by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Survey Research/Methodology involves the study of A Program That Focuses On Survey Research Design To Gather Data About Behaviors, Demographics, Opinions, And Data Analysis To Answer Complex Questions. Includes Instruction In The Analysis Of Survey Data, Cross-Cultural And Multi-Population Survey Methodology, Data Collection Methods, Modes Of Survey Analysis, Quantitative Analysis, Questionnaire Design, Research Design, Sampling, Survey Error, And Structural Equation Modeling. Continue reading for the essential details every survey research/methodology student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering survey research/methodology programs.
Nationwide, survey research/methodology is a widely-pursued major, with 13 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Survey Research/Methodology Schools ranking analyzes these 2 schools to determine the best overall colleges for survey research/methodology students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of survey research/methodology programs later in this article.
Programs in Survey Research/Methodology develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations survey research/methodology graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a survey research/methodology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a survey research/methodology major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several survey research/methodology degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 13 |
People currently working in careers related to survey research/methodology tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 33.9% |
| Doctoral degree | 26.2% |
| Master’s degree | 23.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 5.0% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 3.3% |
| Some college courses | 2.8% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.1% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.4% |
| Post-doctoral training | 1.2% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.3% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in survey research/methodology careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in survey research/methodology can lead to many career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to survey research/methodology.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to survey research/methodology.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Social Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other | 1,421,275 | 11.1% |
| Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary | 730,797 | 12.0% |
| Managers, All Other | 468,025 | 6.2% |
| Compliance Managers | 310,203 | 13.0% |
| Statisticians | 307,132 | 6.6% |
| Loss Prevention Managers | 265,210 | 2.2% |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | 206,415 | 9.9% |
| Social Science Research Assistants | 153,535 | 4.7% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of survey research/methodology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $37,528 |
| 4 years | $43,428 |
| 5 years | $50,073 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for survey research/methodology graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers survey research/methodology grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Wind Energy Development Managers | $169,952 |
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| Statisticians | $130,349 |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | $122,567 |
| Biostatisticians | $121,594 |
| Compliance Managers | $117,178 |
| Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | $99,321 |
| Managers, All Other | $95,684 |
With 2 different survey research/methodology programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased survey research/methodology school rankings to help you.
Students interested in survey research/methodology, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Social Sciences, General | 15,565 |
| Research Methodology and Quantitative Methods | 1,929 |
| Social Sciences, Other | 3 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
