Also called: Verbatim Coder, Data Processing Specialist (Survey)
Reads open-ended survey answers and assigns them to categories so they can be counted.
A verbatim coder reads thousands of answers to "What is the most important problem facing the country?" and codes each into categories like economy or healthcare.
High school diploma, about 0 years after high school. A high school diploma plus short on-the-job training in the coding categories and software; careful reading and consistency matter most.
Ways in: On-the-job training. Training cost: Get paid while you train.
Shrinking (about -2% over 10 years). BLS 2025-35 projection band for SOC 43-9021: Decline (-1% or lower).
High risk for 10 years. AI text classification now sorts open-ended answers at scale; humans only spot-check its work.
Age 18+. One way to start: Apply to survey research firms or university survey centers for data coder jobs
Classes: English, Computer applications, Statistics.
Official data: O*NET occupation 43-9021.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.