Updated May 2026 · BLS OEWS 2025 reference period
How Much Do Market Research Analysts Make?
The median market research analyst salary is $86,503 per year as of 2026, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data covering 70 U.S. metro areas. Pay ranges from $59,540 in the lowest-paying metro to $141,960 in the highest, with a national mean of $94,866 across roughly 589,170 workers.
This page answers a common U.S. wage question: How Much Do Market Research Analysts Make?. The answer draws on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — the federal survey that captures wages for over 800 occupations across every U.S. metropolitan area. Why BLS OEWS data is the right anchor: alternative wage sources (Glassdoor, levels.fyi, Payscale) are self-reported and skew toward specific roles, industries, or geographies. BLS OEWS is employer-reported, mandatory for businesses above the survey threshold, and uniformly applied across occupations and metros.
The detailed answer below uses the BLS numbers, explains how to read them, and translates the statistical detail into the worker-relevant interpretation of the question.
50th percentile across U.S. metros, employment-weighted
What This Pay Level Means
The 50th percentile (median) is the wage at which half of workers in this occupation earn more and half earn less. It is the right anchor for the typical worker — five-to-ten years of experience, normal scope and seniority, mid-tier employer. Pay above the median requires above-median experience, scope, or employer; pay below means above-median value left on the table.
For new entrants, the 10th percentile (entry-level) is the right benchmark; for early-career workers with 2–5 years, the 25th. For senior specialists and managers, the 75th and 90th percentiles apply. See the related links below for those bands.
Market Research Analyst Salary Snapshot (2026)
| National Median Salary | $76,457 |
| National Mean Salary | $94,866 |
| Lowest-Paying Metro Median | $59,540 |
| Highest-Paying Metro Median | $141,960 |
| Total U.S. Employment | 589,170 |
| Metro Areas Tracked | 70 |
| SOC Code · Category | 13-1161 · Management |
Top-Paying Metros at This Level
| Metro | National Pay |
|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $141,960 |
| San Francisco, CA | $123,250 |
| Boston, MA | $102,390 |
| Seattle, WA | $102,170 |
| New York, NY | $100,520 |
What the Numbers Tell You
Geographic pay spread for Market Research Analysts is unusually wide — top metros pay roughly 2.4× what the lowest-paying metros pay, a $82,420 gap. Most of that variation tracks cost of living, regional industry concentration, and the depth of senior workers in each market.
Roughly 589,170 Market Research Analysts are employed across the metros tracked here — a sizable mid-tier occupation with reliable percentile data.
Other Pay Levels for Market Research Analysts
Each percentile band targets a distinct experience level — see the dedicated page for your career stage:
- Entry-level market research analyst salary →
- Junior market research analyst salary →
- Senior market research analyst salary →
- Top 10% market research analyst salary →
How This Salary Is Calculated
Wages come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program — an annual survey of about 1.2 million U.S. establishments published by Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code and Metropolitan Statistical Area. The figure on this page is employment-weighted across 70 BLS-tracked metros for SOC code 13-1161. The mapping from BLS percentiles to experience bands (entry / junior / mid / senior / top 10%) follows the convention used by the U.S. Department of Labor's prevailing wage system. See full methodology.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do market research analysts make on average?
The national median market research analyst salary is $76,457 per year as of 2026, with a mean of $94,866. Median pay across 70 BLS-tracked metros ranges from $59,540 to $141,960 depending on location.
What is the salary range for market research analysts?
Median market research analyst pay spans $59,540 to $141,960 across U.S. metros tracked by BLS — a spread of $82,420. Within any single metro, the 10th-to-90th percentile band typically widens that range further.
Where do market research analysts earn the most?
The highest-paying metro for market research analysts tracked here is San Jose, CA at a median of $141,960. Top markets are typically high-cost coastal metros with deep talent pools.
How does market research analyst pay compare to mean salary?
Market Research Analysts have a median of $76,457 and a mean of $94,866 — a $18,409 difference. When mean exceeds median by more than a few percent, a small group of high earners is pulling the average up.
Where does this market research analyst salary data come from?
Every wage figure comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program at bls.gov/oes — an annual survey of more than 1 million U.S. employers. The data is public domain and the same source the U.S. Department of Labor uses to set H-1B prevailing wages.
The median market research analyst salary is $86,503 per year as of 2026, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data covering 70 U.S. metro areas. Pay ranges from $59,540 in the lowest-paying metro to $141,960 in the highest, with a national mean of $94,866 across roughly 589,170 workers.