Also called: Research Director (Survey Firm), Polling Director
Leads major survey projects at polling firms, universities, or government agencies.
A research director meets clients to plan studies, oversees questionnaire design and data collection, manages a team, and presents findings to executives or the press.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Master's degree, about 6 years after high school. Master's or PhD in a social science or survey methodology.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school. Training cost: $60k – $150k.
Majors to look at: Sociology, Political Science, Survey Methodology.
Shrinking (about -2% over 10 years). BLS 2025-35 projection band for SOC 19-3022: Decline (-1% or lower).
Medium risk for 10 years. AI speeds analysis and reporting; winning clients, leading teams and owning study quality stay human.
Classes: AP Statistics, Speech and debate, AP English Language.
Official data: O*NET occupation 19-3022.
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.