Survey Researchers: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of survey researchers about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for survey researchers to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of survey researchers expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for survey researchers.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Survey Researchers?
Do survey researchers need a degree? What kind of experience do survey researchers typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for survey researchers to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Survey Researchers
Jobs Postings for Survey Researchers By Education
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 2,337 (50%)
- Master's degree: 905 (19%)
- Bachelor's degree: 873 (19%)
- No Education Listed: 520 (11%)
- High School or GED: 63 (1%)
A ph.d. or professional degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of survey researchers. According to job data, a ph.d. or professional degree was required for 50% of positions. In 19% of job listings a master's degree was required and in 19% of postings a bachelor's degree was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Survey Researchers
Jobs Postings for Survey Researchers By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 763 (46%)
- 2-3 Years: 708 (42%)
- 4-6 Years: 153 (9%)
- 7-9 Years: 24 (1%)
- 10+ Years: 27 (2%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for survey researchers. In 46% of job postings for Survey Researchers, employers were looking for candidates with 0-1 years of experience. In 42% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience, while 4-6 years of experience was sought in 9% of job postings for survey researchers.
What Kind of Degree Do Survey Researchers Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for survey researchers, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 24 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective survey researchers, and in 2021 a total of 179,583 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective survey researchers.
Top Degree Programs for Survey Researchers
Top 5 Degree Programs for Survey Researchers (2021)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Psychology, General. | 140,792 |
| Research and Experimental Psychology, Other. | 10,153 |
| Applied Behavior Analysis. | 5,428 |
| Behavioral Sciences. | 4,169 |
| Experimental Psychology. | 3,211 |
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Psychology, General. | 140,792 |
| Research and Experimental Psychology, Other. | 10,153 |
| Applied Behavior Analysis. | 5,428 |
| Behavioral Sciences. | 4,169 |
| Experimental Psychology. | 3,211 |
| Cognitive Science, General. | 2,768 |
| Psychology, Other. | 2,580 |
| Forensic Psychology. | 2,090 |
| Applied Psychology. | 2,058 |
| Educational Psychology. | 1,856 |
| Behavioral Neuroscience. | 1,383 |
| Social Psychology. | 982 |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology, Other. | 660 |
| Community Psychology. | 623 |
| Early Childhood and Family Studies. | 259 |
| Cognitive Psychology and Psycholinguistics. | 245 |
| Psychometrics and Quantitative Psychology. | 96 |
| Performance and Sport Psychology. | 72 |
| Family Psychology. | 70 |
| Comparative Psychology. | 24 |
| Transpersonal/Spiritual Psychology. | 23 |
| Personality Psychology. | 18 |
| Environmental Psychology. | 12 |
| Psychopharmacology. | 11 |
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What Skills Do Survey Researchers Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by survey researchers to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for survey researchers, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Survey Researchers
Based on 3,960 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Survey Researchers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | 2,695 | 68% |
| Neurology | 754 | 19% |
| Clinical Psychology | 680 | 17% |
| Neuropsychological Tests | 666 | 17% |
| Psychometrics | 611 | 15% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Survey Researchers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Research | 1,633 | 41% |
| Writing | 1,027 | 26% |
| Communications | 924 | 23% |
| Presentations | 711 | 18% |
| Problem Solving | 653 | 16% |
Based on 3,960 job postings related to survey researchers, psychology was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 68% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for neurology, clinical psychology, neuropsychological tests, psychometrics and sas (software) were also highly sought.
As for common skills, research was the most desired skill found in job postings for survey researchers, followed by writing, communications, presentations, problem solving and quality control.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | 2,695 | 68% |
| Neurology | 754 | 19% |
| Clinical Psychology | 680 | 17% |
| Neuropsychological Tests | 666 | 17% |
| Psychometrics | 611 | 15% |
| SAS (Software) | 608 | 15% |
| Rehabilitation | 596 | 15% |
| Python (Programming Language) | 545 | 14% |
| Pediatrics | 538 | 14% |
| Clinical Neuropsychology | 537 | 14% |
| Statistical Software | 537 | 14% |
| Item Response Theory | 522 | 13% |
| R (Programming Language) | 510 | 13% |
| Psychological Evaluations | 492 | 12% |
| Psychiatry | 480 | 12% |
| SPSS (Statistical Software) | 384 | 10% |
| Project Management | 379 | 10% |
| Behavioral Health | 359 | 9% |
| Neuropsychological Assessments | 350 | 9% |
| Traumatic Brain Injuries | 339 | 9% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Research | 1,633 | 41% |
| Writing | 1,027 | 26% |
| Communications | 924 | 23% |
| Presentations | 711 | 18% |
| Problem Solving | 653 | 16% |
| Quality Control | 594 | 15% |
| Management | 572 | 14% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 473 | 12% |
| Time Management | 446 | 11% |
| Detail Oriented | 428 | 11% |
| Planning | 404 | 10% |
| Quality Assurance | 391 | 10% |
| Microsoft Office | 364 | 9% |
| Critical Thinking | 354 | 9% |
| Report Writing | 337 | 9% |
| Adaptability | 326 | 8% |
| Ethical Standards And Conduct | 308 | 8% |
| Editing | 286 | 7% |
| Scheduling | 285 | 7% |
| Teaching | 283 | 7% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about survey researchers? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for survey researchers.
What do survey researchers do?
How much do survey researchers make?
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