Computer and Mathematical Occupations
BLS May 2025 wages Above-baseline growth SOC 15-1221

Computer and Information Research Scientists

Projected +20% employment change leads this card; pay sits next to Database Architects, Web and Digital Interface Designers, Information Security Analysts, Computer Occupations, All Other.

Full salary details → About this data

Same-major-group titles next to Computer and Information Research Scientists: Database Architects ($140K) , Web and Digital Interface Designers ($104K) , Information Security Analysts ($129K) , Computer Occupations, All Other ($117K) . Hash-ordered per card so residual SOC siblings do not share an identical peer sentence.

What Computer and Information Research Scientists publish as work

O*NET task statements for SOC 15-1221 - occupation-level descriptions, not every employer's posting. Sibling cards diverge here because the task set is entity-keyed.

  1. 1. Analyze problems to develop solutions involving computer hardware and software
  2. 2. Apply theoretical expertise and innovation to create or apply new technology, such as adapting principles for applying computers to new uses
  3. 3. Assign or schedule tasks to meet work priorities and goals
  4. 4. Maintain network hardware and software, direct network security measures, and monitor networks to ensure availability to system users
  5. 5. Meet with managers, vendors, and others to solicit cooperation and resolve problems
  6. 6. Design computers and the software that runs them
  7. 7. Conduct logical analyses of business, scientific, engineering, and other technical problems, formulating mathematical models of problems…
  8. 8. Evaluate project plans and proposals to assess feasibility issues
  9. 9. Participate in multidisciplinary projects in areas such as virtual reality, human-computer interaction, or robotics
  10. 10. Consult with users, management, vendors, and technicians to determine computing needs and system requirements
  11. 11. Direct daily operations of departments, coordinating project activities with other departments
  12. 12. Develop and interpret organizational goals, policies, and procedures

Computer and Information Research Scientists: O*NET ranks Critical Thinking first

Importance-ranked O*NET profile for SOC 15-1221 - lead skill Critical Thinking at 4.0 ; lead knowledge Computers and Electronics. Sibling cards diverge here even when peer titles overlap.

Top skills

  1. 1. Critical Thinking 4.0
  2. 2. Complex Problem Solving 4.0
  3. 3. Judgment and Decision Making 4.0
  4. 4. Reading Comprehension 3.8
  5. 5. Active Listening 3.8
  6. 6. Systems Analysis 3.8
  7. 7. Programming 3.6
  8. 8. Systems Evaluation 3.6

Knowledge areas

  1. 1. Computers and Electronics 4.6
  2. 2. Mathematics 4.1
  3. 3. Engineering and Technology 4.0
  4. 4. English Language 3.9
  5. 5. Administration and Management 3.3
  6. 6. Design 3.3
Projected employment change 2024-2034
↑ +20%
much faster than average (3.1%)
National median $140,300/yr
$140K
National median
3,200
Annual openings
37,200
Estimated US jobs
Database Architects
Highest-pay peer · $140K

Typical Entry and Preparation Assignments

Entry education Master's degree

Top Paying States for Computer and Information Research Scientists

1. Massachusetts $170,510
2. Virginia $157,390
3. Washington $202,400
4. Maryland $145,310
5. New Jersey $140,840
6. New Mexico $165,690
7. District of Columbia $144,190
8. California $159,100
9. Oregon $206,220
10. New York $181,990

Other Computer and Mathematical Occupations titles

  1. 1. Database Architects $139,500
  2. 2. Web and Digital Interface Designers $104,000
  3. 3. Information Security Analysts $129,180
  4. 4. Computer Occupations, All Other $116,580
  5. 5. Mathematicians $126,710
  6. 6. Computer Systems Analysts $105,850

BLS projects +20% employment change for Computer and Information Research Scientists (2024-2034), much faster than average vs the all-occupations baseline of 3.1%. Published median pay is $140,300.

BLS assigns Master's degree as typical entry education. These are occupation-level assignments, not universal employer rules. BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific safety rate for this role; its broad SOC-group rate is excluded from this career card's grade.

Highest published state median in this ranking: Massachusetts at $170,510. The table records differences without proving causes. Highest-pay peer shown here: Database Architects at $139,500. Compare the same statistic in the relevant local wage area before treating the national median as a personal benchmark; OEWS excludes employer benefits.

