Survey Researchers Salary
The median pay for a survey researchers in Kansas City, MO-KS is $69,100/year ($33.22/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $32K at the entry level to $82K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.54), which stretches that salary to about $74,670 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,358/month, or 29.9% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $69K get you in Kansas City?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Kansas City’s Regional Price Parity (92.54). 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 Kansas City
Survey researchers pay in Kansas City tracks closely to the national median, $69K locally vs. $69K nationwide, a 1% difference. Rent runs $1,358/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.54 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for survey researchers in metros near Kansas City, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis | $50K | $53K |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $54K | $52K |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $70K | $73K |
| Omaha | $68K | $74K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Kansas City, MO-KS
Entry-level survey researchers (10th percentile) start around $32K. Mid-career wages sit at $69K. Top earners bring in $82K or more, a $50K 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 quarterly. We'll email you when Kansas City numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a survey researcher afford a 2BR apartment alone in Kansas City?
Yes — at the median salary of $69K, rent takes 29.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,358/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for survey researchers in Kansas City?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new survey researchers typically earn — is $32K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,928/month. At HUD’s $1,358/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 survey researcher a high-paying job in Kansas City?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $69K locally vs. $69K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Kansas City compare to the national average for survey researchers?
Kansas City pays $69K median vs. the U.S. average of $69K — that’s -1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.54), the purchasing-power equivalent is $75K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do survey researchers make in Kansas City, MO-KS?
The median is $69,100 a year, that works out to about $33 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $32,130, and experienced survey researchers can clear $82,170. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $69K enough to live in Kansas City?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,541/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,358/month, which eats 29.9% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a survey researchers salary go in Kansas City?
Kansas City has a Regional Price Parity of 92.54 (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 survey researchers salary is worth about $74,670 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.