← All careers

Business & Finance

Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists

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.

Median salary (BLS)

$78,760

10th–90th percentile (BLS)

$43k – $155k

Job outlook

+7% (faster than average)

AI exposure

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports one wage for this occupational group, which covers 2 related roles — so read the median as an approximate group figure, and the range as the truer picture for this specific title. BLS source.

Early-career check: graduates of the matching programs below typically earn $112,000 ten years after starting college — an early-career figure, vs. the all-experience BLS median above. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard.

Plan a path to Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists

Qualification costsStack incomeBest cities/statesSchool ROIJob-posting fitTailored resume

Education

Typical entry: Bachelor's degree

Plan my path to this →

Typical progression

  1. Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists Intern

    Internship

    $36,000

    ~4 mos to advance

  2. Junior Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists

    Entry / Junior

    $43,390

    ~2 yrs to advance

  3. Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists

    Established

    $78,760

    ~3 yrs to advance

  4. Senior Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists

    Senior

    $117,120

Internships are a common on-ramp here — they speed up landing that first role and improve your odds, which is why the Safe and High-ceiling plans build one in.

Key skills

A typical day

  • •Prepare reports of findings, illustrating data graphically and translating complex findings into written text.
  • •Collect and analyze data on customer demographics, preferences, needs, and buying habits to identify potential markets and factors affecting product demand.
  • •Conduct research on consumer opinions and marketing strategies, collaborating with marketing professionals, statisticians, pollsters, and other professionals.
  • •Measure and assess customer and employee satisfaction.
  • •Devise and evaluate methods and procedures for collecting data, such as surveys, opinion polls, or questionnaires, or arrange to obtain existing data.

Fields of study

Any field

Top colleges for Business & Finance

Explore all

Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.