Market Research Analysts Salary 2025: $76,457 Median Pay (BLS OEWS)
- Official U.S. BLS OEWS data (May 2025)
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$76,457 per year is the national median annual wage for market research analysts (BLS OEWS, May 2025 reference period). That works out to about $37/hour, with a 10th–90th percentile range of $66,660 to $251,750. The Bureau of Labor Statistics classifies this role under SOC code 13-1161.
Key Facts (BLS OEWS, May 2025)
- Median annual wage
- $76,457
- Median hourly wage
- $37/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $94,866
- Total US employment
- 589,170
- Top-paying metro
- San Jose, CA, CA ($141,960)
- BLS SOC code
- 13-1161
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 release.
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The national median wage for market research analysts (BLS SOC 13-1161) is $76,457 per year — about $37/hour — across 589,170 workers in 70 U.S. metros in the BLS OEWS May 2025 release. The mean wage of $94,866 sits above the median, which means a minority of high earners pulls the average up — the median is the more honest benchmark for a typical offer.
Experience drives the range as much as anything: the 10th percentile earns $48,854 while the 90th earns $153,715 — a 3.1× gap from entry-level to the top of the field. Most market research analysts land in the $63,913–$120,109 band (25th–75th percentile), which is the right anchor when you size up an offer.
Location matters too. San Jose, CA, CA posts the highest median at $141,960, versus $59,540 in Tucson, AZ, AZ — a 138% gap. But adjusted for cost of living, Minneapolis, MN delivers the strongest real purchasing power ($92,194 in national-average dollars), which can flip the nominal ranking for anyone weighing a move.
For this Business / Management role, OEWS reports base salary; the performance bonuses that make up a large slice of senior market research analyst pay are excluded, so real take-home for experienced managers typically runs above the figures shown.
Market Research Analysts Salary by Experience Level (2025)
BLS OEWS doesn’t publish wages by years of experience, but its national percentile bands map cleanly to career stages. Here’s what market research analysts earn from entry-level to the top of the field.
| Career stage | Typical experience | BLS percentile | Annual wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level | 0–2 years | 10th | $48,854 |
| Junior / early-career | 2–5 years | 25th | $63,913 |
| Mid-career | 5–10 years | 50th (median) | $86,503 |
| Senior | 10–15 years | 75th | $120,109 |
| Top earners | 15+ years | 90th | $153,715 |
Experience bands are SalaryTruth’s interpretation of BLS OEWS percentiles, not a separate BLS series. Actual pay varies by employer, specialization, and region.
Salary Range (BLS Percentiles)
Market Research Analysts salaries range from $59,540 to $141,960 median across cities, depending on location, experience, and industry.
Market Research Analysts Salary by City (BLS OEWS)
| City | 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | COL-Adjusted | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $66,660 | $96,780 | $141,960 | $196,855 | $251,750 | $72,503 | 12,710 |
| San Francisco, CA | $60,680 | $85,708 | $123,250 | $167,195 | $211,140 | $68,625 | 24,120 |
| Boston, MA | $59,730 | $76,794 | $102,390 | $134,915 | $167,440 | $67,318 | 32,310 |
| Seattle, WA | $59,050 | $76,298 | $102,170 | $143,405 | $184,640 | $68,387 | 18,030 |
| New York, NY | $60,400 | $76,448 | $100,520 | $133,700 | $166,880 | $53,697 | 79,290 |
| Denver, CO | $51,980 | $70,804 | $99,040 | $133,300 | $167,560 | $87,801 | 17,000 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $52,840 | $70,868 | $97,910 | $126,390 | $154,870 | $92,194 | 16,760 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $44,410 | $62,730 | $90,210 | $116,675 | $143,140 | $86,325 | 2,680 |
