Survey researchers held about 16,700 jobs in 2014. The industries that employed the most survey researchers were as follows:
Other professional, scientific, and technical services
49%
Scientific research and development services
15
Educational services; state, local, and private
9
Management, scientific, and technical consulting services
7
Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations
6
They work in research firms, polling organizations, nonprofits, corporations, colleges and universities, and government agencies.
Survey researchers who conduct interviews have frequent contact with the public. Some may work outside the office, traveling to meet with clients or conducting in-person interviews and focus group sessions. When designing surveys and analyzing data, they usually work alone in an office setting, though some work on teams with other researchers.
Work Schedules
Most survey researchers work full time during regular business hours. They may sometimes work for extended periods to meet project deadlines.