Career comparison
Statistical Assistant vs. Survey Researcher
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Survey researchers earn more at the median ($69,460 vs. $50,330), while statistical assistants usually get to work faster (Entry-level with a degree of training). Statistical assistants compile and check data for statisticians and researchers. 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
| Statistical Assistant | Survey Researcher | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $50,330 ($24.20/hr) | $69,460 ($33.40/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $35,990 – $81,990 | $39,260 – $130,860 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | -1.8% (a projected decline) | -4.8% (a projected decline) |
| Openings per year | 500 | 600 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Master's degree |
| Training time | Entry-level with a degree | 2 years after a bachelor’s |
| Key credential | Excel certification | Master’s in survey methodology |
| Work setting | Statistical assistants work in offices, often for government and research groups.. | Survey researchers work in offices and remotely.. |
What each job does
Statistical Assistant
- Collect data
- Clean and code data
- Run basic statistics
- Build tables and charts
- Check data quality
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 statistical assistant if…
- I like data
- I’m accurate
- I like spreadsheets
Choose survey researcher if…
- I like asking good questions
- I like statistics
- I’m detail-oriented
Still torn? Take the Statistical Assistant fit quiz and the Survey Researcher fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, statistical assistant or survey researcher?
Survey Researchers earn more at the median: $69,460 versus $50,330 for statistical assistants, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Statistical Assistants typically train faster (Entry-level with a degree) than survey researchers (2 years after a bachelor’s).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects statistical assistants to grow -1.8% from 2025–35, compared with -4.8% for survey researchers.