Survey Researcher salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Survey Researchers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $54,080 a year ($26.00 an hour), based on BLS data for 310 workers.
Pay ranges from $42,750 for the lowest-paid 10% to $135,730 for the top 10%. That is 22% lower than the national median of $69,460. Pay here is about the same as the Illinois statewide median of $54,080. There are 0.07 survey researchers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $76,900, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for survey researchers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,750 | $20.56 |
| 25th percentile | $54,080 | $26.00 |
| Median | $54,080 | $26.00 |
| 75th percentile | $104,430 | $50.21 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $135,730 | $65.25 |
| Average (mean) | $76,900 | $36.97 |
Half of survey researchers 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 | $4,506.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,253.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,080 |
| Weekly | $1,040 |
| Hourly | $26.00 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $54,080 salary, see how much house you can afford in Illinois at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Survey Researcher salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $58,300 | 60 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $49,940 | 80 |
Highest-paying states for survey researchers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Minnesota | $104,220 |
| District of Columbia | $102,390 |
| Michigan | $101,550 |
| North Carolina | $96,560 |
| New Jersey | $95,580 |
| Wisconsin | $92,660 |
| Colorado | $89,870 |
| Connecticut | $88,320 |
| New York | $86,890 |
| Wyoming | $84,360 |
See Survey Researcher pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $85,390 | $41.05 |
| School Psychologist | $90,620 | $43.57 |
| Psychologists, All Other | $69,820 | $33.57 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $98,840 | $47.52 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $104,550 | $50.26 |
| Political Scientist | $103,780 | $49.89 |
| Anthropologists and Archeologists | $59,560 | $28.63 |
| Historian | $89,670 | $43.11 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $83,240 | $40.02 |
| Chemist | $90,920 | $43.71 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $101,630 | $48.86 |
| Physicist | $137,140 | $65.93 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Technicians | $62,670 | $30.13 |
| Microbiologist | $100,620 | $48.38 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 19-3022. 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 survey researcher make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for survey researchers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $54,080 a year, or $26.00 an hour. Pay ranges from $42,750 for the lowest-paid 10% to $135,730 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid survey researchers make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of survey researchers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $135,730 a year. The top 25% earn $104,430 or more.
What is the starting pay for survey researchers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $42,750 a year, and a quarter of survey researchers earn $54,080 or less.
How many survey researchers work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 310 survey researchers are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.