | $29,910 | $34,750 | $51,310 | $77,640 | $92,660 |
| Textile Product Mills employment: 90 mean earnings: $49,510 | $30,170 | $33,660 | $46,750 | $61,240 | $75,040 |
| Apparel Manufacturing employment: 250 mean earnings: $54,140 | $29,080 | $37,610 | $50,570 | $65,880 | $86,770 |
| Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing employment: 60 mean earnings: $48,990 | $27,280 | $32,110 | $43,480 | $63,320 | $76,110 |
| Wood Product Manufacturing employment: 160 mean earnings: $56,570 | $32,830 | $40,360 | $51,620 | $72,060 | $90,310 |
| Paper Manufacturing employment: 150 mean earnings: $61,500 | $31,380 | $41,820 | $59,920 | $78,350 | $99,150 |
| Printing and Related Support Activities employment: 1,210 mean earnings: $53,990 | $29,820 | $37,340 | $49,600 | $70,220 | $86,280 |
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing employment: 160 mean earnings: $61,850 | $28,970 | $38,300 | $59,590 | $80,590 | $94,600 |
| Chemical Manufacturing employment: 3,640 mean earnings: $72,330 | $34,480 | $47,290 | $70,420 | $91,700 | $116,800 |
| Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing employment: 450 mean earnings: $60,140 | $33,180 | $40,340 | $54,140 | $78,360 | $96,570 |
| Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing employment: 80 mean earnings: $56,180 | $31,890 | $39,300 | $49,850 | $68,440 | $91,040 |
| Primary Metal Manufacturing employment: 140 mean earnings: $71,890 | $37,920 | $45,730 | $63,100 | $93,630 | $124,260 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing employment: 650 mean earnings: $61,650 | $33,530 | $42,680 | $55,890 | $75,850 | $96,970 |
| Machinery Manufacturing employment: 1,710 mean earnings: $65,140 | $35,610 | $45,100 | $61,300 | $83,270 | $103,850 |
| Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing employment: 8,690 mean earnings: $78,640 | $40,360 | $54,610 | $76,780 | $100,570 | $121,200 |
| Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing employment: 1,180 mean earnings: $69,380 | $37,220 | $48,850 | $67,580 | $88,590 | $107,530 |
| Transportation Equipment Manufacturing employment: 1,720 mean earnings: $80,320 | $45,350 | $60,310 | $79,660 | $100,070 | $116,550 |
| Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing employment: 240 mean earnings: $55,950 | $30,530 | $39,720 | $51,140 | $71,660 | $89,500 |
| Miscellaneous Manufacturing employment: 1,800 mean earnings: $59,920 | $32,680 | $41,680 | $55,610 | $73,770 | $94,060 |
| Wholesale Trade employment: 14,290 mean earnings: $68,780 (EC) (def) (IG) | $32,530 | $42,710 | $60,270 | $89,200 | $117,010 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods employment: 8,180 mean earnings: $71,770 | $34,230 | $45,220 | $65,290 | $94,430 | $118,240 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods employment: 3,770 mean earnings: $60,040 | $30,690 | $40,440 | $54,710 | $74,250 | $101,080 |
| Wholesale Electronic Markets and Agents and Brokers employment: 2,340 mean earnings: $72,370 | $31,480 | $38,150 | $56,460 | $90,270 | $141,070 |
| Retail Trade employment: 3,700 mean earnings: $50,600 (EC) (def) (IG) | $25,090 | $32,760 | $45,690 | $64,060 | $85,450 |
| Motor Vehicle and Parts Dealers employment: 250 mean earnings: $49,090 | $26,480 | $32,490 | $44,900 | $63,610 | $81,310 |
| Furniture and Home Furnishings Stores employment: 100 mean earnings: $44,600 | $25,940 | $31,150 | $38,770 | $51,390 | $67,180 |
| Electronics and Appliance Stores employment: 540 mean earnings: $49,980 | $27,260 | $31,260 | $40,840 | $64,500 | $88,540 |
| Building Material and Garden Equipment and Supplies Dealers employment: 190 mean earnings: $53,730 | $27,690 | $33,750 | $50,930 | $66,380 | $88,700 |
| Food and Beverage Stores employment: 620 mean earnings: $38,850 | $15,770 | $19,830 | $34,350 | $56,000 | $69,200 |
| Health and Personal Care Stores employment: 210 mean earnings: $52,090 | $29,980 | $38,740 | $49,940 | $61,350 | $70,600 |
| Gasoline Stations employment: 30 mean earnings: $55,920 | $26,900 | $38,510 | $48,770 | $68,880 | $89,690 |
| Clothing and Clothing Accessories Stores employment: 190 mean earnings: $59,730 | $32,340 | $42,050 | $54,710 | $72,540 | $104,480 |
