Survey Workers interview the public and collect statistical data for various companies and government agencies on such topics as population, public issues, or consumer buying habits. They contact people at their homes or places of business, in person or by telephone, or approach them at random on the street.  

NATURE OF THE OCCUPATION  

Survey Workers may:

Analyze data from old records  

Select sources of information, following set procedures  

Collect current data either orally or by questionnaire, from people at their homes or places of business, on the street, or by telephone  

Review, classify, and record the data from answers received  

Prepare reports on answers to specific problems  

Keep records of surveys  

Tools and equipment used may include:

OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTIES  

Survey Workers may specialize in these areas:

205.367-054 SURVEY WORKERS interview the public and compile statistical information on topics such as public issues or consumer buying habits. They contact people at their homes or places of business, in person or by telephone, or approach them at random on the street.  

205.367-054 CENSUS ENUMERATORS gather data on the population for federal, state, and local governments.  

205.367-058 TRAFFIC CHECKERS interview motorists at specified points on a street or highway to gather data for use in highway planning.  

In addition to learning about these specialties, you may also find it helpful to explore the following MOIScripts:  

WORKING CONDITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS  

Although Survey Workers may work in an office making telephone contacts and reviewing questionnaires, they spend most of their time outdoors or in people's homes or offices gathering information. They may work alone or as a member of a survey team under the direction or supervision of a survey team leader, project supervisor, or research director. Each member may be assigned a certain area in which to gather information.  

Survey Workers working full time generally work a 5-day, 40-hour week. Some work may have to be done during evening hours when people are most likely to be home. However, work may not be regular and may depend on the number of projects in which a company is involved. Survey Workers employed by The Federal Bureau of The Census work on a permanent, part-time basis. However, they may work on some projects as much as 40 hours per week, one or two weeks a month. Some over-time during these periods may be necessary.  

Some assignments with other businesses may require Survey Workers to travel long distances and be away from home for several days.  

Survey Workers may have to furnish their own automobile for traveling to the area being surveyed. In most cases, transportation costs are reimbursed.  

You Should Prefer:

• Activities resulting in business contacts with people  

• Activities involving communication of ideas or information  

• Activities of a routine, organized nature  

You Should Be Able To:

• Learn and apply techniques of interviewing  

• Learn methods of collecting information  

• Deal with people in an agreeable manner  

• Work within precise limits and standards of accuracy  

• See details and recognize errors in written materials  

Math Problem You Should Be Able to Solve:

What are the subsets of the set (a, b, c)?  

Reading Example You Should Be Able to Read and Comprehend:

In a consumer survey of 600 people 300 said they would purchase a major appliance in the next six months; 200 said they would purchase a boat and 25 said they would purchase a major appliance and a boat.  

Writing Example You Should Be Able to Produce:

A report that contains compiled statistical data.  

Thinking Skill You Should Be Able to Demonstrate:

Should be able to look at a customer's completed survey and decide if any additional questions need to be addressed or answered.  

EDUCATION AND PREPARATION OPPORTUNITIES  

NOTE: On-The-Job Training provided by the employer or a High School Diploma or Equivalent may qualify a person for this occupation.

The following education and preparation opportunities are helpful in preparing for occupations in the MOIScript:  

***SCHOOL SUBJECTS***

0600 BUSINESS , 0700 CAREERS , 0900 COMMUNICATIONS , 2200 MATH , 2800 PUBLIC SPEAKING

***VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS***

There are no Vocational Education Programs related to this MOIScript  

***POSTSECONDARY PROGRAMS***

There are no Postsecondary Programs related to this MOIScript    

Search for a College and/or Instructional Program  

***APPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITIES***

There are no Apprenticeships related to this MOIScript  

***MILITARY TRAINING PROGRAMS***

There are no Military Programs related to this MOIScript    

E-Learning Courses and Programs    

OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXPERIENCE AND METHODS OF ENTRY  

Since out-of-town travel is sometimes necessary, Survey Workers must have a valid driver's license.  

