SalariesWhat the occupation covers
Research conditions in local, regional, national, or online markets. Gather information to determine potential sales of a product or service, or plan a marketing or advertising campaign. May gather information on competitors, prices, sales, and methods of marketing and distribution. May employ search marketing tactics, analyze web metrics, and develop recommendations to increase search engine ranking and visibility to target markets. Excludes “Web and Digital Interface Designers” (15-1255), “Art Directors” (27-1011), “Graphic Designers” (27-1024), and “Public Relations Specialists” (27-3031).
Official definition from the Standard Occupational Classification, code 13-1161.
The pay range
Pay differs a lot inside one occupation, with experience, employer and place. The table shows where the lines fall.
| Share of workers | A year | A month* | A week* | An hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn less than | $43,390 | $3,616 | $834 | $20.86 |
| Lowest 25% earn less than | $58,350 | $4,862 | $1,122 | $28.05 |
| Median (half earn less, half more) | $78,760 | $6,563 | $1,515 | $37.87 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $108,310 | $9,026 | $2,083 | $52.07 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $155,480 | $12,957 | $2,990 | $74.75 |
* Month and week are the yearly figure divided by 12 and by 52, worked out here for convenience. BLS publishes the yearly and hourly figures.
How it compares
The median for all occupations in the United States was $50,980 a year. The median for Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists is $78,760, which is 54% higher. Among the 32 occupations of the field Business and Financial Operations, it ranks number 17 by median pay. With 899,580 jobs, it makes up about 58 of every 10,000 jobs in the country. The average ($89,490) is well above the median, a sign that a smaller group of high earners pulls the average up.
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists pay by state
The highest median pay was in Massachusetts ($101,810), Delaware ($101,270) and New York ($98,580). The lowest was in Puerto Rico ($39,330), Guam ($42,240) and West Virginia ($52,340). The most jobs were in California (119,070), New York (80,500) and Texas (63,350). The occupation is most concentrated in Massachusetts, where its share of all jobs is 1.9 times the national share.
No state matches.
| State | Jobs | Median a year | Average a year | Median an hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | 39,710 | $101,810 | $108,600 | $48.95 |
| Delaware | 3,570 | $101,270 | $105,940 | $48.69 |
| New York | 80,500 | $98,580 | $103,270 | $47.39 |
| District of Columbia | 6,340 | $98,090 | $106,270 | $47.16 |
| Washington | 24,460 | $95,120 | $107,970 | $45.73 |
| California | 119,070 | $94,700 | $108,120 | $45.53 |
| Colorado | 27,880 | $93,050 | $98,960 | $44.74 |
| New Jersey | 22,990 | $88,190 | $94,660 | $42.40 |
| Minnesota | 21,280 | $87,510 | $94,120 | $42.07 |
| Rhode Island | 3,210 | $86,240 | $89,490 | $41.46 |
| Oregon | 11,310 | $79,150 | $90,540 | $38.05 |
| Illinois | 40,560 | $79,120 | $87,940 | $38.04 |
| North Carolina | 30,700 | $78,410 | $89,430 | $37.70 |
| Connecticut | 9,930 | $77,740 | $86,740 | $37.38 |
| Virginia | 25,610 | $76,980 | $87,420 | $37.01 |
| Maryland | 13,570 | $76,370 | $85,610 | $36.72 |
| Georgia | 27,810 | $75,850 | $84,540 | $36.47 |
| Florida | 60,770 | $75,450 | $81,010 | $36.27 |
| Vermont | 860 | $74,880 | $78,420 | $36.00 |
| Ohio | 27,370 | $72,790 | $78,560 | $35.00 |
| Texas | 63,350 | $72,520 | $79,770 | $34.87 |
| Maine | 2,390 | $71,980 | $79,240 | $34.61 |
| Arizona | 15,850 | $71,940 | $80,310 | $34.59 |
| Nevada | 5,780 | $71,840 | $76,790 | $34.54 |
| Kansas | 8,090 | $70,430 | $77,490 | $33.86 |
| Missouri | 14,890 | $70,140 | $78,560 | $33.72 |
| Tennessee | 13,040 | $69,790 | $79,640 | $33.55 |
| South Carolina | 11,920 | $69,440 | $81,470 | $33.38 |
| Pennsylvania | 31,040 | $68,760 | $77,100 | $33.06 |
| Montana | 1,460 | $68,080 | $71,250 | $32.73 |
| Michigan | 24,220 | $66,780 | $77,240 | $32.11 |
| Alaska | 570 | $66,710 | $70,110 | $32.07 |
| Iowa | 8,880 | $66,390 | $73,380 | $31.92 |
| Arkansas | 6,250 | $65,430 | $78,430 | $31.46 |
| Wisconsin | 15,600 | $64,800 | $73,910 | $31.15 |
| New Hampshire | 4,200 | $64,570 | $80,090 | $31.04 |
| Indiana | 14,400 | $63,700 | $72,460 | $30.63 |
| South Dakota | 1,530 | $63,490 | $73,980 | $30.53 |
| Utah | 14,510 | $62,630 | $71,490 | $30.11 |
| New Mexico | 1,610 | $61,950 | $67,090 | $29.79 |
| Oklahoma | 6,620 | $61,940 | $69,590 | $29.78 |
| North Dakota | 1,550 | $61,580 | $66,940 | $29.61 |
| Kentucky | 6,290 | $61,480 | $70,220 | $29.56 |
| Wyoming | 850 | $60,990 | $69,760 | $29.32 |
| Idaho | 3,780 | $60,970 | $73,110 | $29.31 |
| Nebraska | 3,780 | $60,000 | $64,970 | $28.84 |
| Virgin Islands | 90 | $59,990 | $56,230 | $28.84 |
| Louisiana | 5,360 | $59,690 | $68,520 | $28.70 |
| Alabama | 8,390 | $59,530 | $68,500 | $28.62 |
| Hawaii | 1,610 | $59,390 | $64,720 | $28.55 |
| Mississippi | 2,620 | $56,640 | $61,820 | $27.23 |
| West Virginia | 1,650 | $52,340 | $58,360 | $25.17 |
| Guam | 80 | $42,240 | $49,890 | $20.31 |
| Puerto Rico | 2,420 | $39,330 | $45,470 | $18.91 |
Sorted by median pay, highest first. "Not published" means BLS did not release that figure for the state, usually because too few employers were surveyed. "$239,200 or more" is the highest value BLS reports in the state tables.
Similar occupations by pay
- Insurance Underwriters$81,370 a year
- Financial Specialists, All Other$81,100 a year
- Compliance Officers$80,730 a year
- Cost Estimators$78,740 a year
- Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage$78,240 a year
- Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists$78,210 a year
Common questions
How much do Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists earn in the United States?
The median pay was $78,760 a year in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $43,390 and the highest-paid 10% more than $155,480.
How many people work as Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists?
About 899,580 jobs in the United States in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Checked in November 2026. Figures are for employees, before tax, and leave out overtime pay and benefits. They are official statistics, not advice or a pay offer; see bls.gov/oes for the original tables.