Computer and Information Research Scientists: Career Overview
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.
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What Tasks Do Computer and Information Research Scientists Do?
Typical responsibilities of computer and information research scientists cover:
- 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.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Successful computer and information research scientists draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
The abilities most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Types of Computer and Information Research Scientists Jobs
This career also goes by job titles like:
- AI Engineer (Artificial Intelligence Engineer)
- Applied Scientist
- Artificial Intelligence Specialist (AI Specialist)
- Computational Linguist
- Computational Scientist
- Computational Theory Scientist
- Computer Scientist
- Computer Specialist
Job Outlook
The U.S. employs around 86,802 computer and information research scientists working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +8.5% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Computer and Information Research Scientists
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $61,002 |
| Hourly median | $29.33 |
| 10th percentile | $38,117 |
| 25th percentile | $49,559 |
| 75th percentile | $72,444 |
| 90th percentile | $83,887 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
Computer and Information Research Scientists Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $221,990 |
| New York | $197,390 |
| Oregon | $180,010 |
| New Mexico | $178,120 |
| West Virginia | $170,750 |
| Massachusetts | $166,910 |
| Wisconsin | $166,690 |
| Idaho | $161,130 |
| California | $156,290 |
| District of Columbia | $153,630 |
| Virginia | $153,340 |
| New Jersey | $146,290 |
| Maryland | $141,540 |
| Hawaii | $140,150 |
| Ohio | $135,640 |
| Illinois | $135,120 |
| Minnesota | $131,770 |
| Pennsylvania | $128,960 |
| Arizona | $128,520 |
| Connecticut | $128,180 |
| North Carolina | $124,490 |
| South Carolina | $120,970 |
| Rhode Island | $118,870 |
| New Hampshire | $117,730 |
| Florida | $117,250 |
| Nebraska | $116,600 |
| Colorado | $111,930 |
| Louisiana | $111,880 |
| Missouri | $109,910 |
| Mississippi | $108,560 |
| Alabama | $108,180 |
| Michigan | $105,960 |
| Tennessee | $105,680 |
| Texas | $101,990 |
| Utah | $94,830 |
| Oklahoma | $92,580 |
| Georgia | $89,270 |
| Indiana | $83,590 |
| Kentucky | $82,860 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Compensation for computer and information research scientists vary by region. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $170,766 | 34.9% | 2.07 |
| Middle Atlantic | $154,729 | 17.2% | 2.31 |
| New England | $154,540 | 7.0% | 2.31 |
| Southeast | $130,136 | 21.1% | 1.72 |
| Plains States | $112,722 | 1.3% | 0.45 |
| Great Lakes | $108,616 | 4.8% | 0.51 |
| Southwest | $103,457 | 11.1% | 0.87 |
| Rocky Mountains | $94,830 | 2.5% | 2.05 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Computer and Information Research Scientists
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $232,120 | 2,070 |
| Richmond, VA | VA | $231,930 | 80 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $191,880 | 2,190 |
| Albuquerque, NM | NM | $180,520 | 270 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | NJ | $177,360 | 90 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | NY | $170,100 | 130 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | OR | $169,510 | 650 |
| Boise City, ID | ID | $169,340 |
Which Industries Hire Computer and Information Research Scientists
The bulk of computer and information research scientists work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 17,520 | $140,910 |
| Information | 4,230 | $219,620 |
| Educational Services | 2,160 | $88,700 |
| Manufacturing | 1,680 | $172,590 |
| Wholesale Trade | 660 | $174,900 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 540 | $160,820 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 440 | $138,590 |
| Finance and Insurance | 260 | $136,420 |
Computer and Information Research Scientists work in the following industries:
Software Computer and Information Research Scientists Use
- Data base management system software: Amazon DynamoDB (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud EC2 (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Amazon Redshift (hot technology)
- Cloud-based management software: Amazon Web Services AWS CloudFormation (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Amazon Web Services AWS software (hot technology)
- Expert system software: Ansible software (hot technology)
- Procedure management software: Apache Airflow (hot technology)
- Data base management system software: Apache Cassandra (hot technology)
- Data base management system software: Apache Hadoop (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Apache Hive (hot technology)
- Development environment software: Apache Kafka (hot technology)
- Business intelligence and data analysis software: Apache Spark (hot technology)
The Day-to-Day Environment
The work environment for computer and information research scientists is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Spend Time Sitting
- Contact With Others
How to Become Computer and Information Research Scientists
Typical computer and information research scientists positions require a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Extensive Preparation Needed (Job Zone 5), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Computer and Information Systems Managers (Supplemental)
- Architectural and Engineering Managers (Supplemental)
- Natural Sciences Managers (Supplemental)
- Computer Systems Analysts (Primary-Long)
- Database Architects (Primary-Long)
- Computer Programmers (Primary-Short)
- Software Developers (Primary-Short)
- Computer Systems Engineers/Architects (Primary-Long)
Degree Programs
Aspiring computer and information research scientists commonly pursue programs in:
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services
9 programs across 5 majors
- Computer Information Systems
- Computer Science
- Information Science
- Computer Systems Networking
- Computer Software Applications
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
3 programs across 2 majors
Health Professions and Related Programs
1 programs across 1 majors
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
1 programs across 1 majors
Physical Sciences
1 programs across 1 majors
References
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 15-1221.00 (Computer and Information Research Scientists).
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