Evaluators: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of evaluators 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 evaluators to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of evaluators 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 evaluators.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Evaluators?
Do evaluators need a degree? What kind of experience do evaluators 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 evaluators to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Evaluators
Jobs Postings for Evaluators By Education
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 11 (34%)
- No Education Listed: 10 (31%)
- Bachelor's degree: 5 (16%)
- Master's degree: 3 (9%)
- High School or GED: 3 (9%)
A ph.d. or professional degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of evaluators. According to job data, a ph.d. or professional degree was required for 34% of positions. In 31% of job listings no education level was listed and in 16% of postings a bachelor's degree was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Evaluators
Jobs Postings for Evaluators By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 11 (69%)
- 4-6 Years: 2 (13%)
- 7-9 Years: 3 (19%)
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 evaluators. In 69% of job postings for Evaluators, employers were looking for candidates with 0-1 years of experience. In 19% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 7-9 years of experience, while 4-6 years of experience was sought in 13% of job postings for evaluators.
What Kind of Degree Do Evaluators Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for evaluators, 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 25 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective evaluators, and in 2023 a total of 79,444 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 evaluators.
Top Degree Programs for Evaluators
Top 5 Degree Programs for Evaluators (2023)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Sociology, General. | 33,034 |
| Social Sciences, General. | 15,927 |
| Criminology. | 10,562 |
| International/Globalization Studies. | 6,447 |
| Women's Studies. | 2,783 |
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Sociology, General. | 33,034 |
| Social Sciences, General. | 15,927 |
| Criminology. | 10,562 |
| International/Globalization Studies. | 6,447 |
| Women's Studies. | 2,783 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies, Other. | 2,381 |
| Research Methodology and Quantitative Methods. | 1,496 |
| Urban Studies/Affairs. | 1,301 |
| African-American/Black Studies. | 918 |
| Hispanic-American, Puerto Rican, and Mexican-American/Chicano Studies. | 760 |
| Intercultural/Multicultural and Diversity Studies. | 584 |
| Sociology and Anthropology. | 552 |
| American Indian/Native American Studies. | 547 |
| Ethnic Studies. | 539 |
| Disability Studies. | 427 |
| Medical/Health Humanities. | 345 |
| Deaf Studies. | 337 |
| Asian-American Studies. | 149 |
| Applied/Public Sociology. | 96 |
| Gay/Lesbian Studies. | 82 |
| Demography and Population Studies. | 70 |
| Folklore Studies. | 66 |
| Rural Sociology. | 34 |
| Applied Demography. | 6 |
| Survey Research/Methodology. | 1 |
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What Skills Do Evaluators Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by evaluators 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 evaluators, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Evaluators
Based on 29 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Evaluators
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Sociology | 28 | 97% |
| Artificial Intelligence | 8 | 28% |
| Machine Learning | 8 | 28% |
| Demography | 7 | 24% |
| Focus Group | 7 | 24% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Evaluators
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Research | 14 | 48% |
| Communication | 12 | 41% |
| Writing | 11 | 38% |
| Innovation | 8 | 28% |
| Operations | 8 | 28% |
Based on 29 job postings related to evaluators, sociology was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 97% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for artificial intelligence, machine learning, demography, focus group and public policies were also highly sought.
As for common skills, research was the most desired skill found in job postings for evaluators, followed by communication, writing, innovation, operations and english language.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Sociology | 28 | 97% |
| Artificial Intelligence | 8 | 28% |
| Machine Learning | 8 | 28% |
| Demography | 7 | 24% |
| Focus Group | 7 | 24% |
| Public Policies | 7 | 24% |
| Survey Methodologies | 7 | 24% |
| Economics | 4 | 14% |
| Social Work | 4 | 14% |
| Multidisciplinary Research | 3 | 10% |
| Research Funding | 3 | 10% |
| Agriculture | 2 | 7% |
| Anthropology | 2 | 7% |
| Biology | 2 | 7% |
| Business Development | 2 | 7% |
| Chronic Diseases | 2 | 7% |
| Communicable Diseases | 2 | 7% |
| Data Collection | 2 | 7% |
| Data Visualization | 2 | 7% |
| Disease Management | 2 | 7% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Research | 14 | 48% |
| Communication | 12 | 41% |
| Writing | 11 | 38% |
| Innovation | 8 | 28% |
| Operations | 8 | 28% |
| English Language | 7 | 24% |
| Management | 6 | 21% |
| Report Writing | 5 | 17% |
| Coordinating | 4 | 14% |
| Ethical Standards And Conduct | 3 | 10% |
| Influencing Skills | 3 | 10% |
| Leadership | 3 | 10% |
| Mentorship | 3 | 10% |
| Microsoft Excel | 3 | 10% |
| Microsoft Office | 3 | 10% |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | 3 | 10% |
| Presentations | 3 | 10% |
| Active Listening | 2 | 7% |
| Analytical Skills | 2 | 7% |
| Critical Thinking | 2 | 7% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about evaluators? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for evaluators.
All Occupations
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has compiled data for dozens of in-demand jobs. Explore our full catalog of occupation data by visiting the link below.