Computer and Information Research Scientists salary in the U.S.
Computer and Information Research Scientists in the U.S. earn a median of $140,300 a year ($67.45 an hour), based on BLS data for 37,200 workers.
Pay ranges from $82,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $230,630 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $153,930, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for computer and information research scientists in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $82,200 | $39.52 |
| 25th percentile | $103,570 | $49.79 |
| Median | $140,300 | $67.45 |
| 75th percentile | $188,700 | $90.72 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $230,630 | $110.88 |
| Average (mean) | $153,930 | $74.00 |
Half of computer and information research scientists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $11,691.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,845.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,396.15 |
| Weekly | $2,698.08 |
| Hourly | $67.45 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Computer and Information Research Scientists salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Illinois | $136,540 | 630 |
| New Hampshire | $136,160 | 90 |
| Minnesota | $135,850 | 30 |
| Ohio | $135,510 | 280 |
| Hawaii | $134,350 | 70 |
| Nevada | $134,310 | 80 |
| Colorado | $133,160 | 400 |
| Connecticut | $131,650 | n/a |
| Pennsylvania | $130,300 | 330 |
| Arizona | $129,760 | 360 |
| North Carolina | $128,370 | 600 |
| Missouri | $127,820 | 230 |
| South Carolina | $126,980 | 430 |
| Rhode Island | $121,470 | 500 |
| Texas | $121,210 | 1,960 |
| Florida | $119,810 | 1,070 |
| Alabama | $117,870 | 570 |
| Louisiana | $115,210 | 140 |
| Mississippi | $109,050 | 300 |
| Tennessee | $108,830 | n/a |
| Utah | $94,700 | 1,250 |
| Oklahoma | $93,100 | 590 |
| Georgia | $92,250 | 810 |
| Indiana | $85,460 | 720 |
| Michigan | $82,590 | 530 |
Best-paying metro areas for computer and information research scientists
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $218,420 | 2,210 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $211,270 | 1,620 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $206,220 | 660 |
| Rochester, NY | $204,340 | 50 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $181,990 | 200 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $171,880 | 70 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $171,440 | 1,670 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $170,890 | 2,100 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $170,850 | 60 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $170,510 | 1,620 |
| Boulder, CO | $169,400 | 90 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $166,800 | 110 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $165,690 | 220 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $164,460 | 160 |
| Richmond, VA | $162,910 | 160 |
Metro areas with the most computer and information research scientists
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 3,420 | $161,090 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 2,210 | $218,420 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 2,100 | $170,890 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 1,680 | $121,530 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 1,670 | $171,440 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 1,620 | $170,510 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 1,620 | $211,270 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 1,070 | $156,750 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 940 | $155,960 |
| Ogden, UT | 810 | $96,740 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 660 | $206,220 |
| Warner Robins, GA | 650 | $89,500 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 560 | $93,100 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | 510 | $123,390 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | 490 | $116,650 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Software Developer | $135,980 | $65.38 |
| Computer User Support Specialist | $61,860 | $29.74 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $105,850 | $50.89 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $116,580 | $56.05 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $99,130 | $47.66 |
| Information Security Analyst | $129,180 | $62.11 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $104,300 | $50.14 |
| Computer Network Architect | $134,050 | $64.45 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | $76,220 | $36.64 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $104,000 | $50.00 |
| Computer Programmer | $100,390 | $48.26 |
| Web Developer | $92,650 | $44.54 |
| Database Administrator | $104,620 | $50.30 |
| Database Architect | $139,500 | $67.07 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 15-1221. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a computer and information research scientists make in the U.S.?
The median salary for computer and information research scientists in the U.S. is $140,300 a year, or $67.45 an hour. Pay ranges from $82,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $230,630 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid computer and information research scientists make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of computer and information research scientists in the U.S. earn at least $230,630 a year. The top 25% earn $188,700 or more.
What is the starting pay for computer and information research scientists in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $82,200 a year, and a quarter of computer and information research scientists earn $103,570 or less.
How many computer and information research scientists work in the U.S.?
About 37,200 computer and information research scientists are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.