| Washington, DC | $50,500 | $65,164 | $87,160 | $124,590 | $162,020 | $57,042 | 21,090 |
| Portland, OR | $50,280 | $64,308 | $85,350 | $124,395 | $163,440 | $65,603 | 8,130 |
| Providence, RI | $48,820 | $62,876 | $83,960 | $106,750 | $129,540 | $70,318 | 4,080 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $48,720 | $62,428 | $82,990 | $120,180 | $157,370 | $49,994 | 39,390 |
| Charlotte, NC | $47,960 | $61,948 | $82,930 | $121,695 | $160,460 | $85,760 | 9,500 |
| Richmond, VA | $45,080 | $59,712 | $81,660 | $125,890 | $170,120 | $79,980 | 4,550 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $48,870 | $61,734 | $81,030 | $120,565 | $160,100 | $58,931 | 3,460 |
| Austin, TX | $44,990 | $59,178 | $80,460 | $116,310 | $152,160 | $78,117 | 8,270 |
| Chicago, IL | $49,910 | $62,106 | $80,400 | $110,330 | $140,260 | $74,930 | 30,970 |
| San Diego, CA | $42,700 | $57,396 | $79,440 | $121,150 | $162,860 | $49,588 | 0 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $44,950 | $58,738 | $79,420 | $111,240 | $143,060 | $67,078 | 17,600 |
| Atlanta, GA | $37,700 | $54,232 | $79,030 | $117,355 | $155,680 | $79,667 | 19,920 |
| Miami, FL | $40,250 | $55,746 | $78,990 | $103,555 | $128,120 | $64,167 | 0 |
| Raleigh, NC | $46,090 | $59,246 | $78,980 | $117,690 | $156,400 | $79,138 | 6,470 |
| Sacramento, CA | $38,110 | $54,318 | $78,630 | $108,515 | $138,400 | $63,055 | 4,470 |
| Hartford, CT | $46,300 | $59,068 | $78,220 | $110,040 | $141,860 | $69,467 | 3,080 |
| Nashville, TN | $44,440 | $57,560 | $77,240 | $131,115 | $184,990 | $77,009 | 5,510 |
| Rochester, NY | $46,030 | $58,486 | $77,170 | $102,395 | $127,620 | $83,068 | 2,550 |
| Detroit, MI | $43,540 | $56,964 | $77,100 | $103,755 | $130,410 | $81,073 | 11,710 |
| Columbus, OH | $41,460 | $55,680 | $77,010 | $103,890 | $130,770 | $82,718 | 5,880 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $45,040 | $57,720 | $76,740 | $105,025 | $133,310 | $80,694 | 4,380 |
| Des Moines, IA | $45,920 | $58,184 | $76,580 | $102,340 | $128,100 | $82,079 | 3,440 |
| Albany, NY | $43,580 | $56,604 | $76,140 | $106,065 | $135,990 | $75,611 | 2,160 |
| Buffalo, NY | $44,440 | $57,060 | $75,990 | $103,990 | $131,990 | $82,151 | 2,520 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $44,970 | $57,282 | $75,750 | $105,010 | $134,270 | $83,059 | 7,080 |
| Dallas, TX | $42,710 | $55,722 | $75,240 | $108,860 | $142,480 | $72,277 | 20,900 |
| Tampa, FL | $37,700 | $52,704 | $75,210 | $101,880 | $128,550 | $75,512 | 8,420 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $36,950 | $52,038 | $74,670 | $98,900 | $123,130 | $68,505 | 4,600 |
| Baltimore, MD | $45,450 | $57,118 | $74,620 | $106,295 | $137,970 | $65,342 | 5,920 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $43,120 | $55,708 | $74,590 | $107,665 | $140,740 | $74,071 | 12,220 |
| St. Louis, MO | $39,520 | $53,364 | $74,130 | $103,635 | $133,140 | $82,367 | 6,980 |
| Greensboro, NC | $42,150 | $54,914 | $74,060 | $102,505 | $130,950 | $81,117 | 2,000 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $44,780 | $56,420 | $73,880 | $102,560 | $131,240 | $75,852 | 4,610 |
| Orlando, FL | $41,600 | $54,104 | $72,860 | $103,430 | $134,000 | $70,669 | 8,780 |
| Kansas City, MO | $43,130 | $54,910 | $72,580 | $101,830 | $131,080 | $76,080 | 6,920 |
| Greenville, SC | $42,430 | $54,222 | $71,910 | $107,295 | $142,680 | $79,811 | 2,430 |
| Memphis, TN | $38,810 | $51,926 | $71,600 | $97,940 | $124,280 | $85,238 | 1,880 |
| Spokane, WA | $45,180 | $55,264 | $70,390 | $102,760 | $135,130 | $72,269 | 1,200 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $40,630 | $52,342 | $69,910 | $97,865 | $125,820 | $69,493 | 740 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino, CA | $43,120 | $53,808 | $69,840 | $100,340 | $130,840 | $57,059 | 5,280 |
| Anchorage, AK | $44,390 | $54,122 | $68,720 | $85,445 | $102,170 | $54,110 | 380 |
