San Francisco · Occupational wage benchmark
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists Salary in San Francisco
What Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists actually earn in the San Francisco metro area — the published BLS median, what it is worth after local costs, and how it ranks against other major metros.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2024 estimates (published April 2025)), San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA metro estimates for SOC 13-1161; cost-of-living adjustment from U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Statistical Area (MARPP) (2024). Occupational wage benchmarks across all workers, not MBA-specific outcomes.
- Median annual wage
- $123,250
- Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists in San Francisco
- Adjusted for cost of living
- $106,606
- San Francisco price level 115.6 (U.S. = 100)
- Rank among metros
- #2 of 47
- #2 after cost of living
- Workers employed
- 24,120
- in metro San Francisco
What Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists earn in San Francisco, adjusted for what it costs to live there
A headline wage only means something next to local prices. Cost of living does not materially change where San Francisco sits for this role among major metros.
| Metro | Median (nominal) | Adjusted for cost of living |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose | $141,960 | $128,560 |
| San Francisco | $123,250 | $106,606 |
| Boston | $102,390 | $94,573 |
| Seattle | $102,170 | $91,935 |
| New York | $100,520 | $89,301 |
| Denver | $99,040 | $93,627 |
| Minneapolis | $97,910 | $93,406 |
| Washington DC | $87,160 | $80,048 |
| Portland | $85,350 | $80,961 |
| Providence | $83,960 | $82,497 |
| Los Angeles | $82,990 | $73,076 |
| Charlotte | $82,930 | $85,189 |
| Richmond | $81,660 | $83,447 |
| Austin | $80,460 | $82,047 |
| Chicago | $80,400 | $77,610 |
| Philadelphia | $79,420 | $77,442 |
| Atlanta | $79,030 | $78,984 |
| Raleigh | $78,980 | $80,463 |
| Sacramento | $78,630 | $73,713 |
| Hartford | $78,220 | $76,129 |
Nominal medians: BLS OEWS, May 2024 estimates (published April 2025) — occupational wage benchmarks across all workers, not MBA-specific outcomes. Adjusted column: SalaryMBA estimate, computed as nominal ÷ (metro RPP ÷ 100) using BEA MARPP 2024 regional price parities.
The national pay range for Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists
BLS publishes the full percentile distribution nationally. The spread within the occupation is usually far wider than the gap between metros.
| Percentile (national) | Annual wage | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $43,390 | Entry / early-career end |
| 25th percentile | $58,350 | |
| Median (50th) | $78,760 | |
| 75th percentile | $108,310 | |
| 90th percentile | $155,480 | Senior / top-market end |
Other MBA-relevant roles in San Francisco
How to read the San Francisco number
The $123,250 median means half of Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists in the San Francisco area earn less and half earn more. It is measured across everyone in the occupation — every experience level, industry, and level of education. It is not the salary of a recent MBA graduate, and it is not a starting salary.
BLS counts roughly 24,120 people in this role in the San Francisco area. To compare against the state and national picture, see Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists nationally or model your own economics with the MBA ROI calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How much do Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists make in San Francisco?
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists in the San Francisco metro area earn a median of $123,250 per year, according to BLS OEWS May 2024 estimates (published April 2025). That is +56.5% vs national, ranking San Francisco #2 of 47 major metros we track for this role. This is an occupational wage benchmark across all workers in the metro, not an MBA-graduate-specific salary.
Is $123,250 a good salary in San Francisco?
It depends on local prices. The San Francisco area price level is 115.6 against a U.S. average of 100, so $123,250 there carries roughly the purchasing power of $106,606 nationally — about $16,644 less than the headline number implies. Cost of living does not materially change where San Francisco sits for this role among major metros.
Do Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists in San Francisco need an MBA?
These BLS figures cover everyone in the occupation regardless of degree, so they cannot isolate what an MBA adds. Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists is a role MBA graduates commonly target, and an MBA can affect where you land within the range through network, function, and seniority — but any precise MBA premium for this role in San Francisco would not be supported by this data.
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