What Is the Average Market Research Analyst Salary?

Key takeaways

Market research analysts earn above-average salaries in the United States. Below are some important facts to know:

• The annual median total pay for market research analysts is $95,000, according to Glassdoor [1].

• Top-paying states for market research analysts include Washington, California, and New York. 

• You can enhance your salary and career prospects as a market research analyst by earning credentials such as Professional Certified Marketer (PCM) and Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).

Explore the market research analyst role and the various factors that can help you maximize your salary. Afterward, if you’re ready to level up your marketing skills, enroll in the Unilever Digital Marketing Analyst Professional Certificate. Beginner-friendly, this program covers marketing analytics, customer segmentation, social media campaigns, MarTech, and more. 

What is a market research analyst?

Market research analysts help companies gain insight into their target markets by analyzing market trends, customer demographics, consumer behavior, and industry trends. This provides insight into what customers want, what they buy, and the general amount consumers are willing to spend. This helps companies design products and services that their customers will spend money on.

Market research analysts use multiple data collection methods, including focus groups, questionnaires, and statistical data analysis. 

What is the average salary for a market research analyst?

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual market research analyst income is $76,950 in the United States [2]. When you compare it to data from various websites, including Glassdoor, you’ll see that market research analysts’ salaries range from just over $51,000 to $95,000. The salary information given by three websites in February 2026 is in the table below [2, 1, 3]:

*Glassdoor salary information represents the median total pay. This figure includes base salary and additional pay, which may represent profit-sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other compensation.

However, the exact salary you can expect to receive will vary. The industry and location you work in and your experience and education level can significantly change that amount. The BLS predicts the employment opportunities for market research analysts will grow 7 percent from 2024 to 2034, which is much faster than the national average, alongside an above-average salary [2]. 

Factors that determine market research analyst salary 

Factors that can impact the salary you receive include whether you have a degree, your previous experience, the location of the role, and the industry you work in. Below, consider each of these factors in more detail.

Education 

To begin your career as a market research analyst, you should obtain a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in a relevant subject such as business, market research, statistics, social science, or psychology. 

According to Zippia, 72 percent of market research analysts have a bachelor’s degree, with 19 percent having a master’s degree [4]. Zippia also provides data on annual salary expectations according to degree level. Average salaries per year are in the table below [4]:

Read more: What Is an Undergraduate Degree?

Certification

Studying for certification is a great way of leveling up and demonstrating your specific skills relevant to the job. Adding additional certifications to your resume can give you access to higher-level jobs and salaries. Some popular certifications include:

• Professional Certified Marketer (PCM)

• Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) 

• Certified Business Intelligence Professional (CBIP)

Read more: What Are Certificate Programs?

Experience

As you move through your career and gain more experience, you may expect to advance your salary. When moving roles, different positions require different experience levels, and the highest-level roles generally ask for extensive experience. 

Glassdoor reports annual median total pay from entry-level to 10 or more years of experience as follows [1]:

All salary information represents the median total pay from Glassdoor as of February 2026. These figures include base salary and additional pay, which may represent profit-sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other compensation.

It's common to gain experience as a market research analyst by starting with an internship or working as a research assistant. 

Skills

Proving that you have certain market research analyst skills is essential in moving up to higher-level positions and reaching higher salary levels. Essential technical and workplace skills to master include:

Workplace skills

• Communication

• Critical thinking

• Organization

• Problem-solving

• Attention to detail

Technical skills

• Research

• Data analysis

• Marketing

• Software 

• Business acumen

• Analytical thinking

According to Payscale, some market research analyst skills, in particular, can help you increase your salary. Skills and their associated average annual salary increase include [5]:

Industry

Market research analysts work in various industries, such as finance, insurance, wholesale, business, publishing, media, retail, and manufacturing. They can also work as management, technical, or scientific consultants. 

According to Glassdoor, the five highest-paid industries for market research analysts, including their median annual salary, are as follows [1]:

1. Government and public administration: $88,485

2. Arts, entertainment, and recreation: $87,724

3. Aerospace and defense: $86,942

4. Insurance: $85,608

5. Pharmaceutical and biotechnology: $82,884

All salary information represents the median total pay from Glassdoor as of February 2026. These figures include base salary and additional pay, which may represent profit-sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other compensation.

Location

Geographical location plays a part in the amount of income you take home. Some cities and states pay more than others.

Highest-paying states for market research analysts

The highest-paying states for market research analysts, according to the BLS, and their median annual salary are [6]:

1. Delaware: $98,650

2. Washington: $94,300

3. Massachusetts: $93,430

4. California: $92,770

5. New York: $91,840

Highest-paying cities for market research analysts

The highest-paying metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas for market research analysts, according to the BLS, and their median annual salary are [6]:

1. San Jose, Sunnyvale, and Santa Clara (CA): $139,140

2. San Francisco, Oakland, and Fremont (CA): $124,840

3. Seattle, Tacoma, and Bellevue (WA): $102,390

4. New York, Newark, and Jersey City (NY/NJ): $97,360

5. Boston, Cambridge, and Newton (MA/NH): $95,930

How to become a market research analyst

An excellent starting point on your market research analyst career path is an internship you can complete while studying. Doing so allows you to build a strong foundation in the skills and experience you need while working on your academic qualifications. 

You may also consider entry-level roles such as marketing assistant, market research assistant, or account representative. Once you build your credentials, you may qualify for jobs similar to a market research analyst as well.

Will AI replace market research analysts?

AI, or artificial intelligence, is unlikely to replace market research analysts in the foreseeable future. Current AI models or tools, while excellent for pattern recognition and automation, lack the critical context needed to conduct interviews and connect disparate data sources, crucial for primary marketing research. 

Explore our free resources for market research analysts

Subscribe to Career Chat on LinkedIn to get weekly updates on popular skills, tools, and certifications. Discover more about marketing with our other free digital resources:

• Learn the terminology: Marketing Terms: A to Z Glossary

• Watch on YouTube: Market Research Basics for Smarter Marketing

• Explore certifications: 6 Digital Marketing Certificates for Future Marketing Pros

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