Career comparison
Economist vs. Survey Researcher
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Economists earn more at the median ($124,720 vs. $69,460), while survey researchers usually get to work faster (2 years after a bachelor’s of training). Economists study how money, resources and decisions shape the economy. Survey researchers design surveys and analyze what people think and do.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Economist | Survey Researcher | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $124,720 ($59.96/hr) | $69,460 ($33.40/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $67,360 – $238,060 | $39,260 – $130,860 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +4.7% (about as fast as average) | -4.8% (a projected decline) |
| Openings per year | 1,100 | 600 |
| Typical entry education | Master's degree | Master's degree |
| Training time | 2–6 years after a bachelor’s | 2 years after a bachelor’s |
| Key credential | Master’s or Ph.D. in economics | Master’s in survey methodology |
| Work setting | Economists work in offices for governments, firms and research institutions.. | Survey researchers work in offices and remotely.. |
What each job does
Economist
- Collect economic data
- Build models and forecasts
- Analyze policies
- Write reports
- Present findings
Survey Researcher
- Design questionnaires
- Choose samples
- Run surveys
- Weight data
- Analyze results
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working with information, desk work, working independently, and problem-solving. Both are part of the business & office field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose economist if…
- I love data and theory
- I follow economic news
- I like writing
Choose survey researcher if…
- I like asking good questions
- I like statistics
- I’m detail-oriented
Still torn? Take the Economist fit quiz and the Survey Researcher fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, economist or survey researcher?
Economists earn more at the median: $124,720 versus $69,460 for survey researchers, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Survey Researchers typically train faster (2 years after a bachelor’s) than economists (2–6 years after a bachelor’s).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects economists to grow +4.7% from 2025–35, compared with -4.8% for survey researchers.