15 Series · SOC 15-1221
Computer and Information Research Scientists Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $140,300
- Median / year
- $230,630
- Top 10% earn
- +19.7%
- Growth '23–'33
- 37,200
- US workers
Computer and Information Research Scientists earn a median of $140,300 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $140,300, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $82,200 (10th percentile) to $230,630 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 37,200 US workers. Oregon pays the most ($206,220), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Computer and Information Research Scientists earn a median of $140,300, putting them among the better-paid US occupations and higher than 94% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Computer and Mathematical, it ranks #1 of 21 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 19.7% by 2033.
- $140,300
- Median annual wage
- Top 6%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #1 of 21
- in Computer and Mathematical
- 2.8×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Oregon at $206,220. Typical entry-level education: Master's degree.
Computer and Information Research Scientists (SOC 15-1221) pays a national median of $140,300 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $82,200 at the 10th percentile to $230,630 at the 90th, with a mean of $153,930 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 37,200 Americans work in this occupation across 35 reporting states and 72 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +19.7% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as much faster than average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 3,200 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is Master's degree. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of A for this role, with a fatality rate of 0.3 per 100,000 and injury rate of 0.2 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Oregon pays the highest state median at $206,220, which is +47% above the national figure. The top metro is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $218,420 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
Median Salary
$140,300
per year
Median Hourly
$67.45/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$153,930
average
Employment
37,200
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Computer and Information Research Scientists pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$140,300 Top 6% higher than 94% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 15-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Computer and Information Research Scientists; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 21 15-series occupations with growth data, Computer and Information Research Scientists sits on the faster-growing side at +19.7% growth and $140,300 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+19.7%
Much faster than average
Annual Openings
3,200
per year (projected)
Typical Education
Master's degree
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Very Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
0.3/100K
Injury Rate
0.2/100
Danger Index
1/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Computer and Information Research Scientists roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key Tasks
- ▸ 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.
- ▸ Meet with managers, vendors, and others to solicit cooperation and resolve problems.
- ▸ Design computers and the software that runs them.
- ▸ Conduct logical analyses of business, scientific, engineering, and other technical problems, formulating mathematical models of problems for solution by computers.
- ▸ Evaluate project plans and proposals to assess feasibility issues.
- ▸ 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.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$82,200
25th Percentile
$103,570
Median
$140,300
75th Percentile
$188,700
90th Percentile
$230,630
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
Lowest Paying States
View all 35 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $206,220 | +47% above national |
| 2 | Washington | $202,400 | +44% above national |
| 3 | New York | $181,990 | +30% above national |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $170,510 | +22% above national |
| 5 | New Mexico | $165,690 | +18% above national |
| 6 | California | $159,100 | +13% above national |
| 7 | Virginia | $157,390 | +12% above national |
| 8 | Maryland | $145,310 | +4% above national |
| 9 | District of Columbia | $144,190 | +3% above national |
| 10 | New Jersey | $140,840 | same as national |
| 11 | Illinois | $136,540 | 3% below national |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $136,160 | 3% below national |
| 13 | Minnesota | $135,850 | 3% below national |
| 14 | Ohio | $135,510 | 3% below national |
| 15 | Hawaii | $134,350 | 4% below national |
| 16 | Nevada | $134,310 | 4% below national |
| 17 | Colorado | $133,160 | 5% below national |
| 18 | Connecticut | $131,650 | 6% below national |
| 19 | Pennsylvania | $130,300 | 7% below national |
| 20 | Arizona | $129,760 | 8% below national |
| 21 | North Carolina | $128,370 | 9% below national |
| 22 | Missouri | $127,820 | 9% below national |
| 23 | South Carolina | $126,980 | 9% below national |
| 24 | Rhode Island | $121,470 | 13% below national |
| 25 | Texas | $121,210 | 14% below national |
| 26 | Florida | $119,810 | 15% below national |
| 27 | Alabama | $117,870 | 16% below national |
| 28 | Louisiana | $115,210 | 18% below national |
| 29 | Mississippi | $109,050 | 22% below national |
| 30 | Tennessee | $108,830 | 22% below national |
| 31 | Utah | $94,700 | 33% below national |
| 32 | Oklahoma | $93,100 | 34% below national |
| 33 | Georgia | $92,250 | 34% below national |
| 34 | Indiana | $85,460 | 39% below national |
| 35 | Michigan | $82,590 | 41% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 72 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $218,420 | +56% above national |
| 2 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $211,270 | +51% above national |
| 3 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $206,220 | +47% above national |
| 4 | Rochester, NY | $204,340 | +46% above national |
