Computer and Information Research Scientists Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for computer and information research scientists in the U.S. is $140,300 ($67.45 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $140,300
- Mean annual wage
- $153,930
- Median hourly wage
- $67.45
- Employment
- 37,200
37,200 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $82,200 | $39.52 |
| 25th percentile | $103,570 | $49.79 |
| Median (50th) | $140,300 | $67.45 |
| 75th percentile | $188,700 | $90.72 |
| 90th percentile | $230,630 | $110.88 |
Highest-paying states for computer and information research scientists
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Oregon | $206,220 | 730 |
| Washington | $202,400 | 2,050 |
| New York | $181,990 | 1,950 |
| Massachusetts | $170,510 | 1,760 |
| New Mexico | $165,690 | 490 |
| California | $159,100 | 8,440 |
| Virginia | $157,390 | 3,590 |
| Maryland | $145,310 | 2,870 |
| District of Columbia | $144,190 | 330 |
| New Jersey | $140,840 | 1,580 |
Lowest-paying states
- Michigan: $82,590 median annual wage
- Indiana: $85,460 median annual wage
- Georgia: $92,250 median annual wage
- Oklahoma: $93,100 median annual wage
- Utah: $94,700 median annual wage
About this occupation
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.
Typical tasks
- Assign or schedule tasks to meet work priorities and goals.
- Develop performance standards, and evaluate work in light of established standards.
- Design computers and the software that runs them.
- Participate in staffing decisions and direct training of subordinates.
- Direct daily operations of departments, coordinating project activities with other departments.
- Maintain network hardware and software, direct network security measures, and monitor networks to ensure availability to system users.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: Master's degree
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school diploma | 0.4% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.4% |
| Some college, no degree | 1.9% |
| Associate's degree | 0.9% |
| Bachelor's degree | 36.0% |
| Master's degree | 34.0% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 24.3% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Related occupations
- Software Developers$135,980
- Computer User Support Specialists$61,860
- Computer Systems Analysts$105,850
- Computer Occupations, All Other$116,580
- Network and Computer Systems Administrators$99,130
- Data Scientists$120,230
- Information Security Analysts$129,180
- Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$104,300
About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.