JobBreak

Life, Physical, and Social Science · United States (national)

Survey Researchers

How exposed this work is to automation, shown as ranges with the reasoning and sources.

The short version: this role is highly exposed to automation, and the bigger shift looks near-term. It is a sourced range, not a verdict, and the detail is below.

Built on O*NET tasks, BLS pay and projections, and peer-reviewed AI-exposure research. Sources shown. Data snapshot SNAPSHOT-2026-11-06. How it works
84.4 of 100
AI / softwarerange 72.4 to 96.4
8.5 of 100
Physical / roboticsrange 0.0 to 20.5

When the change is likely

change likely 0y 5y 10y 15y 20+y

Near-term, high local demand stable

What to do about it

Use AI to outpace AI.

Strategies to protect your livelihood, most important first.

1
Act within the next 1 to 2 years
Displacement for this role is near-term. Start a concrete reskilling plan now, while you still have income and leverage.
2
Lean into the human edge
The exposed parts are routine and cognitive. Invest in judgment, client relationships, and complex problem-solving that AI still cannot do.
3
Pivot toward Management Analysts
It is skill-adjacent and less exposed (50.0 vs 84). A lateral move now beats a forced one later.
4
Build a financial buffer
Keep 6 to 12 months of expenses and diversify your income, so a disruption is a setback rather than a catastrophe.
5
Add a recognised credential
A certification or license raises the bar against automation and signals value in a tightening market.

Which of my tasks are exposed

Review, classify, and record survey data in preparation for computer analysis.
84.4
Monitor and evaluate survey progress and performance, using sample disposition reports and response rate calculations.
84.4
Produce documentation of the questionnaire development process, data collection methods, sampling designs, and decisions related to sample statistical weighting.
50.0
Prepare and present summaries and analyses of survey data, including tables, graphs, and fact sheets that describe survey techniques and results.
84.4
Determine and specify details of survey projects, including sources of information, procedures to be used, and the design of survey instruments and materials.
50.0
Consult with clients to identify survey needs and specific requirements, such as special samples.
50.0
Conduct surveys and collect data, using methods such as interviews, questionnaires, focus groups, market analysis surveys, public opinion polls, literature reviews, and file reviews.
50.0
Support, plan, and coordinate operations for single or multiple surveys.
50.0

Longer, orange bars are more automatable; short green bars are resistant.

What is driving my result

lowers risk
raises risk
Task: Review, classify, and record survey data in preparation for computer analysis.
Task: Monitor and evaluate survey progress and performance, using sample disposition reports and response rate calculations.

Lower-risk adjacent roles

Management Analysts
50.0
Data Scientists
59.4
Sociologists
61.5
Social Science Research Assistants
62.1
Statistical Assistants
67.4
Statisticians
71.0

A full, ranked mitigation plan is part of the paid tiers.

How this score is calculated

  1. Map Survey Researchers to its standard O*NET task list (8 core tasks).
  2. Score each task for AI/software exposure (Eloundou et al. 2023) and physical/robotics exposure (an O*NET work-context proxy), each 0 to 100.
  3. The two axis scores are the task averages: AI 84.4, robotics 8.5.
  4. The timeline comes from the higher axis (84.4), shifted for local demand (stable), and seniority. It is read against your remaining working years.
  5. Ranges are about ±12 points. A backtest against real BLS employment change shows the risk ranking holds in aggregate, but individual outcomes are predicted weakly, so results are ranges, never a flat verdict.

Sources: O*NET, Eloundou et al. (2023), GPTs are GPTs, O*NET Work Context, BLS CPI-U, BLS OEWS. Snapshot SNAPSHOT-2026-11-06. Full method and backtest on How it works.

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