SalariesWhat the occupation covers
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.
Official definition from the Standard Occupational Classification, code 15-1221.
The pay range
Pay differs a lot inside one occupation, with experience, employer and place. The table shows where the lines fall.
| Share of workers | A year | A month* | A week* | An hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn less than | $82,200 | $6,850 | $1,581 | $39.52 |
| Lowest 25% earn less than | $103,570 | $8,631 | $1,992 | $49.79 |
| Median (half earn less, half more) | $140,300 | $11,692 | $2,698 | $67.45 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $188,700 | $15,725 | $3,629 | $90.72 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $230,630 | $19,219 | $4,435 | $110.88 |
* Month and week are the yearly figure divided by 12 and by 52, worked out here for convenience. BLS publishes the yearly and hourly figures.
How it compares
The median for all occupations in the United States was $50,980 a year. The median for Computer and Information Research Scientists is $140,300, which is 175% higher. Among the 21 occupations of the field Computer and Mathematical, it ranks number 1 by median pay. With 37,200 jobs, it makes up about 2.4 of every 10,000 jobs in the country.
Computer and Information Research Scientists pay by state
The highest median pay was in Oregon ($206,220), Washington ($202,400) and New York ($181,990). The lowest was in Michigan ($82,590), Indiana ($85,460) and Georgia ($92,250). The most jobs were in California (8,440), Virginia (3,590) and Maryland (2,870). The occupation is most concentrated in Maryland, where its share of all jobs is 4.3 times the national share.
No state matches.
| State | Jobs | Median a year | Average a year | Median an hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | 730 | $206,220 | $215,420 | $99.15 |
| Washington | 2,050 | $202,400 | $194,360 | $97.31 |
| New York | 1,950 | $181,990 | $203,370 | $87.50 |
| Massachusetts | 1,760 | $170,510 | $170,470 | $81.97 |
| New Mexico | 490 | $165,690 | $173,530 | $79.66 |
| California | 8,440 | $159,100 | $168,580 | $76.49 |
| Virginia | 3,590 | $157,390 | $164,260 | $75.67 |
| Maryland | 2,870 | $145,310 | $148,630 | $69.86 |
| District of Columbia | 330 | $144,190 | $148,690 | $69.32 |
| New Jersey | 1,580 | $140,840 | $148,250 | $67.71 |
| Illinois | 630 | $136,540 | $142,950 | $65.64 |
| New Hampshire | 90 | $136,160 | $151,040 | $65.46 |
| Minnesota | 30 | $135,850 | $137,690 | $65.31 |
| Ohio | 280 | $135,510 | $126,370 | $65.15 |
| Hawaii | 70 | $134,350 | $129,070 | $64.59 |
| Nevada | 80 | $134,310 | $142,800 | $64.57 |
| Colorado | 400 | $133,160 | $146,790 | $64.02 |
| Connecticut | not published | $131,650 | $133,580 | $63.29 |
| Pennsylvania | 330 | $130,300 | $131,430 | $62.65 |
| Arizona | 360 | $129,760 | $152,580 | $62.39 |
| North Carolina | 600 | $128,370 | $136,080 | $61.72 |
| Missouri | 230 | $127,820 | $134,230 | $61.45 |
| South Carolina | 430 | $126,980 | $122,950 | $61.05 |
| Rhode Island | 500 | $121,470 | $127,470 | $58.40 |
| Texas | 1,960 | $121,210 | $130,400 | $58.27 |
| Florida | 1,070 | $119,810 | $128,620 | $57.60 |
| Alabama | 570 | $117,870 | $124,970 | $56.67 |
| Louisiana | 140 | $115,210 | $117,930 | $55.39 |
| Mississippi | 300 | $109,050 | $112,880 | $52.43 |
| Tennessee | not published | $108,830 | $116,810 | $52.32 |
| Utah | 1,250 | $94,700 | $109,430 | $45.53 |
| Oklahoma | 590 | $93,100 | $99,480 | $44.76 |
| Georgia | 810 | $92,250 | $105,860 | $44.35 |
| Indiana | 720 | $85,460 | $92,800 | $41.09 |
| Michigan | 530 | $82,590 | $106,130 | $39.71 |
| Idaho | 70 | not published | not published | not published |
Sorted by median pay, highest first. "Not published" means BLS did not release that figure for the state, usually because too few employers were surveyed. "$239,200 or more" is the highest value BLS reports in the state tables.
Similar occupations by pay
- Database Architects$139,500 a year
- Software Developers$135,980 a year
- Computer Network Architects$134,050 a year
Common questions
How much do Computer and Information Research Scientists earn in the United States?
The median pay was $140,300 a year in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $82,200 and the highest-paid 10% more than $230,630.
How many people work as Computer and Information Research Scientists?
About 37,200 jobs in the United States in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Checked in November 2026. Figures are for employees, before tax, and leave out overtime pay and benefits. They are official statistics, not advice or a pay offer; see bls.gov/oes for the original tables.