Some ways to gain experience in this occupation are: volunteer work for political candidates, part-time work with government agencies, polling firms, political campaign offices, and some business and industrial firms.  

School-to-Work opportunities include:

informal apprenticeships  

mentorships  

job shadowing experiences  

touring a local Survey Worker employer  

internships  

volunteer work with a Survey Worker employer  

community service work with an agency  

To get a job as a Survey Worker you should apply directly to companies that employ Survey Workers. To work for state or local government agencies, you should apply to civil service offices. You may be required to pass a civil service examination for federal employment. You may also apply at the Census Bureau, in the U.S. Department of Commerce. Jobs may be located by reading newspaper want ads. In addition, you should access and search the Internet's on-line employment services sites such as:       

Michigan Talent Bank  

America's Job Bank  

Classifieds Employment  

Yahoo! Careers  

You should also enter an electronic resume on these on-line services.

EARNINGS AND ADVANCEMENT  

Earnings of Survey Workers vary according to employer, location, and the Survey Workers experience and level of responsibility. Some Survey Workers are paid a set amount for a project. This amount depends on the length and complexity of the project.  

Beginning Survey Workers employed by private survey research firms generally were paid at or near the minimum wage of $5.15 per hour. Experienced Survey Workers were paid more. The weekly median earnings of all full-time Survey Workers were $399 in 1998.  

Survey Workers in Michigan working for the federal government started at $7.88 per hour (1999). With at least one year of experience, a Worker was eligible for promotion to a higher level position with a starting wage rate of $8.85 per hour. The maximum hourly pay rates for these positions were $10.24 and $11.50, respectively. The salaries of these federal government workers may be higher in some urban areas. Survey Workers working more than 40 hours per week may receive overtime pay.  

Full-time Survey Workers may receive paid vacations and holidays; accident, disability, and hospitalization insurance; retirement plans; and paid sick leave. Those who travel receive expense allowances. Part-time Survey Workers generally receive few benefits. Benefits are usually paid for, at least in part, by the employer.  

Survey Workers may become a head of a survey team or project supervisor. A Survey Worker may advance after obtaining additional experience and training. They may advance to supervisory positions if they have management abilities. Some Survey Workers advance to other positions in their companies after obtaining additional education. With a college degree in marketing, a worker could start as a supervisor or a market-research analyst.  

EMPLOYMENT AND OUTLOOK  

Nationally, there were approximately 97,800 interviewing clerks employed in 1996. It was estimated that about 30,600 of them were Survey Workers. Employment is expected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations through the year 2006. About 1.8% of them were self-employed. The industry distribution for Interviewing Clerks looked like this:  

The best opportunities will be as part-time surveyors of consumers' opinions of products and issues of national interest. The Harris Poll, Gallop Poll, and other, lesser-known companies survey public opinion. Some companies keep a list of surveyors in particular regions and assign projects to them as they occur. Projects may be assigned frequently or only 2 or 3 days a month.  

An estimated 3,375 Survey Workers are employed in Michigan. Most Survey Workers worked in urban areas for business and industrial firms, market research organizations, and independent polling firms.  

Employment of interviewing clerks, including Survey Workers in Michigan is expected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations through the year 2005. An average of 160 annual openings is expected with 50 due to growth and 110 to replacement of those who retire or leave the labor force.  

Survey work will continue to be important because of increasing competition among producers of goods and services as population and incomes continue to rise, growing awareness of the value of research information, and the need for information to determine consumer attitudes and preferences for new products and services. However, increased use of computers will tend to improve Survey Worker productivity and to reduce the employment growth rate.  

MICHIGAN'S EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK TO 2005  

SOURCES OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION  

Printed occupational information is available upon written request from the sources below:  

MOISCRIPTS are Copyright 2003, Michigan Department of Career Development