Survey Researcher salary in District of Columbia
Survey Researchers in District of Columbia earn a median of $102,390 a year ($49.23 an hour), based on BLS data for 150 workers.
Pay ranges from $79,040 for the lowest-paid 10% to $217,080 for the top 10%. That is 47% higher than the national median of $69,460. District of Columbia ranks 2nd of 31 states for survey researchers pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.21 survey researchers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 4.0× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $121,060, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for survey researchers in District of Columbia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $79,040 | $38.00 |
| 25th percentile | $81,770 | $39.31 |
| Median | $102,390 | $49.23 |
| 75th percentile | $137,040 | $65.89 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $217,080 | $104.37 |
| Average (mean) | $121,060 | $58.20 |
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 | $8,532.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,266.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,938.08 |
| Weekly | $1,969.04 |
| Hourly | $49.23 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $102,390 salary, see how much house you can afford in District of Columbia at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Survey Researcher salary in cities in District of Columbia
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $97,780 | 620 |
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 |
Related jobs in District of Columbia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Political Scientist | $152,530 | $73.33 |
| Economist | $167,590 | $80.57 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $128,440 | $61.75 |
| Historian | $118,290 | $56.87 |
| School Psychologist | $107,500 | $51.68 |
| Psychologists, All Other | $125,110 | $60.15 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $107,000 | $51.44 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $137,000 | $65.87 |
| Social Science Research Assistant | $65,330 | $31.41 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $132,620 | $63.76 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $84,590 | $40.67 |
| Physical Scientists, All Other | $156,730 | $75.35 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $101,940 | $49.01 |
| Physicist | $157,040 | $75.50 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in District of Columbia
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 District of Columbia?
The median salary for survey researchers in District of Columbia is $102,390 a year, or $49.23 an hour. Pay ranges from $79,040 for the lowest-paid 10% to $217,080 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid survey researchers make in District of Columbia?
The top 10% of survey researchers in District of Columbia earn at least $217,080 a year. The top 25% earn $137,040 or more.
What is the starting pay for survey researchers in District of Columbia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $79,040 a year, and a quarter of survey researchers earn $81,770 or less.
How many survey researchers work in District of Columbia?
About 150 survey researchers are employed in District of Columbia, not counting the self-employed.