| 5 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $181,990 | +30% above national |
| 6 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $171,880 | +23% above national |
| 7 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $171,440 | +22% above national |
| 8 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $170,890 | +22% above national |
| 9 | Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $170,850 | +22% above national |
| 10 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $170,510 | +22% above national |
| 11 | Boulder, CO | $169,400 | +21% above national |
| 12 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $166,800 | +19% above national |
| 13 | Albuquerque, NM | $165,690 | +18% above national |
| 14 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $164,460 | +17% above national |
| 15 | Richmond, VA | $162,910 | +16% above national |
| 16 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $161,090 | +15% above national |
| 17 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $156,750 | +12% above national |
| 18 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $155,960 | +11% above national |
| 19 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $155,910 | +11% above national |
| 20 | Ann Arbor, MI | $151,110 | +8% above national |
| 21 | Charlottesville, VA | $144,580 | +3% above national |
| 22 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $142,660 | +2% above national |
| 23 | Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $140,190 | same as national |
| 24 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $139,210 | 1% below national |
| 25 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $137,330 | 2% below national |
| 26 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $137,300 | 2% below national |
| 27 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $136,990 | 2% below national |
| 28 | Jacksonville, FL | $136,990 | 2% below national |
| 29 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $136,720 | 3% below national |
| 30 | Lexington Park, MD | $136,660 | 3% below national |
| 31 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $135,880 | 3% below national |
| 32 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $135,630 | 3% below national |
| 33 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $134,050 | 4% below national |
| 34 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $133,970 | 5% below national |
| 35 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $132,870 | 5% below national |
| 36 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $132,680 | 5% below national |
| 37 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $131,650 | 6% below national |
| 38 | Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $130,670 | 7% below national |
| 39 | Pittsburgh, PA | $130,300 | 7% below national |
| 40 | Binghamton, NY | $129,420 | 8% below national |
| 41 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $128,370 | 9% below national |
| 42 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $127,360 | 9% below national |
| 43 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $126,860 | 10% below national |
| 44 | Cleveland, OH | $126,860 | 10% below national |
| 45 | Utica-Rome, NY | $125,720 | 10% below national |
| 46 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $125,320 | 11% below national |
| 47 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $123,390 | 12% below national |
| 48 | Huntsville, AL | $122,200 | 13% below national |
| 49 | Manchester-Nashua, NH | $121,780 | 13% below national |
| 50 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $121,530 | 13% below national |
| 51 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $116,650 | 17% below national |
| 52 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $116,470 | 17% below national |
| 53 | Las Cruces, NM | $115,610 | 18% below national |
| 54 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $112,050 | 20% below national |
| 55 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $111,090 | 21% below national |
| 56 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $109,660 | 22% below national |
| 57 | Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $109,550 | 22% below national |
| 58 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $108,990 | 22% below national |
| 59 | Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $108,490 | 23% below national |
| 60 | Colorado Springs, CO | $107,090 | 24% below national |
| 61 | Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | $105,660 | 25% below national |
| 62 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $104,670 | 25% below national |
| 63 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $102,630 | 27% below national |
| 64 | Ogden, UT | $96,740 | 31% below national |
| 65 | Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $96,450 | 31% below national |
| 66 | Champaign-Urbana, IL | $94,700 | 33% below national |
| 67 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $94,220 | 33% below national |
| 68 | Oklahoma City, OK | $93,100 | 34% below national |
| 69 | Warner Robins, GA | $89,500 | 36% below national |
| 70 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $86,800 | 38% below national |
| 71 | Tucson, AZ | $79,580 | 43% below national |
| 72 | Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $66,700 | 52% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 15 (computer and mathematical) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Computer and Information Research Scientists make? ▼
What state pays Computer and Information Research Scientists the most? ▼
What education do you need to become a Computer and Information Research Scientists? ▼
How dangerous is being a Computer and Information Research Scientists? ▼
Is Computer and Information Research Scientists a good career? ▼
How does Computer and Information Research Scientists pay vary by state? ▼
Which metro areas pay the most for Computer and Information Research Scientists? ▼
What to do with this data
How to use Computer and Information Research Scientists pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $188,700/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: Oregon leads at $206,220/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.