Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists

Career Overview

Research conditions in local, regional, national, or online markets. Gather information to determine potential sales of a product or service, or plan a marketing or advertising campaign. May gather information on competitors, prices, sales, and methods of marketing and distribution. May employ search marketing tactics, analyze web metrics, and develop recommendations to increase search engine ranking and visibility to target markets.

Also Known As

  • Market Analyst
  • Market Research Analyst
  • Market Research Consultant
  • Market Research Specialist

Alternate Job Titles

  • Advertising Analyst
  • Business Development Analyst
  • Business Development Associate
  • Business Development Representative
  • Business Development Specialist
  • Communications Specialist
  • Demographic Analyst
  • Digital Marketing Specialist
  • Email Marketing Processor
  • Email Marketing Specialist
  • Event Marketer
  • Family Consumer Scientist
  • Government Business Development Specialist
  • International Trade Specialist
  • Market Analyst

What You'll Do

In this role, your typical responsibilities include:

  • Prepare reports of findings, illustrating data graphically and translating complex findings into written text.
  • Collect and analyze data on customer demographics, preferences, needs, and buying habits to identify potential markets and factors affecting product demand.
  • Conduct research on consumer opinions and marketing strategies, collaborating with marketing professionals, statisticians, pollsters, and other professionals.
  • Measure and assess customer and employee satisfaction.
  • Devise and evaluate methods and procedures for collecting data, such as surveys, opinion polls, or questionnaires, or arrange to obtain existing data.
  • Measure the effectiveness of marketing, advertising, and communications programs and strategies.
  • Seek and provide information to help companies determine their position in the marketplace.

Knowledge You'll Use

You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:

  • English Language
  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Sales and Marketing
  • Mathematics
  • Administration and Management

Essential Skills

Success in this career requires strong skills in:

  1. Reading Comprehension
  2. Writing
  3. Critical Thinking
  4. Active Listening
  5. Speaking
  6. Complex Problem Solving
  7. Judgment and Decision Making

Key Abilities

This career requires key abilities in:

  • Inductive Reasoning
  • Oral Comprehension
  • Oral Expression
  • Written Expression
  • Fluency of Ideas
  • Written Comprehension
  • Deductive Reasoning
  • Information Ordering
  • Category Flexibility
  • Speech Clarity

Work Style

People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:

  • Attention to Detail
  • Intellectual Curiosity
  • Achievement Orientation
  • Dependability
  • Innovation

What Matters in This Career

This career tends to satisfy these work values:

  • Achievement
  • Working Conditions
  • Support
  • Independence
  • Recognition

Education & Preparation

Typical Education: Bachelor's Degree

Related Work Experience Needed: Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years

On-the-Job Training: Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months

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

Experience Required: A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.

Technology You'll Use

Popular Technologies & Software

  • Adobe Acrobat
  • Adobe After Effects
  • Adobe Creative Cloud software
  • Adobe Illustrator
  • Adobe InDesign
  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Amazon Redshift
  • Apache Hadoop
  • Apache Hive
  • Apple macOS

Tools & Equipment

  • Desktop computers
  • Notebook computers
  • Personal computers
  • Personal digital assistants PDA
  • Scanners
  • Tablet computers

Work Environment

  • E-Mail
  • Spend Time Sitting
  • Telephone Conversations
  • Freedom to Make Decisions
  • Importance of Being Exact or Accurate

Salary & Job Market

Salary PercentileAnnual Wage
Entry-Level (10th percentile)$42,070
Median$76,950
Top Earners (90th percentile)$144,610

Workers Employed Nationally: 861,140

Related Careers

If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:


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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.

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