by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 2 U.S. colleges awarded 18 degrees and certificates in Survey Research/Methodology. Graduates earn a median $37,530 one year after completing, rising to $52,330 after four years.
A 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.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, survey research/methodology is a widely-pursued major, with 18 degrees awarded annually. 2 colleges award survey research/methodology degrees, an average of 9 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 14.
All 18 of the awards are master’s degrees, the only level colleges reported.
Women earned 61% of survey research/methodology degrees and certificates in the latest year (11 of 18). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (9) and Hispanic or Latino (5), and international students earned 1.
O*NET rates Speaking the most important skill for jobs related to survey research/methodology, at 4.1 out of 5. The key knowledge areas are English Language, Computers and Electronics and Education and Training. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Written Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a survey research/methodology degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 18 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to survey research/methodology, at 33.9%.
| 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% |
Source: O*NET Online.
15 occupations are related to Survey Research/Methodology, with an average median salary of $94,048; the strongest outlook belongs to Compliance Managers, at 13.0% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Lecturer, Social Science Professor, Naval Science Teacher and Weight Control Lecturer.
The occupation related to survey research/methodology with the most projected jobs is Social Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other, at 1,421,275.
| 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% |
Survey Research/Methodology graduates earn a median $37,530 one year after completing their program, $52,330 after four years and $50,237 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $37,530 |
| 4 years | $52,330 |
| 5 years | $50,237 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to survey research/methodology is Wind Energy Development Managers, with a median salary of $169,952.
| 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 |
Survey Research/Methodology has 3 similar majors in the Social Sciences field, which together award 17,540 degrees a year; the largest are Social Sciences, General (15,214), Research Methodology and Quantitative Methods (2,317) and Social Sciences, Other (9). Browse all Social Sciences majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Social Sciences, General | 15,214 |
| Research Methodology and Quantitative Methods | 2,317 |
| Social Sciences, Other | 9 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.