Computer and Information Research Scientists Salary
Computer and Mathematical Occupations · 37K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$140,300
Median hourly
$67
Average annual
$153,930
Typical range
$82,200–$230,630
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Computer and Information Research Scientists is $140,300 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $67 an hour at a full-time schedule.
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..
Most earn between $82,200 and $230,630 a year. There are roughly 37K people employed as computer and information research scientists in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Computer and Information Research Scientists.
- Hourly
- $67.45
- Daily
- $540
- Weekly
- $2,698
- Bi-weekly
- $5,396
- Monthly
- $11,692
- Annual
- $140,300
$140,300 a year is around the 50th percentile for Computer and Information Research Scientistss. The median is $140,300.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
- 1Oregon$206,220
- 2Washington$202,400
- 3New York$181,990
- 4Massachusetts$170,510
- 5New Mexico$165,690
- 6California$159,100
- 7Virginia$157,390
- 8Maryland$145,310
- 9District of Columbia$144,190
- 10New Jersey$140,840
- 11Illinois$136,540
- 12New Hampshire$136,160
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$218,420
- 2Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$211,270
- 3Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA$206,220
- 4Rochester, NY$204,340
- 5Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY$181,990
- 6Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA$171,880
- 7San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$171,440
- 8New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$170,890
- 9Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL$170,850
- 10Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$170,510
- 11Boulder, CO$169,400
- 12Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA$166,800
Related job titles
Employers advertise Computer and Information Research Scientists roles under these titles.
- AI Engineer (Artificial Intelligence Engineer)
- Computational Linguist
- Computational Scientist
- Computational Theory Scientist
- Computer Scientist
- Computer Vision Scientist
- Control System Computer Scientist
- Cybersecurity Research Scientist (Cyber Research Scientist)
- Languages Researcher
- Machine Learning Research Scientist
- Multi-Disciplined Language Analyst
- Programming Languages Researcher
- Programming Methodology Researcher
- Research Computer Scientist
- Scientific Programmer Analyst
Related occupations
What a Computer and Information Research Scientists does
- Analyze problems to develop solutions involving computer hardware and software.
- Apply theoretical expertise and innovation to create or apply new technology, such as adapting principles for applying computers to new uses.
- Conduct logical analyses of business, scientific, engineering, and other technical problems, formulating mathematical models of problems for solution by computers.
- Participate in multidisciplinary projects in areas such as virtual reality, human-computer interaction, or robotics.
- Consult with users, management, vendors, and technicians to determine computing needs and system requirements.
- Develop and interpret organizational goals, policies, and procedures.
- Assign or schedule tasks to meet work priorities and goals.
- Meet with managers, vendors, and others to solicit cooperation and resolve problems.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Computer and Information Research Scientists make?
- The median annual wage for Computer and Information Research Scientists is $140,300 ($67 per hour). Pay ranges from about $82,200 at the 10th percentile to $230,630 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Computer and Information Research Scientists?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $153,930, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Computer and Information Research Scientistss the most?
- Oregon has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $206,220.
- Is Computer and Information Research Scientists a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 37K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Computer and Information Research Scientists do?
- Analyze problems to develop solutions involving computer hardware and software.; Apply theoretical expertise and innovation to create or apply new technology, such as adapting principles for applying computers to new uses.; Conduct logical analyses of business, scientific, engineering, and other technical problems, formulating mathematical models of problems for solution by computers..