Survey Researcher salary
From 242 certified H-1B filings (FY2025–FY2026). Base salary only.
- Occupation code 19-3022: Survey Researchers
At a glance
- Mostly Level I (entry-level). 41% of Survey Researcher filings are Level I, compared with 19% across all H-1B filings.
- Top filer: Google. 19 filings (8% of the total), median $190,000.
- Median up 15% since FY2020. From $69,455 in FY2020 to $80,172 in FY2026 (Q1–Q3). Nominal, not adjusted for inflation.
Survey Researcher H-1B salary overview
Employers filed 242 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Survey Researcher jobs in FY2025–FY2026 (occupation code 19-3022, Survey Researchers). The median base salary is $75,162, 39% below the median for all H-1B filings ($122,699), and half of the filings fall between $59,400 and $110,383. The most common wage level is Level I (entry-level), at 41% of filings. New York, NY has the most filings (77), and Google is the employer that files the most (19).
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Percentiles from certified H-1B filings, base salary only. Metro areas with at least 10 filings.
Top employers for Survey Researcher
Google19 filings · 8%$190,000
The Hanover Research Council14 filings · 6%$72,152
University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School12 filings · 5%$61,000
Employers with the most Survey Researcher filings. Bar: share of all Survey Researcher filings. Figure: median base salary.
Pay by level
Entry-level · 41% of filings
Mid-level · 25% of filings
Senior · 19% of filings
Expert · 16% of filings
Show the table
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Level I · Entry | $56,567 | 94 |
| Level II · Qualified | $77,250 | 59 |
| Level III · Experienced | $102,000 | 43 |
| Level IV · Fully competent | $119,034 | 36 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Survey Researcher pay by city
Median base salary in each metro area. Rent: HUD Fair Market Rent, FY2027.
Show all 5 metro areas
| Metro area | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $77,250 | 77 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $65,000 | 17 |
| San Jose, CA | $140,000 | 17 |
| Washington, DC | $82,393 | 16 |
| San Francisco, CA | $183,650 | 14 |
Metro areas with at least 10 filings for this occupation.
What a Survey Researcher does
Plan, develop, or conduct surveys. May analyze and interpret the meaning of survey data, determine survey objectives, or suggest or test question wording. Includes social scientists who primarily design questionnaires or supervise survey teams.
Typical tasks
- Conduct surveys and collect data, using methods such as interviews, questionnaires, focus groups, market analysis surveys, public opinion polls, literature reviews, and file reviews.
- Prepare and present summaries and analyses of survey data, including tables, graphs, and fact sheets that describe survey techniques and results.
- Consult with clients to identify survey needs and specific requirements, such as special samples.
- Determine and specify details of survey projects, including sources of information, procedures to be used, and the design of survey instruments and materials.
- Support, plan, and coordinate operations for single or multiple surveys.
- Monitor and evaluate survey progress and performance, using sample disposition reports and response rate calculations.
Preparation
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed. Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
O*NET occupation: Survey Researchers (19-3022.00). This section includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
H-1B pay vs. all U.S. workers
Across all U.S. workers in this occupation (Survey Researchers), the median annual wage was $69,460 in May 2025, with 8,290 people employed. The median H-1B base salary in FY2025–FY2026 is $75,162, 8% higher.
| H-1B filings | All U.S. workers (BLS, May 2025) | |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $48,699 | $39,260 |
| 25th percentile | $59,400 | $51,270 |
| Median | $75,162 | $69,460 |
| 75th percentile | $110,383 | $99,760 |
| 90th percentile | $171,700 | $130,860 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). BLS wages cover all wage and salary workers and include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are the base salary offered on certified LCAs. The two sources cover different periods. BLS reports wages of $239,200 or more as a single top value.
Salary details
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $48,699 |
| 25th | $59,400 |
| 50th (median) | $75,162 |
| 75th | $110,383 |
| 90th | $171,700 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $69,455 | $51,250 | $133,584 | 162 |
| FY2021 | $80,340 | $57,450 | $141,560 | 151 |
| FY2022 | $91,800 | $63,829 | $155,250 | 180 |
| FY2023 | $92,307 | $63,997 | $157,500 | 118 |
| FY2024 | $80,567 | $61,070 | $153,000 | 114 |
| FY2025 | $68,000 | $53,768 | $112,200 | 117 |
| FY2026 | $80,172 | $62,115 | $110,000 | 125 |
Questions
How much does an H-1B Survey Researcher make?
The median base salary in certified H-1B filings for Survey Researcher jobs is $75,162 (242 filings, FY2025–FY2026). Half of the filings are between $59,400 and $110,383.
What does an entry-level Survey Researcher earn on an H-1B?
Level I (entry-level) filings have a median of $56,567. Level I accounts for 41% of Survey Researcher filings.
Which employers file the most H-1B applications for Survey Researchers?
Google (19), The Hanover Research Council (14) and University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School (12) filed the most Survey Researcher LCAs in FY2025–FY2026.
Do H-1B Survey Researchers earn more than other U.S. workers in the same job?
The H-1B median base salary ($75,162) is 8% higher than the median wage of all U.S. workers in this occupation ($69,460, BLS May 2025). The sources measure pay differently, so treat this as a rough comparison.