Survey researchers
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
Median Salary
$63,380
~$30/hr · ~$5,282/mo
US Jobs
9K
Decline
AI & Automation Risk
9/10
Very High
AI & Automation Risk
Very High 9/10
Survey research is a fundamentally digital knowledge occupation involving background research, survey design, statistical analysis, and report generation—all areas where LLMs and specialized AI tools excel. The BLS already projects a decline in employment due to data mining and big data efficiencies, and the rapid advancement of AI in synthesizing qualitative data and automating complex statistical workflows makes this role highly susceptible to significant restructuring and labor reduction.
Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home
Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.
| City | Local Salary | Cost of Living | Real Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trenton-Princeton, NJBEST VALUE | $180,060 | Average (102.4) | $175,809 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $98,510 | Average (102.5) | $96,120 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $88,570 | Average (98.2) | $90,215 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $96,710 | Above avg (109.5) | $88,285 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $83,810 | Above avg (104.3) | $80,353 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $77,970 | Average (98.2) | $79,440 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $82,300 | Above avg (106.7) | $77,122 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $87,290 | Above avg (117.6) | $74,257 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $83,000 | Above avg (112.6) | $73,683 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $65,370 | Below avg (93.2) | $70,137 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $71,470 | Average (102.5) | $69,745 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $78,950 | Above avg (114.7) | $68,802 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $62,590 | Below avg (92.5) | $67,683 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $74,860 | Above avg (110.7) | $67,599 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $65,670 | Average (98.4) | $66,768 |
Cost of Living Index: 100 = US national average. Below 100 = cheaper. Above 100 = more expensive.
Education & Requirements
Education Required
Master's degree
10-Year Growth
-5% (Decline)
Hourly Rate
~$30/hr
Monthly Income
~$5,282/mo
Related Careers
Data: Bureau of Labor Statistics OOH (2024)