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From business marketing to political campaigning, survey researchers have the insight into who people are and what they think.

Survey researcher careers in brief

Survey researchers are specialists in the art of designing surveys to gather information and opinions. They help businesses, public agencies and politicians gauge public opinion and learn more about a group of people. Connecting with people by phone, Internet or even by mail, survey researchers obtain information and opinions. They design questionnaires tailored to their clients' needs, sometimes working with economists, statisticians or market researchers to create a survey that hits all the right bases. Survey researchers may gather information from customers about a product, or evaluate public opinion about a public policy or an electoral candidate. Researchers work well with both people and data: They have strong communication skills (both for conducting surveys and presenting the results to clients), and can also crunch numbers when it comes to quantifying and analyzing their results.

Survey researcher salary 2012

Survey researchers earned an average salary of $43,450 in 2010, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Salary.com offers data for market survey researchers only; an entry-level researcher earns $50,281, and a researcher with 4-6 years experience commands $72,310.

GlassDoor.com presents a wide variation in survey researcher salaries for 2012, including:

• Mathematical policy research job: $90,000 to $110,000,
• Management consulting firm position: $58,000 to $83,000
• Business analytics survey researcher role: $50,000

The BLS also reveals wide variation in survey researcher earnings. While the lowest-paid 10 percent earns $18,660, the upper 10 percent brings home over $78,030. Scientific R&D is the highest-paying employment sector, at $63,900 average salary, followed by state government, at $57,440.

Where you live can also affect how much you earn. Top-paying states, according to the BLS:

• Washington, D.C.: $72,280
• Maryland: $69,730
• Ohio: $62,250

The Pacific Northwest is also a hotbed of opportunity for survey researchers, with average salaries in Oregon and Washington topping $60,000.

If you're willing to relocate for the best opportunity, consider these relatively low-cost, high-paying cities:

• Portland, Oregon. The second highest-paying city in the U.S. may not have a rock-bottom cost of living, but it's still relatively affordable at 116 on the ACCRA Cost of Living Index. Average salary: $70,020.
• Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland ranks below the national average in cost of living, but still pays its researchers a relatively high average wage of $55,550.
• Charleston, South Carolina. This southern city pays an average salary of $51,110 and ranks a low 99.6 on the ACCRA Cost of Living Index.

Advancing your survey research career through education

The factors that make a difference in your earning power include quantitative skills and a college degree, reports the BLS. Online degree programs can help you take the next step in your career, with graduate-level training. Choose from a certificate or master's degree in statistics, marketing or business administration. The MBA, for example, can help you upgrade your research position into a supervisory or technical research role.

Survey researchers can expect a favorable job market in the coming decade. The BLS forecasts 28 percent job growth in the 2008-2018 period, making this the 25th fastest-growing occupation in the U.S. Market research and public policy research are the top areas for survey specialists. Globalization and a competitive economic climate are increasing demand for research-based decision-making.