Survey Researchers
Plan, develop, or conduct surveys. May analyze and interpret the meaning of survey data, determine survey objectives, or suggest or test question wording. Includes social scientists who primarily design questionnaires or supervise survey teams.
AI Impact Summary
Survey Researchers faces moderate AI displacement risk with a score of 30/100. This occupation has higher AI displacement risk than 40% of all analyzed occupations. Of 16 analyzed tasks, 2 are highly automatable, particularly routine cognitive tasks. Strong protective factors — including social intelligence, creativity, or regulatory barriers — significantly reduce effective risk.
Skill Impact Analysis
AI-Vulnerable Skills (6)
High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Programming is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
AI-Resistant Skills (11)
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Persuasion is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Instructing is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Negotiation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
AI-Augmented Skills (7)
Recommended Courses
Courses matched to Survey Researchers skill gaps, ranked by relevance to your displacement risk profile.
Get personalized recommendations. Answer a few questions about your experience and skills to get course suggestions tailored specifically to you.
Upskill to Reduce Risk
Courses addressing your most AI-vulnerable skills
SQL Fundamentals Skill Track
by DataCamp
Estimated Impact
AI-Augmentation Tools
Learn to work alongside AI and boost your productivity
Creative Writing Specialization
by Wesleyan University
Estimated Impact
Strengthen Your Edge
Double down on skills AI can't replicate
Leading People and Teams Specialization
by University of Michigan
Estimated Impact
We may earn a commission when you enroll through our links, at no extra cost to you. This helps fund the Takeover Tracker.
Risk reduction and salary impact are estimates based on skill gap analysis, course relevance, and labor market data. Actual results vary by individual circumstance.
Education & Training
Percentage of workers at each education and training level
Education Level
Prior Experience Needed
Work experience required to enter this job
Training Provided After Hiring
How long it typically takes to learn on the job
How AI Impacts Each Task
16 tasks analyzed
Support, plan, and coordinate operations for single or multiple surveys.
Collaborate with other researchers in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of surveys.
Consult with clients to identify survey needs and specific requirements, such as special samples.
Conduct surveys and collect data, using methods such as interviews, questionnaires, focus groups, market analysis surveys, public opinion polls, literature reviews, and file reviews.
Direct and review the work of staff members, including survey support staff and interviewers who gather survey data.
Determine and specify details of survey projects, including sources of information, procedures to be used, and the design of survey instruments and materials.
Prepare and present summaries and analyses of survey data, including tables, graphs, and fact sheets that describe survey techniques and results.
Monitor and evaluate survey progress and performance, using sample disposition reports and response rate calculations.
Produce documentation of the questionnaire development process, data collection methods, sampling designs, and decisions related to sample statistical weighting.
Analyze data from surveys, old records, or case studies, using statistical software.
Direct updates and changes in survey implementation and methods.
Hire and train recruiters and data collectors.
Conduct research to gather information about survey topics.
Review, classify, and record survey data in preparation for computer analysis.
Write training manuals to be used by survey interviewers.
Write proposals to win new projects.
| Task | AI Capability | Risk | Time % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Support, plan, and coordinate operations for single or multiple surveys. | 50Estimated | 47.0% | 8% | |
| Collaborate with other researchers in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of surveys. | 30Estimated | 27.0% | 8% | |
| Consult with clients to identify survey needs and specific requirements, such as special samples. | 25Estimated | 25.0% | 8% | |
| Conduct surveys and collect data, using methods such as interviews, questionnaires, focus groups, market analysis surveys, public opinion polls, literature reviews, and file reviews. | 41Observed | 31.4% | 10% | |
| Direct and review the work of staff members, including survey support staff and interviewers who gather survey data. | 20Estimated | 23.0% | 8% | |
| Determine and specify details of survey projects, including sources of information, procedures to be used, and the design of survey instruments and materials. | 60.22Observed | 51.1% | 10% | |
| Prepare and present summaries and analyses of survey data, including tables, graphs, and fact sheets that describe survey techniques and results. | 48.02Observed | 46.2% | 8% | |
| Monitor and evaluate survey progress and performance, using sample disposition reports and response rate calculations. | 47.05Observed | 68.0% | 5% | |
| Produce documentation of the questionnaire development process, data collection methods, sampling designs, and decisions related to sample statistical weighting. | 90Estimated | 85.2% | 5% | |
| Analyze data from surveys, old records, or case studies, using statistical software. | 44.93Observed | 45.0% | 10% | |
| Direct updates and changes in survey implementation and methods. | 50Estimated | 47.0% | 4% | |
| Hire and train recruiters and data collectors. | 20Estimated | 23.0% | 3% | |
| Conduct research to gather information about survey topics. | 46.13Observed | 45.5% | 4% | |
| Review, classify, and record survey data in preparation for computer analysis. | 33.33Observed | 62.5% | 2% | |
| Write training manuals to be used by survey interviewers. | 92Estimated | 86.0% | 2% | |
| Write proposals to win new projects. | 60Estimated | 51.0% | 5% |
Protective Factors
Total protective discount: 30.6%
Essential Soft Skills
Traits that are hard for AI to replicate
Wage & Employment (2024)
Median Wage
$63,380
per year
Mean Wage
$73,470
per year
Employment
8K
workers
Wage Range
$36,950 - $118,730
10th - 90th pct
Wage Distribution
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Recommendations
Skills to Develop
These skills are at risk from AI automation. Survey Researchers professionals should diversify beyond them.
- Reading Comprehension
High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Information Ordering
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Mathematics
High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Mathematics
High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Memorization
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Skills to Leverage
These human-centric skills remain difficult for AI to replicate. Double down here.
- Adaptability/Flexibility
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Leadership
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Complex Problem Solving
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Social Perceptiveness
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Coordination
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Tools to Adopt
AI can amplify these skills. Learn the tools that augment rather than replace your work.
- Writing
Writing will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Judgment and Decision Making
Judgment and Decision Making will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Active Learning
Active Learning will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Monitoring
Monitoring will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
Score History
Risk score over 2 scoring runs
overall change