Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists Salary
The median pay for a market research analysts and marketing specialists in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC is $69,560/year ($33.44/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $41K at the entry level to $123K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.94), that's roughly $71,023 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,713/month, about 37.5% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $70K get you in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk’s Regional Price Parity (97.94). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About market research analysts and marketing specialists
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What this looks like in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk
Pay for market research analysts and marketing specialists in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk runs about 12% below the U.S. median of $79K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,713/month, which is 38.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 97.94) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for market research analysts and marketing specialistss.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for market research analysts and marketing specialists in metros near Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Richmond | $82K | $83K |
| Charlottesville | $72K | $73K |
| Roanoke | $64K | $69K |
| Lynchburg | $60K | $67K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
Entry-level market research analysts and marketing specialists (10th percentile) start around $41K. Mid-career wages sit at $70K. Top earners bring in $123K or more, a $83K spread from bottom to top.
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $102K | +29% | 39,710 |
| Delaware | $101K | +29% | 3,570 |
| New York | $99K | +25% | 80,500 |
| District of Columbia | $98K | +25% | 6,340 |
| Washington | $95K | +21% | 24,460 |
| California | $95K | +20% | 119,070 |
| Colorado | $93K | +18% | 27,880 |
| New Jersey | $88K | +12% | 22,990 |
| Minnesota | $88K | +11% | 21,280 |
| Rhode Island | $86K | +9% | 3,210 |
| Oregon | $79K | +0% | 11,310 |
| Illinois | $79K | +0% | 40,560 |
| North Carolina | $78K | -0% | 30,700 |
| Connecticut | $78K | -1% | 9,930 |
| Virginia | $77K | -2% | 25,610 |
| Maryland | $76K | -3% | 13,570 |
| Georgia | $76K | -4% | 27,810 |
| Florida | $75K | -4% | 60,770 |
| Vermont | $75K | -5% | 860 |
| Ohio | $73K | -8% | 27,370 |
| Texas | $73K | -8% | 63,350 |
| Maine | $72K | -9% | 2,390 |
| Arizona | $72K | -9% | 15,850 |
| Nevada | $72K | -9% | 5,780 |
| Kansas | $70K | -11% | 8,090 |
| Missouri | $70K | -11% | 14,890 |
| Tennessee | $70K | -11% | 13,040 |
| South Carolina | $69K | -12% | 11,920 |
| Pennsylvania | $69K | -13% | 31,040 |
| Montana | $68K | -14% | 1,460 |
| Michigan | $67K | -15% | 24,220 |
| Alaska | $67K | -15% | 570 |
| Iowa | $66K | -16% | 8,880 |
| Arkansas | $65K | -17% | 6,250 |
| Wisconsin | $65K | -18% | 15,600 |
| New Hampshire | $65K | -18% | 4,200 |
| Indiana | $64K | -19% | 14,400 |
| South Dakota | $63K | -19% | 1,530 |
| Utah | $63K | -20% | 14,510 |
| New Mexico | $62K | -21% | 1,610 |
| Oklahoma | $62K | -21% | 6,620 |
| North Dakota | $62K | -22% | 1,550 |
| Kentucky | $61K | -22% | 6,290 |
| Wyoming | $61K | -23% | 850 |
| Idaho | $61K | -23% | 3,780 |
| Nebraska | $60K | -24% | 3,780 |
| Louisiana | $60K | -24% | 5,360 |
| Alabama | $60K | -24% | 8,390 |
| Hawaii | $59K | -25% | 1,610 |
| Mississippi | $57K | -28% | 2,620 |
| West Virginia | $52K | -34% | 1,650 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track market research analysts and marketing specialists salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
Can a market research analysts and marketing specialist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $70K, rent takes 38.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,713/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,300/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for market research analysts and marketing specialists in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new market research analysts and marketing specialists typically earn — is $41K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,432/month. At HUD’s $1,713/month FMR, rent would take 70% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is market research analysts and marketing specialist a high-paying job in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk?
Local pay runs 12% below the national median — $70K here vs. $79K nationally.
How does Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk compare to the national average for market research analysts and marketing specialists?
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk pays $70K median vs. the U.S. average of $79K — that’s -12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97.94), the purchasing-power equivalent is $71K — below the national median.
How much do market research analysts and marketing specialists make in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
The median is $69,560 a year, that works out to about $33 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $40,530, and experienced market research analysts and marketing specialists can clear $123,280. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $70K enough to live in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,487/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,713/month, which eats 38.2% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a market research analysts and marketing specialists salary go in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk?
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk has a Regional Price Parity of 97.94 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median market research analysts and marketing specialists salary is worth about $71,023 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do market research analysts and marketing specialists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.