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Market research analyst: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 26, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$78,760median pay per year, or $37.87 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $43,390lowest 10% earn less
  2. $58,35025th percentile
  3. $78,760median
  4. $108,31075th percentile
  5. $155,480top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

The median market research analyst pay was $78,760 a year in May 2025[1]. Jobs are projected to grow 7% over ten years, faster than the all-occupation rate[2][3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+7%[2]
Openings per year
82,000[6]
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree[7]

How much do market research analysts make?

The BLS category is Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists. Its median wage was $78,760 a year, or $37.87 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The mean wage was $89,490 a year, or $43.03 an hour[8].

The median for all occupations was $50,980[5], so this job's median sits well above it.

The range is wide. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $43,390 a year[4]. The lowest-paid 25% earned less than $58,350[4]. The highest-paid 25% earned more than $108,310, and the top 10% earned more than $155,480[4]. In hourly terms, those four lines were $20.86, $28.05, $52.07 and $74.75[9]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS does not publish a starting salary[10].

These figures cover wage and salary jobs. They leave out the self-employed, and they do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits[11].

Measure Annual wage Source
10th percentile[4] $43,390
Median[1] $78,760
Mean[8] $89,490
90th percentile[4] $155,480

Pay by state and city

Massachusetts had the highest median at $101,810, followed by Delaware at $101,270 and New York at $98,580[12]. West Virginia had the lowest listed median at $52,340[12].

California had the most jobs at 119,070[13]. New York came next with 80,500, then Texas with 63,350[13].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA had the highest median at $141,960[14]. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA followed at $123,250[14]. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH was next at $102,390[14]. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ area had the most jobs, at 79,290[15].

Show median pay in 50 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
Massachusetts[12]$101,81039,710
Delaware$101,2703,570
New York$98,58080,500
District of Columbia$98,0906,340
Washington$95,12024,460
California$94,700119,070
Colorado$93,05027,880
New Jersey$88,19022,990
Minnesota$87,51021,280
Rhode Island$86,2403,210
Oregon$79,15011,310
Illinois$79,12040,560
North Carolina$78,41030,700
Connecticut$77,7409,930
Virginia$76,98025,610
Maryland$76,37013,570
Georgia$75,85027,810
Florida$75,45060,770
Vermont$74,880860
Ohio$72,79027,370
Texas$72,52063,350
Maine$71,9802,390
Arizona$71,94015,850
Nevada$71,8405,780
Kansas$70,4308,090
Missouri$70,14014,890
Tennessee$69,79013,040
South Carolina$69,44011,920
Pennsylvania$68,76031,040
Montana$68,0801,460
Michigan$66,78024,220
Alaska$66,710570
Iowa$66,3908,880
Arkansas$65,4306,250
Wisconsin$64,80015,600
New Hampshire$64,5704,200
Indiana$63,70014,400
South Dakota$63,4901,530
Utah$62,63014,510
New Mexico$61,9501,610
Oklahoma$61,9406,620
North Dakota$61,5801,550
Kentucky$61,4806,290
Wyoming$60,990850
Idaho$60,9703,780
Nebraska$60,0003,780
Louisiana$59,6905,360
Alabama$59,5308,390
Hawaii$59,3901,610
Mississippi$56,6402,620
West Virginia$52,3401,650

How to become a market research analyst

The typical entry education is a bachelor's degree. The projections data list no related work experience and no on-the-job training[7].

Certification is voluntary and is a way to show professional skill[21]. The facts do not say how many years it all takes.

What market research analysts do

Analysts study markets to judge how well a product or service might sell, or to plan a marketing campaign[22]. Typical tasks include:

Workers report job titles such as Market Analyst, Content Strategist and Communications Specialist[24].

Where they work

Many industries use market research, so these analysts work across the economy[25]. Management, scientific, and technical consulting services was the largest employer, at 11%[26]. Analysts work alone or on teams, and some work with designers to build charts and infographics[27]. Full-time work during business hours is typical[28]. About 3.8% were self-employed in 2025[29].

Job outlook

BLS expects jobs to rise 7% between 2025 and 2035, going from roughly 952,700 to 1,019,000[2]. For all occupations the projection is 3.5%[3].

About 82,000 openings a year are projected[6]. These include jobs left open by people who retire or change occupations, not only new jobs[6]. Each year, 2.5% of workers leave the labor force and 5.1% move to another occupation[30].

The OEWS count of about 899,580 jobs[31] and the projections count differ because the projections include self-employed workers[2].

Is it a good fit?

The facts show a median wage above the all-occupation median[1][5], a wide pay range[4], and a bachelor's degree as the usual entry point[7]. Growth is faster than average[2][3]. The job suits people who like working with data and writing up results, since reports and analysis make up much of the work[23]. Pay varies a lot by place, so check your own state and metro[12][14].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[32].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a market research analyst make an hour?
The median was $37.87 an hour in May 2025, and the mean was $43.03[1][8].
What degree do you need to be a market research analyst?
A bachelor's degree is typical, in market research or a business, communications or social science field[7][16].
Is market research analyst in demand?
Employment is projected to rise 7% between 2025 and 2035, against 3.5% for all occupations[2][3]. About 82,000 openings are projected each year[6].
What is the highest paying state for market research analysts?
Massachusetts, with a median of $101,810[12].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists in the US was $78,760 per year and $37.87 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists is projected to grow 7% from 2025 to 2035, from about 952,700 to 1,019,000 jobs (a change of +66,300). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists: 10th percentile $43,390, 25th percentile $58,350, 75th percentile $108,310, 90th percentile $155,480. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 82,000 openings for Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists: education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists was $89,490 per year and $43.03 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists: 10th percentile $20.86, 25th percentile $28.05, 75th percentile $52.07, 90th percentile $74.75. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. Median annual wage for Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists jobs: California 119,070; New York 80,500; Texas 63,350; Florida 60,770; Illinois 40,560. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists (areas with at least 100 jobs): San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $141,960; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $123,250; Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $102,390; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $102,170; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $100,520; Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $99,040; Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $97,910; Boulder, CO $97,600. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 79,290 (median $100,520); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 39,390 (median $82,990); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 32,310 (median $102,390); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 30,970 (median $80,400); San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA 24,120 (median $123,250); Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 21,090 (median $87,160). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Other Experience. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Other Experience. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. O*NET description of Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists. O*NET OnLine
  23. O*NET task list for Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists. O*NET OnLine
  24. O*NET 13-1161.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Business Development Specialist, Communications Consultant, Communications Specialist, Content Strategist, Market Analyst, Market Research Analyst, Market Research Consultant, Market Research Specialist. O*NET OnLine
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of market research analysts in 2025: Management, scientific, and technical consulting services 11%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. BLS Employment Projections: 3.8% of Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  30. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists: 2.5% of workers leave the labor force each year and 5.1% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  31. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 899,580 people were employed as Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  32. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.