Field Investigator (Surveys)
Also known as: Field Researcher · Survey Enumerator · Field Data Collector
Collects data in the field through household surveys, interviews and observation for research studies.
Starting salary: not added yet.
What you’d do
A field investigator collects first-hand data for research and evaluation studies by visiting households, villages or institutions and conducting structured interviews. Employers include survey and research agencies, NGOs, university research projects and development consultancies. A typical day involves travel to the study area, interviewing respondents in the local language and uploading data each evening.
- Conduct household and community surveys
- Record data on tablets or forms
- Check data for gaps and errors
- Report field issues to supervisors
How you get in
Research agencies and NGOs hire field investigators for each study, usually after a short training on the questionnaire. Fluency in the local language of the study area is often the deciding factor. Good field records can lead to supervisor and research-associate roles.
Salary in India
Salary data isn’t added for this role yet. When it is, every figure points to its source.
Skills you’ll use
From our guide · a curated list is coming
- Structured interviewing
- Fluency in local languages
- Accurate data recording
- Building rapport with communities
- Following research ethics and consent
About this field · for freshers
Job openings by year
Is demand growing?
Not added yet.
Competition2
How many graduates enter each year?
BA (all subjects) graduates in 2023-24 at institutions that reported to AISHE — everyone finishing that degree, not only those entering this role.
Who hires
IT firms, banks, government, startups?
Not added yet.
Where the jobs are
Which cities?
Not added yet.
Women in the field2
Is it diverse?
Share of women among BA (all subjects) graduates in 2023-24 — the entry degree, not people already working in this role.
At a glance
- Much of the work is contract-based for the length of a study.
- Anthropology training in observation and fieldwork transfers directly.
- Next roles: field supervisor, research associate, project coordinator.
Stay safe
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