Painted valley with a small studio on the left

What a UX researcher really does

You find out what users really need, then make sure the team cannot ignore it.

There's no official occupation called UX researcher. These figures are for market research analysts, the closest match. The job details on this page describe market research analysts and marketing specialists.

Try it free, about 105 minutes See the real tasks

Median pay, May 2025$78,760

Job growth, 2025-35+7%

Typical entry educationBachelor's degree

Preparation (O*NET Job Zone)Considerable Preparation Needed

What the work involves

8 of the 13 tasks O*NET lists for market research analysts and marketing specialists, most important first.

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

What the days are like

Most of the time goes to

Getting Information. Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others. Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
Analyzing Data or Information. Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
Working with Computers. Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
Processing Information. Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.

What workers report

E-Mail: 90% responded “Every day.”
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate: 55% responded “Very important.”
Spend Time Sitting: 75% responded “Continually or almost continually.”
Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals: 55% responded “Some freedom.”
Freedom to Make Decisions: 55% responded “Some freedom.”

Work styles that matter most

Achievement OrientationA tendency to establish and maintain personally challenging work-related goals, set high work-related standards, and exert high effort toward meeting those goals and standards.

Intellectual CuriosityA tendency to seek out and acquire new work-related knowledge and obtain a deep understanding of work-related subjects.

Attention to DetailA tendency to be detail-oriented, organized, and thorough in completing work.

How people get into it

The primary O*NET proxy, Survey Researchers, sits in Job Zone 5: 50% of surveyed workers say a bachelor's degree is required and 38% a master's degree. The secondary proxy, Market Research Analysts, is Job Zone 4, where a bachelor's degree is the usual entry point. UX researchers commonly come from psychology, HCI, anthropology or social science degrees, often with a master's, and show a portfolio of study case studies.

The Firstday trial, easy to hard

Three simulated tasks at Forkful, a fictional company, with AI coworkers who message you, react to your work and coach with questions. Nobody scores you.

EasyFix a biased survey draftAbout 20 minutes.

MiddleSynthesize survey and interview dataAbout 35 minutes.

HardPresent findings Derek did not wantAbout 50 minutes.

What the trial can't show: The trial cannot show live moderation with a real participant, the logistics of recruiting and paying people, the slow work of a multi week study, or the statistics training some survey roles require. Transcripts and survey data are prewritten, so you do not experience the uncertainty of not knowing what people will say.

Reading about it is one thing.

Find out how the work feels to you before you spend on a degree, course or job change. Your first trial is free.

Find my matches

Job titles people in this occupation report

Business Development Specialist · Communications Consultant · Communications Specialist · Content Strategist · Market Analyst · Market Research Analyst · Market Research Consultant · Market Research Specialist · Market Researcher · Marketing Research Coordinator

Tasks, work activities, work context, work styles, reported titles and Job Zone: O*NET OnLine, 13-1161.00 Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 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.

Pay, growth and entry education: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, market research analysts, May 2025 wages and 2025-35 projections.