Computer and Information Research Scientists Career, Salary and Skills
Computer and Information Research Scientists have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $140,300 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 37,200. Wage data is published for 105 locations.
Occupation description
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.
O*NET code
15-1221.00
Job zone
5
Typical education
Bachelor's Degree
Experience
Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$140,300
Hourly median
$67.45
Employment
37,200
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | 4.00 | 4.25 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 4.00 | 4.62 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 4.00 | 4.38 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.75 | 4.38 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.75 | 4.50 |
| Active Listening | 3.75 | 4.12 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.62 | 4.88 |
| Programming | 3.62 | 4.50 |
| Speaking | 3.50 | 4.12 |
| Active Learning | 3.50 | 4.88 |
Typical 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.
- 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.
Technology
- Amazon Web Services AWS CloudFormation
- Graphics pipelines
- 3D graphics software
- Ada
- Advanced numerical software
- Algorithmic software
- Amazon DynamoDB
- Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud EC2
- Amazon Redshift
- Amazon Web Services AWS SageMaker
- Amazon Web Services AWS software
- Ansible software
- Apache Airflow
- Apache Cassandra
Computer and Information Research Scientists salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Computer and Information Research Scientists Salary in CAMedian $159,100 · Employment 8,440
- Computer and Information Research Scientists Salary in VAMedian $157,390 · Employment 3,590
- Computer and Information Research Scientists Salary in Washington, DCMedian $161,090 · Employment 3,420
- Computer and Information Research Scientists Salary in MDMedian $145,310 · Employment 2,870
- Computer and Information Research Scientists Salary in San Jose, CAMedian $218,420 · Employment 2,210
- Computer and Information Research Scientists Salary in New York, NYMedian $170,890 · Employment 2,100
- Computer and Information Research Scientists Salary in WAMedian $202,400 · Employment 2,050
- Computer and Information Research Scientists Salary in TXMedian $121,210 · Employment 1,960
- Computer and Information Research Scientists Salary in NYMedian $181,990 · Employment 1,950
- Computer and Information Research Scientists Salary in MAMedian $170,510 · Employment 1,760
- Computer and Information Research Scientists Salary in San Diego, CAMedian $121,530 · Employment 1,680
- Computer and Information Research Scientists Salary in San Francisco, CAMedian $171,440 · Employment 1,670
Related careers
- Computer Hardware EngineersNational median $161,740
- Information Technology Project ManagersNational median $116,580
- Nanotechnology Engineering Technologists and TechniciansNational median $66,120
- Robotics EngineersNational median $122,930
- Computer Science Teachers, PostsecondaryNational median $96,980
- StatisticiansNational median $105,650
- Architectural and Engineering ManagersNational median $171,270
- Computer and Information Systems ManagersNational median $175,140
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.