Mid-Level

Marketing Researcher

The market investigator — gathering and analyzing information about markets, customers, and competition.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
Senior
Director
VP
Executive
Work Personality
E
C
I
A
S
R
Enterprisingleading, persuading
Conventionalorganizing, detail-oriented
Based on Holland Code framework
Job markets for Marketing Researchers
Employment concentration · ~391 areas
Based on employment in related occupations
Mapped SOC categories:
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
What it's like

What it's like to be a Marketing Researcher

As a Marketing Researcher, you gather and analyze information that supports marketing decisions. You're conducting studies, analyzing data, researching markets and competitors, and providing insights that help marketing teams understand their landscape.

Your day involves information gathering and analysis. You might conduct customer interviews, analyze survey results, research a competitor's recent moves, compile market size estimates, and present findings to stakeholders. You need curiosity, analytical skills, and the ability to synthesize information from diverse sources.

The challenge is finding signal in the noise. There's endless information available, but most of it isn't useful. Success requires knowing what to look for, where to find reliable data, and how to extract meaningful conclusions.

AchievementModerate
Working ConditionsModerate
SupportModerate
IndependenceModerate
RecognitionLower
RelationshipsLower
O*NET Work Values survey
StrategyExecution
StructuredAdaptable
ManagingContributing
CollaborativeIndependent
Research typesIndustryPrimary vs secondaryQuantitative balanceStrategic role
Marketing research varies by methodology emphasis. Some roles focus on primary research (surveys, interviews); others emphasize secondary research (market reports, data analysis). Industry affects what matters — technology moves fast; consumer products require consumer understanding. The level of strategic involvement versus pure research execution varies.
✦ Editorial — written by Truest from industry research and career patterns
Career Paths

Where this role sits in the broader career landscape — and where it can take you.

$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying387 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Marketing Researchers (SOC 13-1161.00), not just this title · BEA RPP 2023
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.
Exploring the Marketing Researcher career path? Truest helps you figure out if it's the right fit — and plan your path forward.
Explore career tools
1
Research methodology
Designing research, not just executing it, adds value
2
Strategic analysis
Connecting research to decisions enables advancement
3
Presentation skills
Influencing requires communicating clearly
What types of research would I primarily conduct?
What's the balance between primary and secondary research?
What research tools and resources are available?
How does research feed into marketing decisions?
What expertise or specialization would I develop?
✦ Editorial — career progression and interview guidance based on industry patterns
The Broader Landscape

Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.

$42K–$145K
Salary Range
10th – 90th percentile
861K
U.S. Employment
+6.7%
10yr Growth
87K
Annual Openings

How this category is changing

$76K$72K$68K$65K$61K201920202021202220232024$61K$76K
BLS OEWS May 2024 · BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034

Skills & Requirements

Reading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingWritingComplex Problem SolvingSpeakingActive ListeningJudgment and Decision MakingActive LearningMathematicsMonitoring
O*NET OnLine · Bureau of Labor Statistics
13-1161.00

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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) · BLS Employment Projections · O*NET OnLine
Truest editorial: Fit check, role profile, things that vary, advancement analysis, lateral moves, interview questions.