Survey Researchers Salary
The median pay for a survey researchers in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO is $77,500/year ($37.26/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $48K at the entry level to $138K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 105.78), so that salary is closer to $73,265 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,169/month, about 41.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Where the paycheck goes
What $78K actually covers in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, month by month
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Denver-Aurora-Centennial’s Regional Price Parity (105.78). 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 survey researchers
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What this looks like in Denver-Aurora-Centennial
Denver-Aurora-Centennial sits well above the national pay line for survey researchers, local pay runs about 12% higher than the U.S. median of $69K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,169/month, which is 43.7% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 105.78), so groceries and services cost more too. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO
Entry-level survey researchers (10th percentile) start around $48K. Mid-career wages sit at $78K. Top earners bring in $138K or more, a $91K spread from bottom to top.
Survey Researchers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Survey Researchers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | $104K | +50% | 340 |
| District of Columbia | $102K | +47% | 150 |
| Michigan | $102K | +46% | 150 |
| North Carolina | $97K | +39% | 350 |
| New Jersey | $96K | +38% | 100 |
| Wisconsin | $93K | +33% | 60 |
| Colorado | $90K | +29% | 110 |
| Connecticut | $88K | +27% | 110 |
| New York | $87K | +25% | 380 |
| Wyoming | $84K | +21% | 40 |
| Maryland | $84K | +21% | 390 |
| California | $84K | +20% | 1,180 |
| Iowa | $83K | +20% | 90 |
| Utah | $79K | +14% | 50 |
| Massachusetts | $75K | +8% | 160 |
| Alaska | $71K | +2% | 40 |
| Washington | $70K | +0% | 130 |
| Tennessee | $67K | -4% | 210 |
| Missouri | $66K | -4% | 130 |
| Oregon | $65K | -7% | 190 |
| Nebraska | $65K | -7% | 210 |
| Pennsylvania | $63K | -9% | N/A |
| New Mexico | $61K | -12% | 130 |
| Arizona | $59K | -15% | N/A |
| Kansas | $58K | -17% | 210 |
| Ohio | $58K | -17% | 320 |
| Oklahoma | $57K | -18% | 50 |
| Illinois | $54K | -22% | 320 |
| Georgia | $52K | -26% | N/A |
| Texas | $47K | -32% | 680 |
| Maine | $47K | -32% | 60 |
Showing 1–10 of 31 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track survey researchers salary changes
BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Denver-Aurora-Centennial numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a survey researcher afford a 2BR apartment alone in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $78K, rent takes 43.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,169/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,500/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for survey researchers in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new survey researchers typically earn — is $48K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,183/month. At HUD’s $2,169/month FMR, rent would take 68% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is survey researcher a high-paying job in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
Local pay is 12% above the national median — $78K here vs. $69K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 6% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does Denver-Aurora-Centennial compare to the national average for survey researchers?
Denver-Aurora-Centennial pays $78K median vs. the U.S. average of $69K — that’s +12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 105.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $73K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do survey researchers make in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO?
The median is $77,500 a year, that works out to about $37 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $47,600, and experienced survey researchers can clear $138,200. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $78K enough to live in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,958/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,169/month, which eats 43.7% 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 survey researchers salary go in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
Denver-Aurora-Centennial has a Regional Price Parity of 105.78 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median survey researchers salary is worth about $73,265 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do survey researchers 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.