Career Options for Freelance Researchers
According to Forbes magazine in 2016, freelancers who want to be their own bosses and build clienteles that provide steady flows of work made up 35% of all workers in the U.S. and earned a trillion dollars in that year alone. As more and more professionals are freelancing across a wide variety of sectors and industries, many of them are finding research positions through online job boards or freelance websites. Read below about freelance positions involving research; many of these jobs are predicted to grow faster or much faster than average in the coming years.
| Job Title | Median Salary (2020)* | Job Growth (2019-2029)* |
|---|---|---|
| Market Research Analyst | $65,810 | 18% |
| Operations Research Analyst | $86,200 | 25% |
| Survey Researcher | $59,870 | -4% |
| Computer and Information Research Scientist | $126,830 | 15% |
| Financial Analyst | $83,660 | 5% |
*Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Career Information for Freelance Researcher Positions
Market Research Analyst
Market research analysts help companies from nearly every industry understand what products and services consumers want, exactly who buys or might buy a product, how much people are willing to pay, what the market conditions are and how that affects the potential sales of a service or product. While some positions in this field require a master's degree, most need just a bachelor's degree, as well as strong math and analytical skills.
Operations Research Analyst
Another great research career you can do if you have excellent analytical and quantitative skills is freelance operations research analyst. These professionals identify and solve problems for businesses in many different industries using statistical analysis and advanced simulations. To work in this profession, you'll need a bachelor's degree in a technical or quantitative area such as engineering, math, computer science, business or management; some firms require a master's degree.
Survey Researcher
Survey researchers develop and administer surveys and analyze data from them. They use surveys to collect demographic data and determine respondents' beliefs, values, preferences and opinions. They work with clients in many different industries to figure out how best to get the information the clients need using survey research. While some entry-level positions in this field require only a bachelor's degree, most will require a master's or PhD.
Computer and Information Research Scientist
Computer and information research scientists work in business, medicine, law, government, science and other fields, studying, analyzing and solving complex computing problems. They develop new technological approaches and discover novel uses for existing technology. Most positions in this field require an advanced degree in computer science or a similar field.
Financial Analyst
Another great freelance research career is financial analyst. These professionals research and analyze financial data for businesses, investment firm employees or private investors and forecast how markets, different industries, the economy in general, stocks, bonds, mutual funds and real estate investments will fare in the future. To work in this profession requires a bachelor's degree.