| Sporting Goods, Hobby, Book, and Music Stores employment: 50 mean earnings: $49,450 | $32,400 | $36,740 | $48,060 | $56,710 | $74,390 |
| General Merchandise Stores employment: 90 mean earnings: $45,830 | $30,470 | $34,360 | $43,660 | $56,690 | $67,580 |
| Miscellaneous Store Retailers employment: 220 mean earnings: $51,660 | $27,910 | $34,070 | $46,420 | $61,790 | $84,670 |
| Nonstore Retailers employment: 1,210 mean earnings: $55,580 | $29,030 | $36,560 | $49,140 | $69,690 | $95,730 |
| Transportation and Warehousing employment: 2,410 mean earnings: $60,690 (EC) (def) (IG) | $33,050 | $44,940 | $60,430 | $74,160 | $90,420 |
| Air Transportation employment: 400 mean earnings: $61,360 | $42,820 | $50,860 | $61,040 | $70,840 | $83,820 |
| Rail Transportation employment: 150 mean earnings: $63,820 | $40,300 | $48,380 | $56,160 | $77,090 | $103,010 |
| Water Transportation employment: 100 mean earnings: $60,700 | $38,860 | $44,670 | $55,740 | $70,770 | $88,470 |
| Truck Transportation employment: 330 mean earnings: $53,700 | $31,810 | $38,240 | $50,460 | $67,020 | $83,350 |
| Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation employment: 40 mean earnings: $54,460 | $29,280 | $34,890 | $48,090 | $61,060 | $107,100 |
| Pipeline Transportation employment: 140 mean earnings: $68,060 | $34,320 | $48,360 | $64,790 | $85,970 | $109,430 |
| Support Activities for Transportation employment: 460 mean earnings: $53,310 | $17,040 | $31,380 | $46,820 | $69,010 | $92,280 |
| Postal Service employment: 150 mean earnings: $74,290 | $56,230 | $62,630 | $73,110 | $86,110 | $100,140 |
| Warehousing and Storage employment: 130 mean earnings: $54,290 | $33,420 | $41,050 | $53,180 | $67,340 | $80,690 |
| Information employment: 22,120 mean earnings: $70,890 (EC) (def) (IG) | $35,820 | $47,750 | $68,320 | $90,770 | $111,890 |
| Publishing Industries (except Internet) employment: 9,190 mean earnings: $73,950 | $36,600 | $48,060 | $71,020 | $95,590 | $116,360 |
| Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries employment: 780 mean earnings: $53,130 | $28,880 | $34,110 | $43,460 | $65,540 | $92,040 |
| Broadcasting (except Internet) employment: 1,860 mean earnings: $56,760 | $30,510 | $38,130 | $51,630 | $70,690 | $92,000 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting employment: 680 mean earnings: $60,750 | $31,520 | $38,190 | $53,000 | $76,870 | $99,580 |
| Telecommunications employment: 6,710 mean earnings: $73,380 | $40,810 | $54,980 | $73,850 | $91,200 | $108,960 |
| Internet Service Providers, Web Search Portals, and Data Processing Service employment: 2,820 mean earnings: $71,800 | $38,030 | $50,590 | $67,840 | $90,370 | $114,670 |
| Other Information Services employment: 90 mean earnings: $67,040 | $39,390 | $48,750 | $66,270 | $83,340 | $98,650 |
| Finance and Insurance employment: 27,860 mean earnings: $63,310 (EC) (def) (IG) | $32,930 | $41,780 | $55,610 | $76,780 | $104,710 |
| Credit Intermediation and Related Activities employment: 9,690 mean earnings: $59,280 | $31,990 | $40,560 | $53,900 | $72,540 | $93,550 |
| Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities employment: 7,560 mean earnings: $75,870 | $35,300 | $46,030 | $63,110 | $95,610 | $135,690 |
| Insurance Carriers and Related Activities employment: 10,040 mean earnings: $57,690 | $32,640 | $40,550 | $53,150 | $70,570 | $90,150 |
| Funds, Trusts, and Other Financial Vehicles employment: 460 mean earnings: $63,550 | $34,420 | $45,560 | $60,770 | $77,200 | $97,870 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing employment: 3,970 mean earnings: $51,960 (EC) (def) (IG) | $27,710 | $35,230 | $47,000 | $64,470 | $84,310 |
| Real Estate employment: 2,970 mean earnings: $50,290 | $27,100 | $34,440 | $45,920 | $62,990 | $80,640 |
| Rental and Leasing Services employment: 470 mean earnings: $54,770 | $28,980 | $36,470 | $46,620 | $62,430 | $97,770 |
