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Profession JRI–42 / Office & Professional

Will AI replace market research analysts?

Demand looks healthy: the projection is 6.7% growth for market research analysts by 2034, in a field of 899,580. The work, gathering data on markets, competitors, and search and social trends, then shaping it into recommendations, is something AI now accelerates, summarizing research and drafting reporting.

The risk spectrum — where Market Research Analyst sits
Market Research Analyst vs the 83 other jobs
Risk rank42 / 84
Automation timeline2-5 years
Median salary$78,760
Projected growth+6.7% (2024–34)
01 / Your plan

Learn before your role changes.

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What you'll learn
SQLPythonStatistics
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Updated Sep 21, 2026

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02 / Job market

Official outlook: still growing.

Within the 84 professions
Salary$78,760
$31k$171k
Growth+6.7% (2024–34)
-25.9%33.5%

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a +6.7% change in employment for this occupation between 2024 and 2034, from a current base of 899,580 people employed earning a median of $78,760 a year.

Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–34 & OEWS May 2025.

AI adoption in postings →

03 / Real salaries

Market Research Analyst salaries by city

Median pay from real records (H-1B filings and tech job postings), across the cities with most observations.

New York$100,000San Francisco$140,000Seattle$122,794Chicago$82,000Redmond$165,694Los Angeles$72,842

Range shows p25–p75; the dot is the median. Sources carry a documented bias — see the full salary page.

See real salaries →

04 / How to enter

How to become a market research analyst.

Typical preparation

Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed

Education

Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.

Experience

A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations.

Job training

Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.

Getting in is one thing — the day-to-day runs on a specific set of tools and skills:

Foundations
Core skills
Tools

Full skill path with courses →

07 / FAQ

What people ask.

01Will AI replace market research analysts?
Automation will not make the occupation disappear, yet the role is marked high risk with a 55 index score and a 2-5 year timeline. Even with 899,580 people employed and 6.7% projected growth for 2024–34, much of the data collection and summary work can run itself. The analyst who frames good questions and turns numbers into decisions stays needed.
02How soon could AI affect Market Research Analysts?
The evidence gives a 2-5 year window for automation to reshape the work. Around 55% of the observed task activity can be automated, mostly the collection and summary layers. Analysts who focus on framing the right question and interpreting ambiguous findings will face less immediate pressure.
03What skills keep Market Research Analysts relevant?
Entry-level success depends on reading comprehension, complex problem solving, and critical thinking, all rated high demand. To stay relevant, analysts should develop advanced analytics and statistics, data storytelling, and strategic insight and consulting, with the first two also high demand. These complement the 6.7% growth projected for 2024–34.
04What preparation is needed to become a Market Research Analyst?
Most positions expect a four-year bachelor's degree, though not every employer requires one. The evidence highlights critical thinking, complex problem solving, and reading comprehension as skills needed to enter, and names tools like IBM SPSS Statistics and Tableau. Hands-on use of these tools helps candidates prepare.
05What related roles could Market Research Analysts pivot to?
Alternative roles listed are Marketing Managers, Web Developers, and Software Engineers, scoring 40, 45, and 30 on the same index. These moves could lead toward marketing leadership or technical development. The projected 6.7% growth for 2024–34 gives context, while the source occupation scores 55 on the risk index.
06Is Market Research Analyst a good career to start in 2026?
Starting in 2026, the occupation shows a projected growth of 6.7% for 2024–34 and a median salary of 78760, yet it is rated high risk, scoring 55 on the index, and has a 2-5 year automation timeline. Entering candidates should plan for task automation and invest in data storytelling and advanced analytics.
07What tools do Market Research Analysts use?
Relevant tools include IBM SPSS Statistics, Tableau, and WordPress, supporting tasks like analyzing customer demographics and preparing reports. The occupation employs 899,580 people, so tool familiarity maps to a large labor market.