Survey researchers
SOC Code: 19-3022
Survey researchers carries a 61% AI exposure score (Very High automation risk), with a median annual wage of $63,380 and -5.2% projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034 (BLS), affecting approximately 8,800 workers. Full task breakdown, skills, and employer data are below.
Proportion of tasks susceptible to AI automation (O*NET analysis)
At 61% AI exposure, Survey researchers sits 24 points above the 37.2% average across 832 U.S. occupations - more exposed than 95% of them. Most of its core tasks still require human judgment.
Career outlook score
27/100
Survey researchers, weighted across 3 of 3 tracked dimensions
A weighted composite of median wage, projected growth, and AI-automation security (inverted exposure), each benchmarked against every other tracked occupation. It describes this occupation's standing across those three dimensions, not a guarantee of future outcomes.
- Median wage C $63,380
Annual median wage, percentile rank vs all tracked occupations
- Projected growth F -5.2%
Projected employment change, 2024-2034, BLS Employment Projections
- AI exposure (inverted) F 61% exposure
Lower O*NET task-automability scores lower risk; this dimension scores security, not exposure
Home health and personal care aides is #1 of 832 occupations by employment (4.3M, AI exposure rank #392 at 35%) vs. Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks #1 by AI task exposure (95%, employment rank #17 at 1.6M).
Automation-risk inventory
Exclusive cut of 832 occupations by PlainWorkforce automation-risk band. Orthogonal to the continuous AI-exposure distribution chart below and to this occupation's single risk badge, this is the corpus band mix, with Survey researchers in the Very High band.
Credential × growth standing
Graduate credential among the thinner entry shelves
Survey researchers is in the Graduate band (113 of 832) with BLS pace Declining (111/832). Graduate entry is a minority shelf - pairing it with declining growth is the standing that separates this SOC from bachelor-dominated neighbors.
Where Survey researchers sits among all occupations
AI-exposure score distribution across 832 U.S. occupations (O*NET task analysis). This occupation is marked in rose.
Where Survey researchers sits by AI exposure
AI-exposure score distribution across U.S. occupations (O*NET task analysis)
61% Higher than most higher than 95% of 832 occupations
Occupations, banded by AI-exposure score
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source O*NET task data (U.S. Department of Labor) · BLS 2024–2034
Source: O*NET task data (U.S. Department of Labor); AI-exposure scores are PlainWorkforce's analysis. As of BLS 2024–2034.
Survey researchers vs. its occupational neighbors
AI exposure (horizontal) vs projected 2024–2034 growth (vertical) for occupations in the same SOC group. Survey researchers is marked in rose; the top-left corner is the most future-proof.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 (growth) and O*NET (AI-exposure analysis by PlainWorkforce).
Employment Projections
Where This Score Comes From
Survey researchers's Very High automation-risk tier is computed from O*NET Database 30.0 task-level analysis, where each documented task the occupation performs is evaluated against current generative AI, robotic process automation, and machine-learning capabilities. A score in the 40–70% range indicates meaningful automation pressure on specific task categories, but the role as a whole still requires human judgment for coordination, exception handling, or client interaction.
The employment, wage, and education figures above come from a second, separate federal source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034, matched to the O*NET task data by Standard Occupational Classification (SOC 19-3022) code, with the wage figure cross-validated against the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024 survey. BLS figures are presented exactly as published, with no adjustment on our part; the SOC-code match is what lets Survey researchers be compared directly against every other tracked occupation on the same basis, not just roles that happen to share a job title.
For career planners, this profile should be read alongside the task, skill, and knowledge breakdowns below and the list of employers whose workforce composition includes Survey researchers. Adjacent occupations shown further down offer lateral moves that preserve industry knowledge while potentially reducing exposure.
Education & Entry Requirements
Top Tasks (O*NET)
- 1. Conduct surveys and collect data, using methods such as interviews, questionnaires, focus groups, market analysis surveys, public opinion polls, literature reviews, and file reviews.
