Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists salary in the U.S.
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists in the U.S. earn a median of $78,760 a year ($37.87 an hour), based on BLS data for 899,580 workers.
Pay ranges from $43,390 for the lowest-paid 10% to $155,480 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $89,490, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for market research analysts and marketing specialists in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $43,390 | $20.86 |
| 25th percentile | $58,350 | $28.05 |
| Median | $78,760 | $37.87 |
| 75th percentile | $108,310 | $52.07 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $155,480 | $74.75 |
| Average (mean) | $89,490 | $43.03 |
Half of market research analysts and marketing specialists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,563.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,281.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,029.23 |
| Weekly | $1,514.62 |
| Hourly | $37.87 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $78,760 salary, see how much house you can afford at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $101,810 | 39,710 |
| Delaware | $101,270 | 3,570 |
| New York | $98,580 | 80,500 |
| District of Columbia | $98,090 | 6,340 |
| Washington | $95,120 | 24,460 |
| California | $94,700 | 119,070 |
| Colorado | $93,050 | 27,880 |
| New Jersey | $88,190 | 22,990 |
| Minnesota | $87,510 | 21,280 |
| Rhode Island | $86,240 | 3,210 |
| Oregon | $79,150 | 11,310 |
| Illinois | $79,120 | 40,560 |
| North Carolina | $78,410 | 30,700 |
| Connecticut | $77,740 | 9,930 |
| Virginia | $76,980 | 25,610 |
| Maryland | $76,370 | 13,570 |
| Georgia | $75,850 | 27,810 |
| Florida | $75,450 | 60,770 |
| Vermont | $74,880 | 860 |
| Ohio | $72,790 | 27,370 |
| Texas | $72,520 | 63,350 |
| Maine | $71,980 | 2,390 |
| Arizona | $71,940 | 15,850 |
| Nevada | $71,840 | 5,780 |
| Kansas | $70,430 | 8,090 |
| Missouri | $70,140 | 14,890 |
| Tennessee | $69,790 | 13,040 |
| South Carolina | $69,440 | 11,920 |
| Pennsylvania | $68,760 | 31,040 |
| Montana | $68,080 | 1,460 |
| Michigan | $66,780 | 24,220 |
| Alaska | $66,710 | 570 |
| Iowa | $66,390 | 8,880 |
| Arkansas | $65,430 | 6,250 |
| Wisconsin | $64,800 | 15,600 |
| New Hampshire | $64,570 | 4,200 |
| Indiana | $63,700 | 14,400 |
| South Dakota | $63,490 | 1,530 |
| Utah | $62,630 | 14,510 |
| New Mexico | $61,950 | 1,610 |
| Oklahoma | $61,940 | 6,620 |
| North Dakota | $61,580 | 1,550 |
| Kentucky | $61,480 | 6,290 |
| Wyoming | $60,990 | 850 |
| Idaho | $60,970 | 3,780 |
| Nebraska | $60,000 | 3,780 |
| Virgin Islands | $59,990 | 90 |
| Louisiana | $59,690 | 5,360 |
| Alabama | $59,530 | 8,390 |
| Hawaii | $59,390 | 1,610 |
| Mississippi | $56,640 | 2,620 |
| West Virginia | $52,340 | 1,650 |
| Guam | $42,240 | 80 |
| Puerto Rico | $39,330 | 2,420 |
Best-paying metro areas for market research analysts and marketing specialists
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $141,960 | 12,710 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $123,250 | 24,120 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $102,390 | 32,310 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $102,170 | 18,030 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $100,520 | 79,290 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $99,040 | 17,000 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $97,910 | 16,760 |
| Boulder, CO | $97,600 | 3,130 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $93,110 | 2,740 |
| Worcester, MA | $90,300 | 2,030 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $90,210 | 2,680 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $87,160 | 21,090 |
| Springfield, MA | $85,970 | 1,050 |
| Greeley, CO | $85,830 | 780 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $85,350 | 8,130 |
Metro areas with the most market research analysts and marketing specialists
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 79,290 | $100,520 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 39,390 | $82,990 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 32,310 | $102,390 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 30,970 | $80,400 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 24,120 | $123,250 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 21,090 | $87,160 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 20,900 | $75,240 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 19,920 | $79,030 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 18,030 | $102,170 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 17,600 | $79,420 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 17,000 | $99,040 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 16,760 | $97,910 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 14,480 | $67,370 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 12,710 | $141,960 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 12,220 | $74,590 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | $83,050 | $39.93 |
| Project Management Specialist | $102,320 | $49.19 |
| Human Resources Specialist | $75,940 | $36.51 |
| Management Analyst | $101,860 | $48.97 |
| Buyers and Purchasing Agents | $77,710 | $37.36 |
| Training and Development Specialists | $69,280 | $33.31 |
| Compliance Officer | $80,730 | $38.81 |
| Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators | $78,000 | $37.50 |
| Logistician | $82,320 | $39.58 |
| Cost Estimator | $78,740 | $37.86 |
| Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners | $61,160 | $29.41 |
| Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists | $78,210 | $37.60 |
| Fundraiser | $72,550 | $34.88 |
| Labor Relations Specialist | $95,420 | $45.87 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 13-1161. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a market research analysts and marketing specialists make in the U.S.?
The median salary for market research analysts and marketing specialists in the U.S. is $78,760 a year, or $37.87 an hour. Pay ranges from $43,390 for the lowest-paid 10% to $155,480 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid market research analysts and marketing specialists make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of market research analysts and marketing specialists in the U.S. earn at least $155,480 a year. The top 25% earn $108,310 or more.
What is the starting pay for market research analysts and marketing specialists in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $43,390 a year, and a quarter of market research analysts and marketing specialists earn $58,350 or less.
How many market research analysts and marketing specialists work in the U.S.?
About 899,580 market research analysts and marketing specialists are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.