The Average Salary of a Freelance Internet Researcher

Income and Qualifications

A freelance Internet researcher is usually paid per hour or by project. She has to find projects and assignments by searching freelance writing and other online job sites, and then apply for those jobs -- sometimes by submitting bids. While getting the work can sometimes be as time consuming as executing it, these professionals earned average annual incomes of $36,000 as of 2013, according to the job website SimplyHired.com. Major requirements include attention to detail and analytical, computer and Internet and decision-making skills. More traditional companies -- such as consumer product companies that need researchers to monitor their website activities -- may prefer someone with a bachelor's degree in business, marketing or marketing research.

Regional Considerations

Average incomes for freelance Internet researchers vary per state or district. In 2013, they earned some of the highest annual incomes of $57,000 per year in the District of Columbia, according to SimplyHired.com. Salaries for these professionals were also above the national average for freelance Internet researchers in Massachusetts, New York and California -- $44,000, $42,000 and $41,000 per year, respectively. Those in Ohio, Texas and Florida earned up to 10 percent less, at $35,000, $34,000 and $33,000, respectively.

Influencing Factors

Experience probably dictates a freelance Internet researcher's income more than anything else. Those who are more experienced know the procedures for getting assignments and researching better than novices and, consequently, can submit bids and complete projects faster. This results in a higher volume of work and income. Freelance Internet researchers might also get paid more by larger companies, which can support the higher hourly or per-project rates. And while these professionals can work for companies across the United States and even overseas, they might have access to more projects in major metropolitan areas.

Career Outlook

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, or BLS, doesn't report job trend data for freelance Internet researchers, but they do for market research analysts, a closely-related career. The BLS reports that jobs for market research analysts will increase 41 percent over the next decade, which is nearly three times the growth rate of the average occupation. Companies and bloggers often rely on Internet researchers to make savvy business decisions and execute marketing strategies.