- 2. Prepare and present summaries and analyses of survey data, including tables, graphs, and fact sheets that describe survey techniques and results.
- 3. Consult with clients to identify survey needs and specific requirements, such as special samples.
- 4. Determine and specify details of survey projects, including sources of information, procedures to be used, and the design of survey instruments and materials.
- 5. Support, plan, and coordinate operations for single or multiple surveys.
- 6. Monitor and evaluate survey progress and performance, using sample disposition reports and response rate calculations.
- 7. Collaborate with other researchers in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of surveys.
- 8. Conduct research to gather information about survey topics.
- 9. Direct and review the work of staff members, including survey support staff and interviewers who gather survey data.
- 10. Direct updates and changes in survey implementation and methods.
Key Skills Required
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Mathematics
- Active Learning
- Complex Problem Solving
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Coordination
Knowledge Areas
- English Language
- Sociology and Anthropology
- Mathematics
- Computers and Electronics
- Administration and Management
- Customer and Personal Service
- Psychology
- Administrative
- Communications and Media
- Education and Training
Frequently Asked Questions
Will AI replace Survey researchers?
Survey researchers has an AI exposure score of 61%, indicating a very high level of automation risk. Some tasks in this role can be augmented or partially automated by AI, but core responsibilities require human judgment.
What is the job outlook for Survey researchers?
According to BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034, Survey researchers is projected to decline by 5.2% over the decade. Current employment stands at approximately 8,800 workers.
What skills are needed for Survey researchers?
Key skills for Survey researchers include Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Writing, and others. Typical entry-level education is Master's degree.
How much do Survey researchers earn?
The median annual wage for Survey researchers is $63,380, according to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2024). Actual earnings vary by location, experience, industry, and employer. The BLS publishes detailed wage percentiles by region in its Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program.
What education is required for Survey researchers?
The typical entry-level education for Survey researchers is Master's degree. Employers generally expect None of related work experience. On-the-job training typically involves None. Requirements can vary by employer and specialization.
Which companies employ Survey researchers?
Survey researchers roles exist across many industries and employers. Workforce composition is estimated from BLS industry-occupation employment distributions matched to SEC-registered public companies.
AI Exposure Rating
Very High automation risk based on 10 analyzed tasks. A majority of tasks in this occupation are susceptible to AI automation.
Nationwide occupations with similar workforce profiles
Two data-derived peer sets for Survey researchers: AI-exposure neighbors and BLS 2034 growth neighbors (distinct comparison neighborhoods, cross-occupation).
Similar AI exposure score
Nearest O*NET task-automability scores nationwide (61% here).
- Cashiers · AI exposure 61%
- Financial examiners · AI exposure 61%
- Office machine operators, except computer · AI exposure 61%
- Pharmacy technicians · AI exposure 61%
Similar projected growth (2024–2034)
Nearest BLS employment change rates nationwide (-5.2% here).
- Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators · growth -5.1%
- Farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals · growth -5.0%
- First-line supervisors of retail sales workers · growth -5.0%
- Gambling cage workers · growth -5.0%
Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on published BLS + O*NET metrics among occupations with ≥10,000 workers in 2024; corpus ranks above sort the full tracked set.
Related Occupations
Showing 6 of 49 occupations with a comparable automation-risk profile.
What to do with this
Use Survey researchers' numbers above to compare, not just read in isolation.
- Compare Survey researchers side by side against another occupation on wage, growth, and AI exposure. Workforce comparison tool
- Understand how the AI exposure score above is actually calculated before treating it as a verdict. Reading AI exposure scores
- See the full ranked list of occupations with the lowest automation exposure nationwide. Safest occupations from AI
AI exposure scores estimate task automatability from O*NET data; they are not a certainty of job loss, and BLS growth projections are estimates, not guarantees.
Data sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024–2034 and O*NET Database 30.0. Employment figures are rounded. Wage data from BLS Occupational Employment Statistics (OES).