Marketing Research Employment

Employment

Market and survey researchers held approximately 22,000 jobs in 2004, most of which - almost 90% - were held by market research analysts. As market research is applicable to many industries, market research analysts are employed throughout the economy. Industries employing the largest number of market research analysts were companies and enterprises management including; insurance carriers; marketing research and public opinion polling; advertising firms; software publishers; and supplies merchant wholesalers.

Survey researchers were mainly employed by technical, scientific, and professional services firms, especially in market research and public opinion polling; management, scientific, and technical consulting services; scientific research and development services, as well as State governments.

About 1 in 11 market and survey researchers is self-employed. Some also hold faculty positions in colleges and universities where their time may be divided among teaching, research, consulting, and administration.

Employment Outlook

Through 2014, employment for market and survey researchers is expected to grow faster than average.

Employment opportunities should be best for those with a master's or Ph.D. degree in marketing or a related field. Bachelor degree holders with a strong mathematics, statistics, survey design, and computer science background will have the best opportunities.

Because of an increasingly competitive economy, demand for market research analysts should be strong. Market research provides valuable information to organizations for planning more effectively for the future.

As organizations continue to expand their markets, and as globalization for the marketplace expands, the need for marketing professionals will increase.

Earnings

Median annual earnings in May 2004 for market research analysts were $56,140. Earnings ranged from less than $30,890 for the lowest 10 percent, to more than $105,870 for the highest 10 percent. Median annual earnings for those working for the largest marketing research analyst employers in May 2004 were:

Median annual earnings in May 2004 for survey researchers were $26,490. Earnings ranged from less than $15,330 for the lowest 10 percent to more than $56,740 for the highest 10 percent. Median annual earnings of $22,880 was earned for survey researchers in other professional, scientific, and technical services.

Source:
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2006-2007 Edition, Market and Survey Researchers, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco (visited December 28, 2005).