How to become a survey interviewer or statistical clerk

Official title: Survey interviewers and statistical clerks

Also called: Poll clerk, Chart clerk, Census clerk, Survey taker, Interview clerk, Survey compiler, Statistical clerk, Survey interviewer, Statistical assistant, Survey team notekeeper, Telephone survey clerk, Coding clerk - statistics

Survey interviewers contact individuals to gather information for market research, public opinion polls or election and census enumeration. Statistical clerks code and compile interview and other data into reports, lists, directories and other documents. They are employed by market research and polling firms, government departments and agencies, utility companies, contact centres and other establishments. This unit group also includes clerks who observe and record information on traffic flow.

Main tasks

• Survey interviewers
• Contact individuals by telephone or in person and explain the purpose of the interview
• Ask questions following the outlines of questionnaires and surveys
• Record responses on paper or enter responses directly into a computer database through computer-assisted interviewing systems
• Statistical clerks
• Check information gathered for completeness and accuracy
• Code information according to established coding manuals and enter data into statistical-based computer programs
• Conduct routine statistical analysis of data

How to become one

Completion of secondary school may be required. Experience in the operation of a computer may be required. On-the-job training is usually provided. May require driver's licence.

See the full NOC 2021 profile

Pay · Outlook

• Median pay: $42,900 a year The middle half earn $35,588 to $58,130.
• About 6,200 people worked in this job in 2023, and about 6,000 are projected by 2033. (-3.2%)
• Projected labour market to 2033: balance.

Related jobs

• Data entry clerks
• Desktop publishing operators and related occupations

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Questions people ask

How do I become a survey interviewer or statistical clerk?

Completion of secondary school may be required. Experience in the operation of a computer may be required. On-the-job training is usually provided. May require driver's licence.

How much does a survey interviewer or statistical clerk earn in Canada?

Median full-time pay is $42,900 a year (Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank)). The middle half earn $35,588 to $58,130.

Is a survey interviewer or statistical clerk a growing career in Canada?

Employment is projected to fall 3% by 2033, from about 6,200 to about 6,000 people (Employment and Social Development Canada).

Do you need a degree to become a survey interviewer or statistical clerk?

Not always. 33% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Sources

• Statistics Canada: Census 2021: employment by occupation, gender and education (98-10-0449) (2021 Census), Statistics Canada Open Licence, retrieved 2026-10-03
• Statistics Canada: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 (Version 1.0), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
• Employment and Social Development Canada: Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) (2024 to 2033), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
• Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank): Wages by occupation (2025 (revised 2025-11-19)), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03