Data is everywhere in our lives, and industries relying on research-need experts skilled in survey methodology and data science. Careers in this field are growing, with strong salary prospects—master’s degree holders earn on average 15% more than those with just a bachelor’s degree (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Industries Hiring Survey and Data Science Professionals:
- Academia: Universities worldwide employ experts to conduct, direct, and teach survey research. Examples of job titles working in Academia include Assistant research professor, Postdoctoral scholar, Director of sampling operations, and Data quality and survey methodology manager.
- Global Organizations: Entities like the UN and WHO need professionals to analyze critical data on global trends.
- Government: Federal, state, and local agencies employ thousands of survey and data scientists to analyze economic and social data. Mathematical statistician, Research Director or Survey Statistician are a few job titles you can find in Government offices.
- Private Sector: Market research and nonprofit firms, plus corporations, seek skilled survey methodologists and data scientists. Examples of job titles include: Director of survey research, Data Scientist, Data analyst, Sampling statistician, or Senior data scientist.
- Social Media: Platforms like Facebook and Twitter increasingly hire data science experts to guide growth and strategy. Examples of job titles include: Head of data science and analytics, Research manager, Quantitative researcher, or Qualitative researcher.
Our alumni work in nearly every professional field where social research is conducted, providing high-quality information to decision makers in order to understand opinions, preferences, beliefs, and desires. They impact decisions through their work at social media platforms, media and communication organizations, academic organizations, survey research companies, government agencies, and market research companies in the United States and globally. And they chose the University of Michigan because, like you, they were seeking a way to combine survey research and data science as a career. MPSDS alumni are working at places like:
Salary Outlook:
- Data Scientist: $112,000-$120,000
- Quantitative Researcher: $100,000-$200,000
- Research Scientist: $109,000-$130,000
- Survey Methodologist: $95,000-$112,000
- Survey Statisticians: $90,000-$111,000
Jobs with Strong Growth Potential:
- Data Scientist: One of the fastest-growing roles, focusing on data modeling, algorithms, and stakeholder insights.
- Quantitative Researcher: Expected to grow steadily, analyzing data trends and informing decisions.
- Research Scientist: Growing by 13%, working across industries on experiments and data analysis.
- Survey Methodologist: Designing and improving surveys with the latest methods; demand remains strong.
- Survey Statistician: Expected 30% job growth, focusing on sampling, survey design, data adjustment, and analysis.
The Michigan Program in Survey and Data Science offers a unique integrated program taught by world-renowned experts, preparing you for a strong career with excellent earning potential.