Beyond High School

Here's a list of programs that you should consider if you're interested in this career:

• Consumer Merchandising/Retailing Management
• Applied Economics
• Marketing/Marketing Management, General
• Marketing Research
• International Marketing

Education Level

Education training and experience are required at different levels for success in different occupations.

Bachelor's degree

Market research analysts typically need a bachelor’s degree. Some employers require or prefer that job candidates have a master’s degree. Strong research and analytical skills are essential.

Insider Info

Additional Information

Market researchers typically have at least a bachelor's degree. The most common degree to have is in marketing. There are also bachelor and master's programs focused specifically on market research.

"I do have people working who have [only] a bachelor's," says Sherry Schneider. She works at a staffing firm and specializes in recruiting market researchers.

"You don't have to have a master's," Schneider adds. "You can get an entry-level position with a bachelor's, but inevitably to rise up in the ranks... you would eventually need a master's."

Many market researchers have degrees in something other than marketing.

"Market researchers can come from all walks of life," says Tom Bernthal. He's the CEO and founder of a market research company in New York. "Here at Kelton Research we have folks who come from varied industries such as journalism, marketing, public relations and political consulting, in addition to classically trained statisticians and cultural anthropologists."

Those on the quantitative side of market research -- the number crunchers -- typically have degrees in math or statistics. "I hire a lot of marketing analytics people who have a bachelor's or a master's in statistics," says Schneider. "Most people, if they're going to get a master's in statistics, tend to go [into] finance... so very few people go into marketing with it, and when they do, they're not going to have a hard time finding a job, believe me."

Extra Requirements

Analysts may pursue certification, which is voluntary, to demonstrate a level of professional competency. The Insights Association offers several certifications for market research analysts, including the IPC Principal and the IPC Masters. Candidates qualify based on industry experience and passing an exam.

For additional information, visit these websites:

• http://www.insightsassociation.org