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Market Research Manager Salary in the United States

How much does a Market Research Manager make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Market Research Manager in the United States is $125,414 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $60.

However, a Market Research Manager's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $147,866
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $113,324 to $137,166
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $102,317
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Market Research Manager Salaries

A Market Research Manager's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Market Research Manager Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Market Research Manager's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Market Research Analyst IV (7+ years): $134,277
  • Market Research Supervisor (7+ years): $107,660
  • Market Research Manager (7+ years): $125,414
  • Market Research Director (7+ years): $181,607
  • VP of Market Research (7+ years): $222,458
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Market Research Analyst IV7+ years$134,277
Market Research Supervisor7+ years$107,660
Market Research Manager7+ years$125,414
Market Research Director7+ years$181,607
VP of Market Research7+ years$222,458
View as Graph

How Do Market Research Manager Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Market Research Managers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $138,858.
  • California: $138,332.
  • Massachusetts: $136,488.

Top Paying Cities for Market Research Managers

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $158,185
  • San Francisco: $156,453
  • Oakland: $153,156

What Skills Can Increase a Market Research Manager's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Insight (Mentioned in 12.55% Job Postings): Insight is the understanding cause and effect based on the identification of relationships and behaviors within a model, context, or scenario.
  • Research Design (Mentioned in 1.35% Job Postings): A research design is the set of methods and procedures used in collecting and analyzing measures of the variables specified in the problem research. The design of a study defines the study type (descriptive, correlation, semi-experimental, experimental, review, meta-analytic) and sub-type (e.g., descriptive-longitudinal case study), research problem, hypotheses, independent and dependent variables, experimental design, and, if applicable, data collection methods and a statistical analysis plan. A research design is a framework that has been created to find answers to research questions.
  • Data Analysis (Mentioned in 1.18% Job Postings): Data analysis is a process of inspecting, cleansing, transforming, and modeling data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions, and supporting decision-making. Data analysis has multiple facets and approaches, encompassing diverse techniques under a variety of names, and is used in different business, science, and social science domains. In today's business world, data analysis plays a role in making decisions more scientific and helping businesses operate more effectively. Data mining is a particular data analysis technique that focuses on modeling and knowledge discovery for predictive rather than purely descriptive purposes, while business intelligence covers data analysis that relies heavily on aggregation, focusing mainly on business information. In statistical applications, data analysis can be divided into descriptive statistics, exploratory data analysis (EDA), and confirmatory data analysis (CDA). EDA focuses on discovering new features in the data while CDA focuses on confirming or falsifying existing hypotheses. Predictive analytics focuses on application of statistical models for predictive forecasting or classification, while text analytics applies statistical, linguistic, and structural techniques to extract and classify information from textual sources, a species of unstructured data. All of the above are varieties of data analysis.
Skills Demand Percentage
Insight 12.55%
Research Design 1.35%
Data Analysis 1.18%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Market Research Manager's salary.

  • Public Relations: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • SPSS: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
  • Programming: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Public Relations $131,685
5%
SPSS $129,176
3%
Programming $129,176
3%
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Market Research Manager Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Market Research Manager salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $140,155. While startup companies pay approximate $118,557.

Market Research Manager Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $118,557
Growth Stage 51~500 $125,386
Established 501~5000 $135,338
Enterprise 5000+ $140,155

Market Research Manager Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Market Research Manager roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 80% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Financial Services and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Market Research Manager positions in Transportation or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Market Research Manager as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Market Research Manager

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Financial Services$163,038$78.030%
Biotechnology$156,768$75.025%
Internet$150,497$72.020%
Energy & Utilities$144,226$69.015%
Aerospace & Defense$137,955$66.010%

How Education impacts a Market Research Manager's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Market Research Manager enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Market Research Manager with a Bachelor's Degree is between $123,103 and $130,312.

Market Research Manager Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Market Research Manager
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.1%
High School 1.6%
Associates 1.4%
Bachelors 31.6%
Masters 59.9%
Doctorate 5.3%
View as Graph

Market Research Manager Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Market Research Manager's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$113,324
Average $125,414/year
$137,166
$9,444
Average $10,451/month
$11,431
$2,179
Average $2,412/week
$2,638
$54
Average $60/hour
$66
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $137,166 $11,431 $2,638 $66
Average $125,414 $10,451 $2,412 $60
25th Percentile $113,324 $9,444 $2,179 $54

Market Research Manager Salary Growth & Career Path

Market Research Manager

Next Role

Advancement

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As a Market Research Manager, you have the following paths for advancement. The table below compares the salary raises for common next-step roles. By comparing these figures, you can choose the career path that best meets your financial goals.

Next Step Role Estimate Salary Projected Raise
Marketing Data Analytics Senior Manager $152,439 22%
Market Research Director $181,607 45%

Most common benefits for Market Research Manager

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Market Research Manager

Here are companies hiring for Market Research Manager and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Market Research Manager

1. Where can a Market Research Manager earn the most?

A Market Research Manager's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Market Research Manager earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Market Research Manager is $158,185.

2. What is the highest pay for Market Research Manager?

The highest pay for Market Research Manager is $147,866.

3. What is the lowest pay for Market Research Manager?

The lowest pay for Market Research Manager is $102,317.

4. What are the responsibilities of Market Research Manager?

Manages market research efforts for the organization. Sets policies and practices for gathering research on market conditions, competitors and consumer trends. Analyzes and presents gathered research to sales, research and development, and management. Requires a bachelor's degree in area of specialty. Typically reports to a head of a unit/department. Manages subordinate staff in the day-to-day performance of their jobs. True first level manager. Ensures that project/department milestones/goals are met and adhering to approved budgets. Has full authority for personnel actions. Extensive knowledge of department processes. Typically requires 5 years experience in the related area as an individual contributor. 1 to 3 years supervisory experience may be required.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Market Research Manager?

The Financial Services industry offers the highest average compensation for Market Research Manager roles, with salaries approximately 30% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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