Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists
Also called: Ad Analyst (Advertising Analyst), Business Development Analyst, Business Development Associate, Business Development Representative, Business Development Specialist, Communications Consultant, Communications Specialist, Content Strategist
Research conditions in local, regional, national, or online markets.
What market research analysts and marketing specialists do
Typical tasks
- Prepare reports of findings, illustrating data graphically and translating complex findings into written text.
- Seek and provide information to help companies determine their position in the marketplace.
- Conduct research on consumer opinions and marketing strategies, collaborating with marketing professionals, statisticians, pollsters, and other professionals.
- Collect and analyze data on customer demographics, preferences, needs, and buying habits to identify potential markets and factors affecting product demand.
- Devise and evaluate methods and procedures for collecting data, such as surveys, opinion polls, or questionnaires, or arrange to obtain existing data.
- Gather data on competitors and analyze their prices, sales, and method of marketing and distribution.
- Measure and assess customer and employee satisfaction.
- Monitor industry statistics and follow trends in trade literature.
- Direct trained survey interviewers.
- Measure the effectiveness of marketing, advertising, and communications programs and strategies.
- Forecast and track marketing and sales trends, analyzing collected data.
- Attend staff conferences to provide management with information and proposals concerning the promotion, distribution, design, and pricing of company products or services.
Typical path into the job (BLS)
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists salary
The median annual wage for market research analysts and marketing specialists is $78,760 (BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, national). The lowest 10 percent earn less than $43,390 and the highest 10 percent earn more than $155,480. The mean annual wage is $89,490.
The mean hourly wage of $43.00 is 5.9× the federal minimum wage of $7.25. State minimums are higher in most large states. Minimum wage by state →
How does your pay compare with people your age?
Your numbers are not sent or stored. The comparison uses this occupation's BLS wage percentiles, adjusted for age with BLS median weekly earnings by age group (Q3 2026).
Pay by percentile
Annual wage percentiles from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Percentiles are a good proxy for pay by experience.
Projected pay for Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists (3, 5 and 10 years)est.
Today $78,760 → in 3 years $84,200 → in 5 years $88,000 → in 10 years $98,400 (10-year range $84,600–$114,200). The model assumes pay growth of +2.2% per year.
What drives the annual growth rate
Projected pay = current pay × (1 + annual growth)^years. The annual growth rate starts from a base wage-growth rate and adds or subtracts labor demand (BLS projected employment growth), wage momentum and AI replacement risk for each occupation. Projections are not guarantees. How it is calculated →
Outlook score for Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists
Each component is a percentile rank among all occupations in the same country (0–100). Weights: labor demand 25, wage momentum / openings 15, pay level 15, AI resistance 25, aging workforce 10 (Japan only), entry barrier 10.
Will AI replace Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists? AI replacement risk
How AI is changing this job
A written analysis for this occupation is being prepared.
AI replacement risk compares the parts of a job that are easy to hand to AI or software (processing information, documentation, repetitive computer work) with the parts that are hard to automate (physical work, working closely with people, judgment in unpredictable settings), using O*NET work activities, work context, skills and knowledge. The result is a relative position among all occupations in the country, scaled to 0–100%. Methodology →
Labor demand for Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists
Employment projections are from the BLS Employment Projections program (2025–35). Annual openings include both new jobs and replacement of workers who leave the occupation.
The same job in Japan
| Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists United States | ネット通販の企画開発 Japan | ネット通販の運営 Japan | Webマーケティング（ネット広告・販売促進） Japan | マーケティング・リサーチャー Japan | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median / average pay | $78,760 | ¥7.37M ≈ $46,856 | ¥5.29M ≈ $33,620 | ¥7.37M ≈ $46,856 | ¥7.37M ≈ $46,856 |
| Pay in 10 years (est.) | $98,400 | ¥8.16M | ¥5.87M | ¥8.16M | ¥8.43M |
| Outlook score | 58 | 39 | 34 | 39 | 45 |
| AI replacement risk | 80% High | 84% Very high | 83% Very high | 84% Very high | 73% High |
| Workers | 900K | — | — | — | — |
Matched by occupation (SOC code). Yen converted at 157.25 JPY/USD for reference; Japanese figures are averages, U.S. figures are medians, and the surveys define occupations differently.
Skills, education and requirements for Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists
Key skills
O*NET skill level ratings (0–7).
Key knowledge areas
What the work involves
Important abilities
Training before entry
Related work experience
Job Zone 4 — considerable preparation needed (O*NET)
Difficulty of entry: ★★★☆☆ Moderate (from education, training, experience and Job Zone)
How to become market research analysts and marketing specialists
A step-by-step guide for this occupation is being prepared. The education, training and experience data above show the typical path.
Career path and how to earn more as market research analysts and marketing specialists
Career-path guidance is being prepared. Pay by percentile is shown in the Pay section.