Career Path Guide
If you want to become a market researcher, you first need to determine if this career path is a good fit for your skills, interests and personality traits. If the following description sounds like you, then you’re probably well suited for this field:
• You have an interest in market psychology and behavior
• You have an interest in analyzing and interpreting statistical data
• You are able to design or choose a survey and survey method that best captures the desired information
• You are able to effectively analyze research data and draw conclusions from it
• You enjoy coordinating information with others
Below we've outlined what you'll need to begin a career as a market researcher. We've also included helpful information for this career, such as job description, job duties, salary expectations, a list of possible employers and much more!
Education Needed to Become a Market Researcher
You typically need an undergraduate degree if you want to become a market researcher.
Employers prefer to see that you have a degree in a field that has helped you develop a knowledge base and skill set relevant to a career in market research, such as economics, commerce, marketing, business administration, mathematics, statistics, psychology or public administration.
Undergraduate coursework in areas such as research methods, survey methodology, consumer bahaviour and market psychology can be very helpful if you want to become a market researcher.
If you want to work in a technical market research position, you typically require a master’s degree or Ph.D in a variety of fields, such as marketing or survey research, statistics, mathematics and the social sciences.
General Job Description
Market researchers are responsible for collecting and analyzing information to allow their clients or employers to make informed political, social or economic decisions.
Market researchers may be employed directly for an organization, although they typically work for specialist research agencies who may perform research on behalf of businesses, government agencies, political parties or non-profit organizations.
Typical Job Duties
• Negotiate pricing, deliverables and expectations of research projects
• Prepare and distribute surveys and questionnaires
• Supervise employees who are responsible for conducting interviews
• Prepare project briefs and present to clients or management
• Analyze and interpret data in order to identify patterns
• Advise clients or management as to how to best utilize findings of research
• Use statistical software to manage and organize information
Experience Needed
Some employers may require that you have some professional or academic experience in areas such as research, statistical data analysis and interview techniques, in order to be considered for market researcher jobs.
Although it may not be a requirement for employment, experience dealing with the public, in any kind of customer service job, can be very helpful for a career as a market researcher.
Relevant experience in these areas can be gained while you’re still a student through internships, work placements, shadowing or volunteering. There are many market research agencies that offer placement opportunities in cooperation with colleges and universities.
Who Employs Market Researchers?
Market researchers may be hired on a part-time, full-time and contractual basis by a wide variety of organizations, including:
• Manufacturing, processing, distribution and other large corporations
• Market research suppliers
• Management consulting firms
• Advertising agencies
• Business associations
• Political consulting companies
• Government departments
Typical Salary Level
The salary level of market researchers can vary depending many factors, including:
• Their personal qualifications and level of aptitude
• The size and type of their employer
• What industry they operate within
• The specific responsibilities of their job
• A variety of other factors
Market Researcher Salaries in Alberta: According to the 2019 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey, the average salary level of Albertans working in the “Biologist” occupational group is $91,736 per year.
Salaries - British Columbia: According to WorkBC (Province of British Columbia), those working in the “Business development officers and marketing researchers and consultants” occupational group earn an annual provincial median salary of $66,664.
Salaries - United States: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary level of Americans working in the “Survey Researchers” occupational group is $57,700 per year.
Skills Needed to Be Successful
To be effective in a career as a market researcher, you need to posses a certain set of skills. These skills will allow you to perform your job duties with competence, and are likely to be listed as required skills on market researcher job postings.
• Proficient with statistical and data analysis software
• Able to design or choose a survey and survey method that best captures the desired information
• Able to apply statistical techniques to large amounts of data
• Able to effectively analyze research data and draw conclusions from it
• Able to recognize survey design issues
• Excellent attention to detail
• Excellent listening, communication and presentation skills
• Able to identify factors that may enhance product or service acceptance
• Able to determine the nature and size of market segments
Characteristics Needed to Become a Market Researcher
In order to enjoy performing the duties of a market researcher, you need to have certain personality traits. Enjoying your work as a market researcher is important, as it helps you maintain a positive attitude towards your work, which usually leads to having a long and successful career.
• An interest in market psychology and behavior
• An interest in analyzing and interpreting statistical data
• Initiative and self-motivation
• Enjoy meeting new people and working with others
• Enjoy coordinating information with others
Similar Occupations in Our Database
Listed below are careers in our database that are similar in nature to "market Researcher", as they may involve many of the same skills, competencies and responsibilities.
• Business Development Officer
References
Please consult the references below to find more information on the various aspects of a career as a market researcher.
Occupations in Alberta: “Market Research Analyst.” (February 1, 2009). ALIS website - Alberta Learning Information Service. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
Life, Physical, and Social Science: “Survey Researchers.” (September 4, 2019). United States Bureau of Labor Statistics website. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
Explore Careers: “Business development officers and marketing researchers and consultants.” (July 15, 2018). WorkBC website - Province of British Columbia. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
Explore Careers: “Survey Researchers.” (n.d.). National Careers Service website. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
Scholarships for Becoming a Market Researcher
Scholarships listed for majors that are relevant for becoming a market researcher can be found on our All Scholarships by Major page.
Success Tip: Be sure to apply for any scholarships that you even barely qualify for, as there are millions of dollars of scholarships that go unused every year due to a lack of applicants!
Relevant University Majors
Studying one of the university majors listed below is an excellent starting point to getting into this line of work. Click on the links to find out what else you can do with these majors!
