Survey research is the art of designing surveys and analyzing the data gathered from them. Professionals who do this work are employed by research firms, polling organizations, colleges, universities and more. And they can work on subjects that range from politics to health care.

Mollyann Brodie, a former president of the American Association for Public Opinion Research and the executive director of public opinion and survey research at the Kaiser Family Foundation, says a survey researcher should have a few key qualities. "You have to have an inherent interest in learning about things in a systematic way. You have to be interested in asking questions and finding out answers, and you should be good and thoughtful about using numbers," she says.

Brodie also says a facility for understanding the relationships between variables and the ability to disseminate the information with good communication skills is extremely helpful too.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects -3.8% employment growth for survey researchers between 2022 and 2032. In that period, an estimated 300 jobs will be lost.

In general, those with a bachelor’s degree are eligible for entry-level positions in conducting surveys. Those with higher degrees will likely be the professionals designing and analyzing the surveys.

"There are a lot of different components [in survey research,] conducting surveys, analyzing surveys, writing about surveys, so depending on what organization you’re working for or what piece you’re doing, you could have different levels of education," Brodie says.