Survey Researchers Salary
The median pay for a survey researchers in Richmond, VA is $72,610/year ($34.91/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $42K at the entry level to $157K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.86), that's roughly $74,198 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,655/month, about 34.7% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $73K get you in Richmond?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Richmond’s Regional Price Parity (97.86). 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
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Richmond
Survey researchers pay in Richmond tracks closely to the national median, $73K locally vs. $69K nationwide, a 5% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,655/month, which is 35.6% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 97.86) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for survey researchers in metros near Richmond, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Charlottesville | $74K | $75K |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria | $98K | $90K |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $70K | $73K |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $92K | $95K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Richmond, VA
Entry-level survey researchers (10th percentile) start around $42K. Mid-career wages sit at $73K. Top earners bring in $157K or more, a $115K 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
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 Richmond numbers change.
Related careers in Science
Frequently asked questions
Can a survey researcher afford a 2BR apartment alone in Richmond?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $73K, rent takes 35.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,655/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,400/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for survey researchers in Richmond?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new survey researchers typically earn — is $42K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,523/month. At HUD’s $1,655/month FMR, rent would take 66% 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 Richmond?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $73K locally vs. $69K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Richmond compare to the national average for survey researchers?
Richmond pays $73K median vs. the U.S. average of $69K — that’s +5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $74K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do survey researchers make in Richmond, VA?
The median is $72,610 a year, that works out to about $35 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $42,050, and experienced survey researchers can clear $157,350. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $73K enough to live in Richmond?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,651/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,655/month, which eats 35.6% 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 Richmond?
Richmond has a Regional Price Parity of 97.86 (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 $74,198 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.