Computer and Information Research Scientists pay-rank #1 in Computer and Mathematical Occupations

Among 21 detailed Computer and Mathematical Occupations with a published OEWS median, Computer and Information Research Scientists is pay-rank #1, the upper third of that major group. The order is ROW_NUMBER on national median (title as tiebreak), not a worker-level percentile.

Other upper-third titles · closest medians

Full Salary Details Compare this role

Data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Projections from BLS Employment Projections program, 2024-2034.

SOC 15-1221 · national median $140,300 · upper third of Computer and Mathematical Occupations (#1/21). Open the full OEWS map or a named state before treating the card median as a local ask.

Computer and Information Research Scientists salary map

State, metro, and percentile for SOC 15-1221

Massachusetts · top state for Computer and Information Research Scientists

$171K published median

Virginia · #2 state pay

$157K · behind Massachusetts

Database Architects

Highest-pay peer vs Computer and Information Research Scientists · $140K

Web and Digital Interface Designers

Lower-pay peer beside Computer and Information Research Scientists · $104K

Compare Computer and Information Research Scientists

Head-to-head OEWS medians with another SOC
Compare Computer and Information Research Scientists with another occupation →

Growth and outlook next reads

Fastest-Growing Rankings

National projection leaders

Highest-Paying Careers

Where growth meets pay

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Computer and Mathematical Occupations titles sit near Computer and Information Research Scientists at the top of the pay table? ▼
Computer and Information Research Scientists is pay-rank #1 of 21 detailed Computer and Mathematical Occupations with an OEWS median, upper third. Nearest upper-third titles: Database Architects ($140K), Software Developers ($136K), Computer Network Architects ($134K), Actuaries ($130K). Rank is ROW_NUMBER on national median.
What do computer and information research scientists do day to day? ▼
O*NET lists published task statements for Computer and Information Research Scientists. Leading ones include: 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; Assign or schedule tasks to meet work priorities and goals; Maintain network hardware and software, direct network security measures, and monitor networks to ensure availability to system users. These are occupation-level task descriptions, not every employer's job description.
Which O*NET skills rank highest for computer and information research scientists? ▼
For SOC 15-1221, O*NET importance scores lead with Critical Thinking (4.0), Complex Problem Solving (4.0), Judgment and Decision Making (4.0), Reading Comprehension (3.8). Knowledge areas emphasize Computers and Electronics, Mathematics, Engineering and Technology. These are occupation-level profiles, not a hiring checklist for every employer.
What is the OEWS national median for Computer and Information Research Scientists? ▼
May 2025 OEWS reports $140,300 as the national median for Computer and Information Research Scientists. The published 10th-90th range is $82,200 to $230,630. Beside Database Architects ($139,500), this is the occupation-level national figure, not a local offer.
How fast is Computer and Information Research Scientists projected to grow? ▼
BLS Employment Projections put Computer and Information Research Scientists at +20% change for 2024-2034, with about 3,200 annual openings. Versus the all-occupations baseline (3.1%): much faster than average.
What typical entry education does BLS assign to Computer and Information Research Scientists? ▼
BLS assigns Master's degree as the typical-education-needed-for-entry category for Computer and Information Research Scientists. These are occupation-level labels, not every employer's hiring rule.
Which three states show the highest OEWS medians for Computer and Information Research Scientists? ▼
Massachusetts ($170,510), Virginia ($157,390), Washington ($202,400) lead this ranking. The table does not identify why those state estimates differ.

Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Wage and state figures use BLS OEWS May 2025; growth and education use BLS Employment Projections for 2024-2034; safety fields cite BLS CFOI/SOII; task statements cite O*NET where shown. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

Disclaimer: Wage and outlook figures on this page are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute career, financial, or salary-negotiation advice. Actual pay varies by employer, experience, and local conditions; consult a career counselor or the hiring employer for guidance specific to your situation.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OES Occupational wage estimates by area and industry · 2025

Federal sources on this Computer and Information Research Scientists card
  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS / OES) - national median and percentiles for SOC 15-1221. bls.gov/oes
  • O*NET OnLine - task and skill statements for Computer and Information Research Scientists. onetcenter.org
  • BLS Employment Projections - 2024-2034 change and openings for this occupation. bls.gov/emp
  • U.S. Census Bureau ACS - demographic and labor-force context for state and metro geography. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
  • IRS Statistics of Income (SOI) - payroll-tax aggregate context for wage comparisons. irs.gov/statistics