Salary Range & Percentiles
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$43,390
- 25th Percentile — Junior$58,350
- 50th Percentile — Median$78,760
- 75th Percentile — Senior$108,310
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$155,480
The top 10% of Market Research Analysts earn $155,480 or more per year. Entry-level professionals can expect to start around $43,390, with significant growth over the first 5 years.
What Market Research Analysts Do
Role, training and entry requirements
Market research analysts study market conditions to estimate potential sales of products and services. They design surveys, analyze data on consumers and competitors, and present findings that help companies decide what to sell, to whom, and at what price.
How to become one
A bachelor's degree in market research, statistics, business, or a related field is the usual requirement. Strong skills in statistics, data analysis software, and communication are essential, and senior roles often call for a master's degree.
Salary by State
Geographic salary comparison
| State | Avg Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $108,600 | +21.4% |
| California | $108,120 | +20.8% |
| Washington | $107,970 | +20.7% |
| District of Columbia | $106,270 | +18.8% |
| Delaware | $105,940 | +18.4% |
| New York | $103,270 | +15.4% |
| Colorado | $98,960 | +10.6% |
| New Jersey | $94,660 | +5.8% |
| Minnesota | $94,120 | +5.2% |
| Oregon | $90,540 | +1.2% |
| Rhode Island | $89,490 | +0.0% |
| North Carolina | $89,430 | -0.1% |
| Illinois | $87,940 | -1.7% |
| Virginia | $87,420 | -2.3% |
| Connecticut | $86,740 | -3.1% |
| Maryland | $85,610 | -4.3% |
| Georgia | $84,540 | -5.5% |
| South Carolina | $81,470 | -9.0% |
| Florida | $81,010 | -9.5% |
| Arizona | $80,310 | -10.3% |
| New Hampshire | $80,090 | -10.5% |
| Texas | $79,770 | -10.9% |
| Tennessee | $79,640 | -11.0% |
| Maine | $79,240 | -11.5% |
| Missouri | $78,560 | -12.2% |
| Ohio | $78,560 | -12.2% |
| Arkansas | $78,430 | -12.4% |
| Vermont | $78,420 | -12.4% |
| Kansas | $77,490 | -13.4% |
| Michigan | $77,240 | -13.7% |
| Pennsylvania | $77,100 | -13.8% |
| Nevada | $76,790 | -14.2% |
| South Dakota | $73,980 | -17.3% |
| Wisconsin | $73,910 | -17.4% |
| Iowa | $73,380 | -18.0% |
| Idaho | $73,110 | -18.3% |
| Indiana | $72,460 | -19.0% |
| Utah | $71,490 | -20.1% |
| Montana | $71,250 | -20.4% |
| Kentucky | $70,220 | -21.5% |
| Alaska | $70,110 | -21.7% |
| Wyoming | $69,760 | -22.0% |
| Oklahoma | $69,590 | -22.2% |
| Louisiana | $68,520 | -23.4% |
| Alabama | $68,500 | -23.5% |
| New Mexico | $67,090 | -25.0% |
| North Dakota | $66,940 | -25.2% |
| Nebraska | $64,970 | -27.4% |
| Hawaii | $64,720 | -27.7% |
| Mississippi | $61,820 | -30.9% |
| West Virginia | $58,360 | -34.8% |
What Factors Affect Market Research Analysts Salary?
Key factors affecting compensation
Pay for Market Research Analysts is influenced by geographic location, years of experience, employer type, and educational background. Location alone is a large factor: Massachusetts pays an average of $108,600, while West Virginia pays $58,360 — a gap of $50,240 per year.
Analysts with advanced quantitative and data science skills earn toward the top of the range. Pay is highest in large companies, consulting firms, and technology-heavy metro areas.
These figures are the wages employers report to BLS: base pay plus commissions, production bonuses and tips. They exclude overtime pay, shift differentials, year-end bonuses, benefits and self-employed workers, so total compensation can be higher than the numbers shown.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average salary for Market Research Analysts?
The average salary for Market Research Analysts in the United States is $89,490 per year, with a median of $78,760.
What is the starting salary for Market Research Analysts?
Entry-level Market Research Analysts typically earn between $43,390 and $58,350 per year depending on location and employer.
What state pays Market Research Analysts the most?
Massachusetts pays Market Research Analysts the most at $108,600 per year on average, followed by California ($108,120) and Washington ($107,970).
How much do Market Research Analysts make per hour?
Based on the average annual salary of $89,490, Market Research Analysts earn approximately $43.02 per hour (based on 2,080 working hours/year).
Is Market Research Analysts a good career in 2026?
BLS counts 899,580 Market Research Analysts jobs in the United States, with a mean annual wage of $89,490 and a median of $78,760 (OEWS May 2025). This site does not publish job-growth projections; the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook covers the outlook for each occupation.
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