What Does a Survey Interviewer Do?
For researchers, public agencies and polling firms, survey interviewers ensure the quality of the answers that studies depend on. They make sure that questions are read exactly as written, and answers are recorded accurately and sent in on time. In the case of a reluctant respondent, the fix might be something as small as offering to call back after dinner.
Also known as: Senior Survey Interviewer
Other Job Titles for This Work
Workers in this occupation report titles such as Admissions Clerk, Admissions Representative, Admitting Representative, Data Collection Assistant, Interviewer, Market Research Interviewer, Registration Clerk, Research Interviewer.
Survey Interviewer Duties and Responsibilities
The primary responsibilities of a survey interviewer include:
- Call sampled households or businesses and introduce the study in a neutral, friendly way.
- Read survey questions exactly as written in the CATI software and record each answer.
- Follow skip patterns and probe unclear answers without leading the respondent.
- Schedule callbacks at times respondents prefer and keep promised appointments.
- Code each call's outcome, such as refusal, no answer or completed interview.
- Visit homes for in-person interviews with a tablet on field projects.
- Protect respondents' names and answers under the project's confidentiality rules.
- Explain the study's purpose and consent terms, and answer respondents' questions honestly.
- Report confusing questions or technical problems to supervisors during project debriefs.
- Convert soft refusals by addressing concerns politely without pressuring anyone.
Required Skills and Qualifications
To succeed as a survey interviewer, you will need the following skills and qualifications:
- Clear, neutral phone voice
- CATI and CAPI survey software
- Fast, accurate typing
- Following scripts word for word
- Patience with hang-ups and refusals
- Confidentiality and informed consent basics
- Bilingual skills, especially Spanish
- Flexible hours for evening and weekend calling
Education and Training
Short paid training at the start of each project covers the survey software, the script and the confidentiality rules that protect every respondent. A high school diploma is usually enough to be hired. Time in a call center or on a university research study counts in your favor.
Salary and Job Outlook
Typical pay: $38,330 - $53,090 per year, with a median of $45,920.
The range covers the middle half of earners nationwide. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan.
BLS projects employment of interviewers (except eligibility and loan interviewers) to decline about 10 percent from 2025 to 2035, as more surveys move online. While the group shrinks, roughly 13,200 openings a year should still come up, since many interviewers work part time and move on. Bear in mind that you are more likely to be hired if you speak a second language.
Outlook source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035, Interviewers, except eligibility and loan.
Survey Interviewer Pay Range
| Earners | Annual pay |
|---|---|
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $33,900 |
| Bottom 25% earn less than | $38,330 |
| Median (half earn more, half less) | $45,920 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $53,090 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $62,810 |
Highest-Paying States for Survey Interviewers
The states with the highest median pay for this occupation are California ($56,880), New York ($55,410), Washington ($51,090), Oregon ($50,730), Massachusetts ($50,340). Pay is lowest in Hawaii ($35,680), Mississippi ($35,110), Alabama ($34,180).
Median pay in all 50 states with BLS data
| State | Median annual pay |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $34,180 |
| Alaska | $47,630 |
| Arizona | $43,200 |
| Arkansas | $37,150 |
| California | $56,880 |
| Colorado | $49,660 |
| Connecticut | $47,980 |
| Delaware | $49,010 |
| District of Columbia | $49,730 |
| Florida | $43,500 |
| Georgia | $41,450 |
| Hawaii | $35,680 |
| Idaho | $39,450 |
| Illinois | $43,200 |
| Indiana | $40,510 |
| Iowa | $39,520 |
| Kansas | $39,430 |
| Kentucky | $40,490 |
| Louisiana | $37,190 |
| Maine | $43,830 |
| Maryland | $47,550 |
| Massachusetts | $50,340 |
| Michigan | $44,180 |
| Minnesota | $49,980 |
| Mississippi | $35,110 |
| Missouri | $38,940 |
| Montana | $42,970 |
| Nebraska | $44,130 |
| Nevada | $42,340 |
| New Hampshire | $48,890 |
| New Jersey | $47,380 |
| New York | $55,410 |
| North Carolina | $39,200 |
| North Dakota | $38,590 |
| Ohio | $42,480 |
| Oklahoma | $39,130 |
| Oregon | $50,730 |
| Pennsylvania | $44,070 |
| Rhode Island | $49,780 |
| South Carolina | $38,830 |
| South Dakota | $43,930 |
| Tennessee | $39,340 |
| Texas | $43,980 |
| Utah | $41,530 |
| Vermont | $49,480 |
| Virginia | $44,280 |
| Washington | $51,090 |
| West Virginia | $36,480 |
| Wisconsin | $46,070 |
| Wyoming | $40,050 |
What the Work Is Like
O*NET surveys people who work as interviewers, except eligibility and loan about their daily conditions. Of those surveyed:
- 99% say being exact and accurate is very or extremely important
- 96% use email every day
- 96% say teamwork is very or extremely important in their job
- 85% are on the phone every day
- 84% spend more than half the workday sitting
- 75% deal with loud or distracting noise every day
- 74% work indoors in a climate-controlled space every day
Education Workers Say the Job Needs
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or GED | 42% |
| Associate's degree | 33% |
| Some college | 6% |
Tools and Software Survey Interviewers Use
Tools and equipment
Software
Is This Job a Good Fit for You?
People who do well in this job tend to enjoy organized work with data, records and clear procedures as well as helping, teaching or caring for people.
Skills O*NET rates most important: Active Listening, Speaking, Reading Comprehension, Social Perceptiveness, Writing, Critical Thinking.
Knowledge areas used most: Customer and Personal Service, English Language, Administrative, Computers and Electronics, Mathematics.
Preparation: O*NET places this occupation in Job Zone 3 of 5, which means medium preparation.
Related Careers
These jobs use similar skills, according to O*NET's related-occupation data:
Applying for a Survey Interviewer Job
- Job application letter sample
- How to write the skills section of a resume
- How to describe your work experience
- Job interview tips
- Interview thank-you note
The Job Explorer never charges candidates any money. If someone asks you to pay to apply for a survey interviewer job or to get hired, treat it as a warning sign.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035.
- O*NET 30.1 Database, occupation 43-4111.00 (Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan). View on O*NET OnLine.
This page includes information from the O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. The Job Explorer has modified some of the information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed or tested these changes.