| Lessors of Nonfinancial Intangible Assets (except Copyrighted Works) employment: 520 mean earnings: $58,870 | $30,340 | $40,120 | $55,460 | $70,570 | $93,930 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employment: 43,260 mean earnings: $63,540 (EC) (def) (IG) | $29,590 | $39,220 | $55,030 | $79,830 | $112,150 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employment: 43,260 mean earnings: $63,540 | $29,590 | $39,220 | $55,030 | $79,830 | $112,150 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises employment: 15,550 mean earnings: $66,380 (EC) (def) (IG) | $35,170 | $44,880 | $61,060 | $84,050 | $108,060 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises employment: 15,550 mean earnings: $66,380 | $35,170 | $44,880 | $61,060 | $84,050 | $108,060 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services employment: 6,320 mean earnings: $61,050 (EC) (def) (IG) | $28,780 | $38,010 | $50,050 | $71,300 | $104,250 |
| Administrative and Support Services employment: 6,270 mean earnings: $61,100 | $28,790 | $38,000 | $49,970 | $71,300 | $104,520 |
| Waste Management and Remediation Services employment: 60 mean earnings: $56,420 | $25,750 | $40,170 | $56,020 | $71,270 | $89,150 |
| Educational Services employment: 3,320 mean earnings: $47,290 (EC) (def) (IG) | $24,150 | $30,860 | $41,280 | $56,510 | $81,670 |
| Educational Services employment: 3,320 mean earnings: $47,290 | $24,150 | $30,860 | $41,280 | $56,510 | $81,670 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance employment: 4,840 mean earnings: $46,990 (EC) (def) (IG) | $29,010 | $34,640 | $43,750 | $56,060 | $71,150 |
| Ambulatory Health Care Services employment: 1,800 mean earnings: $47,460 | $28,490 | $34,730 | $44,790 | $56,780 | $71,060 |
| Hospitals employment: 1,030 mean earnings: $50,880 | $31,770 | $38,590 | $47,740 | $60,620 | $74,440 |
| Nursing and Residential Care Facilities employment: 1,470 mean earnings: $43,570 | $26,950 | $32,770 | $40,250 | $51,250 | $66,680 |
| Social Assistance employment: 550 mean earnings: $47,330 | $29,830 | $34,390 | $43,660 | $56,370 | $71,800 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation employment: 1,500 mean earnings: $46,060 (EC) (def) (IG) | $25,110 | $31,620 | $41,100 | $55,650 | $74,370 |
| Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries employment: 810 mean earnings: $46,850 | $26,080 | $32,030 | $41,440 | $56,170 | $75,060 |
| Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions employment: 230 mean earnings: $45,000 | $26,000 | $32,070 | $41,250 | $54,630 | $72,320 |
| Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries employment: 460 mean earnings: $45,210 | $22,170 | $30,690 | $40,200 | $55,260 | $74,240 |
| Accomodation and Food Service employment: 650 mean earnings: $48,800 (EC) (def) (IG) | $25,230 | $33,030 | $45,360 | $61,340 | $82,240 |
| Accommodation employment: 510 mean earnings: $49,880 | $25,780 | $33,470 | $46,550 | $64,300 | $84,800 |
| Food Services and Drinking Places employment: 150 mean earnings: $45,060 | $24,340 | $30,560 | $42,640 | $55,610 | $70,340 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) employment: 3,730 mean earnings: $53,300 (EC) (def) (IG) | $30,920 | $38,750 | $48,740 | $66,360 | $82,480 |
| Repair and Maintenance employment: 180 mean earnings: $58,110 | $22,780 | $39,890 | $53,420 | $72,170 | $95,360 |
| Personal and Laundry Services employment: 150 mean earnings: $46,640 | $24,520 | $27,450 | $45,450 | $57,150 | $75,320 |
| Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations employment: 3,400 mean earnings: $53,340 | $31,880 | $38,940 | $48,520 | $66,490 | $81,930 |
| Public Administration employment: 3,240 mean earnings: $61,360 (def) (IG) | $35,210 | $44,530 | $59,130 | $76,310 | $89,990 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) employment: 3,240 mean earnings: $61,360 | $35,210 | $44,530 | $59,130 | $76,310 | $89,990 |
The (EC) links lead to data from the Economic Census from the Census Bureau.
The (def) links lead to 2002 NAICS industry definitions from the Census Bureau.
The (IG) links lead to Industry at a Glance industry profiles from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
source: Occupational Employment Statistics Program; about these estimates