| Madison, WI | $43,560 | $53,332 | $67,990 | $94,735 | $121,480 | $65,501 | 2,640 |
| Houston, TX | $26,950 | $43,118 | $67,370 | $96,565 | $125,760 | $69,813 | 14,480 |
| Reno, NV | $37,240 | $48,848 | $66,260 | $83,565 | $100,870 | $62,216 | 780 |
| San Antonio, TX | $36,800 | $48,460 | $65,950 | $97,075 | $128,200 | $72,077 | 4,140 |
| New Orleans, LA | $30,490 | $44,530 | $65,590 | $90,365 | $115,140 | $68,394 | 1,580 |
| Lexington, KY | $40,680 | $50,520 | $65,280 | $110,740 | $156,200 | $71,501 | 1,140 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $43,050 | $51,910 | $65,200 | $92,880 | $120,560 | $72,364 | 6,330 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $41,000 | $50,468 | $64,670 | $92,110 | $119,550 | $63,777 | 8,250 |
| Wichita, KS | $35,750 | $47,006 | $63,890 | $91,990 | $120,090 | $76,060 | 1,470 |
| Louisville, KY | $38,230 | $48,250 | $63,280 | $83,465 | $103,650 | $70,155 | 2,290 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $35,690 | $46,690 | $63,190 | $90,680 | $118,170 | $68,462 | 4,940 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $33,330 | $45,262 | $63,160 | $90,575 | $117,990 | $73,017 | 3,130 |
| Tulsa, OK | $38,640 | $48,436 | $63,130 | $89,375 | $115,620 | $72,730 | 1,860 |
| Knoxville, TN | $36,600 | $47,116 | $62,890 | $83,545 | $104,200 | $69,646 | 1,730 |
| Fresno, CA | $35,580 | $46,500 | $62,880 | $91,575 | $120,270 | $59,602 | 1,350 |
| Little Rock, AR | $34,170 | $45,618 | $62,790 | $95,110 | $127,430 | $71,190 | 1,400 |
| Boise, ID | $36,650 | $46,942 | $62,380 | $96,405 | $130,430 | $61,097 | 2,020 |
| Omaha, NE | $40,970 | $49,494 | $62,280 | $80,885 | $99,490 | $67,843 | 2,160 |
| Birmingham, AL | $39,820 | $48,768 | $62,190 | $91,220 | $120,250 | $68,794 | 2,660 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $41,640 | $49,800 | $62,040 | $80,310 | $98,580 | $66,000 | 900 |
| Tucson, AZ | $32,770 | $43,478 | $59,540 | $80,650 | $101,760 | $62,411 | 1,550 |
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Market Research Analyst & H-1B Prevailing Wage
Sponsoring or filing an H-1B, PERM, or E-3 case? See the DOL prevailing-wage levels (1–4) for Market Research Analyst, including the 2026 proposed increase.
Market Research Analyst prevailing wage in San Jose, CA →Frequently Asked Questions
The national median salary for Market Research Analyst is $76,457 as of 2025 (BLS OEWS). The national mean (average) is $94,866. Salaries range from $59,540 to $141,960 median depending on city and cost of living.
Entry-level market research analysts (10th percentile) earn about $48,854 per year nationally. Pay rises with experience to a median of $76,457, $120,109 at the 75th percentile, and $153,715 for the top 10% of earners.
The median market research analyst earns about $37/hour, based on the $76,457 annual median over a standard 2,080-hour work year (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
San Jose, CA, CA posts the highest median for Market Research Analyst at $141,960, well above the national median of $76,457. Cost of living matters, though — see the COL-adjusted column in the city table above, which can reorder the rankings.
There are approximately 589,170 Market Research Analyst positions in the US across 70 metropolitan areas tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey.
The 90th percentile market research analyst earns $153,715 — about 3.1× the $48,854 entry-level wage. A spread that wide signals real income growth potential with experience, specialization, and location.
No. BLS OEWS reports base wages only — bonuses, commissions, overtime, and equity are excluded. For roles where variable pay is common, total compensation runs above the figures shown here.
Salary data from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. COL adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parities.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 release.