Where AI can help
AI can support summaries, questionnaire drafts and initial data exploration.
Business · A PICTURE OF THE OCCUPATION
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists
Investigate customers, competitors and demand to support commercial decisions. They turn business questions into research and analysis.
Observed AI exposure64.8%Anthropic · March 2026 study
Employment projection+7%2025–2035
Education typically neededBachelor’s degreeBLS · 2025
What the work looks like
- 01
Prepare reports of findings, illustrating data graphically and translating complex findings into written text.
- 02
Seek and provide information to help companies determine their position in the marketplace.
- 03
Conduct research on consumer opinions and marketing strategies, collaborating with marketing professionals, statisticians, pollsters, and other professionals.
- 04
Collect and analyze data on customer demographics, preferences, needs, and buying habits to identify potential markets and factors affecting product demand.
- 05
Devise and evaluate methods and procedures for collecting data, such as surveys, opinion polls, or questionnaires, or arrange to obtain existing data.
An example of an output
A report answering a commercial question with a clear sample, method and limitations.
Editorial example, not a reported worker interview. Tools vary by employer.Work environment
Marketing teams, consultancies and research organizations. Participant contact varies by project.
O*NET® 31.0 ↗Pay & demand
Mean annual pay$89,490
Median annual pay$78,760
Mean is the arithmetic average; median is the midpoint of the wage distribution. National occupational figures are not starting-salary promises.
10th percentile$43,390
90th percentile$155,480
Percentiles describe the workforce distribution, not junior and senior salary bands. Excludes self-employed workers; see the source for coverage.
BLS · May 2025 · USD/year ↗People employed in 2025952,700
Projected openings per year82,000
Includes replacement needs over 2025–2035. These are projections, not open job advertisements.
BLS · 2025–2035 ↗AI & your work
What still needs judgment
Selecting a sample, avoiding bias and supporting conclusions require research design.
The task discussion is editorial interpretation. Only the exposure percentage is reproduced from the study; we do not assign percentages to individual tasks.
Anthropic · March 2026 study ↗You can also develop within this occupation
Use the exercise below to practice a real task, check AI outputs and identify where you need more depth. A career change is one option, not a requirement.
Frame a product question and compare two public sources. Show where evidence agrees and where it is insufficient.
What entry usually requires
- Education typically needed
- Bachelor’s degree
- Related experience typically needed
- None specified in BLS classification
- Typical on-the-job training
- None specified in BLS classification
Typical requirements in BLS data, not universal hiring rules. Verify the employer’s requirements and any applicable credential or license.
BLS · 2025 ↗Skills to build on
Research designdata interpretationwritingcritical thinking
Tools you may encounter
Spreadsheets · survey tools · data visualization · analytics
Editorial example, not a reported worker interview. Tools vary by employer.
Where you could go next
These are researched starting points, not personalized recommendations or promises of lower AI exposure. Check the destination’s requirements and your own circumstances.
EDITORIAL TRANSITION$113,790 Mean annual pay
Management Analysts ↗
Uses research and analysis to investigate operating problems.
- What you can carry over
- Research and communicating findings
- What you would need to learn
- Process mapping and implementation
What to consider
Related experience is typical; understanding a market is not enough to redesign operations.
EDITORIAL TRANSITION$75,550 Mean annual pay
Training and Development Specialists ↗
Needs research can become a learning needs assessment.
- What you can carry over
- Interviewing and synthesis
- What you would need to learn
- Facilitation and activity design
What to consider
Requires teaching and assessment practice; producing materials is only part of the role.
Explore the work before committing
1
Try a practical task
Frame a product question and compare two public sources. Show where evidence agrees and where it is insufficient.
2
Read real job requirements
Use the official occupation title below to search current listings. Check duties, location, experience and compensation. External search results have not been verified as active by this directory.
Market Research Analysts and Marketing SpecialistsSearch external job listings ↗3
Check your assumptions with someone doing the work
Ask which tasks take the most time, how AI changed the routine and what evidence of skill helped them enter. Compare their experience with the published data.
My Next Move ↗Sources & data notes
O*NET® 31.0 · 13-1161.00 ↗BLS · May 2025 · USD/year ↗BLS · 2025–2035 ↗Anthropic · March 2026 study ↗Source & definition ↗
Occupational descriptions adapt the O*NET® 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, under CC BY 4.0. Is my job toast? translated, shortened and supplemented the material. USDOL/ETA has not approved or endorsed these changes. CC BY 4.0 ↗