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Computer and Information Research Scientists Salary
Computer and Information Research Scientists earn a median $140,300 a year in the U.S., with 37,200 jobs (May 2025).
- Median wage
- $140,300 a year
- Employment
- 37,200
- Excludes self-employed
- Projected growth
- +21.8%
- 2025 to 2035
- Openings per year
- 2,900
- Average, including replacements
Pay range nationally
The middle half of workers earn between the 25th and 75th percentile (shaded)
- Median (50%)
- $140,300 · $67.45 an hour
- Mean (average)
- $153,930 · $74.00 an hour (estimate error ±1.0%)
- 10th percentile
- $82,200 · $39.52 an hour
- 25th percentile
- $103,570 · $49.79 an hour
- 75th percentile
- $188,700 · $90.72 an hour
- 90th percentile
- $230,630 · $110.88 an hour
- Employment
- 37,200 (estimate error ±2.6%)
What they do
Standard Occupational Classification definition
Conduct research into fundamental computer and information science as theorists, designers, or inventors. Develop solutions to problems in the field of computer hardware and software.
Job outlook
BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035
- Jobs in 2025
- 38,600
- Projected for 2035
- 47,000
- Change
- +8,400 (+21.8%)
- Openings each year
- 2,900
- Typical education
- Master's degree
- Work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- Self-employed
- Not reported
Occupational Outlook Handbook (duties, how to become one, work environment)
Highest paying states
Median wage for this occupation
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| # | State | Median wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $206,220 | 730 |
| 2 | Washington | $202,400 | 2,050 |
| 3 | New York | $181,990 | 1,950 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $170,510 | 1,760 |
| 5 | New Mexico | $165,690 | 490 |
| 6 | California | $159,100 | 8,440 |
| 7 | Virginia | $157,390 | 3,590 |
| 8 | Maryland | $145,310 | 2,870 |
| 9 | District of Columbia | $144,190 | 330 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $140,840 | 1,580 |
States with the most jobs
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| State | Employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| California | 8,440 | $159,100 |
| Virginia | 3,590 | $157,390 |
| Maryland | 2,870 | $145,310 |
| Washington | 2,050 | $202,400 |
| Texas | 1,960 | $121,210 |
| New York | 1,950 | $181,990 |
| Massachusetts | 1,760 | $170,510 |
| New Jersey | 1,580 | $140,840 |
| Utah | 1,250 | $94,700 |
| Florida | 1,070 | $119,810 |
Highest paying metro areas
Metro areas with at least 100 jobs in this occupation
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| # | Metro area | Median wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $218,420 | 2,210 |
| 2 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $211,270 | 1,620 |
| 3 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $206,220 | 660 |
| 4 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $181,990 | 200 |
| 5 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $171,440 | 1,670 |
| 6 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $170,890 | 2,100 |
| 7 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $170,510 | 1,620 |
| 8 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $166,800 | 110 |
| 9 | Albuquerque, NM | $165,690 | 220 |
| 10 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $164,460 | 160 |
| 11 | Richmond, VA | $162,910 | 160 |
| 12 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $161,090 | 3,420 |
Metro areas with the most jobs
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| Metro area | Employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 3,420 | $161,090 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 2,210 | $218,420 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 2,100 | $170,890 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 1,680 | $121,530 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 1,670 | $171,440 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 1,620 | $170,510 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 1,620 | $211,270 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 1,070 | $156,750 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 940 | $155,960 |
| Ogden, UT | 810 | $96,740 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 660 | $206,220 |
| Warner Robins, GA | 650 | $89,500 |
Visa filings for this occupation
Wages employers offered on Department of Labor filings
- H-1B (FY 2026 through Q3)4,668 certified filingsMedian offered wage $187,700
- PERM green card (FY 2026 through Q3)114 certified filingsMedian offered wage $171,963
Computer and Information Research Scientists pay by state
- Alabama
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
- Washington
Related occupations
- Computer Systems Analysts
- Information Security Analysts
- Computer Network Support Specialists
- Computer User Support Specialists
- Computer Network Architects
- Database Administrators
- Database Architects
- Network and Computer Systems Administrators
- Computer Programmers
- Software Developers
- Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers
- Web Developers
Frequently asked questions
- How much do computer and information research scientists make?
- The median wage for computer and information research scientists in the U.S. is $140,300 a year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $103,570 and $188,700.
- Which state pays computer and information research scientists the most?
- Oregon has the highest median wage for this occupation at $206,220 a year.
- What is the job outlook for computer and information research scientists?
- BLS projects employment to grow 21.8% from 2025 to 2035, with about 2,900 openings each year on average.
- What education do computer and information research scientists need?
- The typical entry-level education is: master's degree.