Survey Researchers Salary
The median pay for a survey researchers in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA is $69,590/year ($33.46/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $54K at the entry level to $97K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 111.13), so that salary is closer to $62,620 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,501/month, about 51.7% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $70K get you in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue’s Regional Price Parity (111.13). 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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue
Survey researchers pay in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue tracks closely to the national median, $70K locally vs. $69K nationwide, a 0% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,501/month, which is 52.3% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 11% above the national average (BEA RPP 111.13), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for survey researchers in metros near Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro | $64K | $61K |
| Eugene-Springfield | $65K | $64K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
Entry-level survey researchers (10th percentile) start around $54K. Mid-career wages sit at $70K. Top earners bring in $97K or more, a $43K 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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a survey researcher afford a 2BR apartment alone in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $70K, rent takes 52.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,501/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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new survey researchers typically earn — is $54K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,242/month. At HUD’s $2,501/month FMR, rent would take 77% 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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $70K locally vs. $69K nationally, a 0% difference.
How does Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue compare to the national average for survey researchers?
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue pays $70K median vs. the U.S. average of $69K — that’s +0%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 111.13), the purchasing-power equivalent is $63K — below the national median.
How much do survey researchers make in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
The median is $69,590 a year, that works out to about $33 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $54,040, and experienced survey researchers can clear $97,150. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $70K enough to live in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,779/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,501/month, which eats 52.3% 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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue has a Regional Price Parity of 111.13 (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 $62,620 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.