Survey Researchers pay range in San Francisco
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $65,100 a year or less, while the top 10% make $286,420 or more. The middle half of survey researchers in San Francisco earn between $91,200 and $196,930.
- $65K10th
- $91K25th
- $111KMedian
- $197K75th
- $286K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $142,860 | $11,905 | $68.68 |
| Median | $110,540 | $9,212 | $53.14 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $91,200 | $7,600 | $43.85 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $196,930 | $16,411 | $94.68 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Survey Researchers pay in San Francisco vs. California and the U.S.
Survey researchers in San Francisco earn 40% more than the California average ($102,180) and 80% more than the U.S. average ($79,580). At the median the gap is +59% against the U.S. median of $69,460.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $142,860 | $110,540 | $65,100 | $286,420 | 180 |
| California | $102,180 | $83,520 | $52,110 | $171,640 | 1,180 |
| United States | $79,580 | $69,460 | $39,260 | $130,860 | 8,290 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Survey Researchers salary after taxes in San Francisco
On the average salary of $142,860, a single filer in San Francisco takes home about $99,717 a year, or $8,310 a month and $3,835 every two weeks. Taxes take 30% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is San Francisco a good place for survey researchers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Francisco area are 16% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 115.6), so the average $142,860 buys what about $123,567 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in San Francisco ($74,260). A typical home costs $1,149,215, or 8.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Survey Researchers salary in other California cities
San Francisco ranks 1st of 4 California metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- San Francisco$142,860
- San Jose$127,690
- Los Angeles$87,710
- San Diego$86,670
Highest-paying cities for survey researchers
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($142,860).
- San Francisco, CA$142,860
- San Jose, CA$127,690
- Detroit, MI$111,760
- Ann Arbor, MI$101,790
- Washington, DC$101,780
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Survey Researchers salary in San Francisco: questions
How much do survey researchers make an hour in San Francisco?
$68.69 an hour on average, and $53.14 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level survey researchers salary in San Francisco?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $65,100 a year and the 25th percentile is $91,200, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the survey researchers take-home pay in San Francisco?
About $99,717 a year ($8,310 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $142,860. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do survey researchers earn more in San Francisco than elsewhere?
The average here is 80% more than the U.S. average for this job ($79,580).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 19-3022; area San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA (41860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.0%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.43, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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