Computer and Information Research Scientists: Job 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.
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What Do Computer and Information Research Scientists Perform?
The core tasks performed by computer and information research scientists include:
- 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.
What Computer and Information Research Scientists Need to Know
Effective computer and information research scientists combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The competencies that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Related Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- AI Engineer (Artificial Intelligence Engineer)
- Applied Scientist
- Artificial Intelligence Specialist (AI Specialist)
- Computational Linguist
- Computational Scientist
- Computational Theory Scientist
- Computer Scientist
- Computer Specialist
How Many Computer and Information Research Scientists Are There?
There are about 86,802 computer and information research scientists working in the United States today. This occupation is expected 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 |
Pay can vary substantially 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 |
Where Computer and Information Research Scientists Earn the Most
Compensation for computer and information research scientists shift depending on where you work. Top regions by median wage:
| 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 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| 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 largest employers of computer and information research scientists are found across 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 |
Below are examples of industries where computer and information research scientists work:
Tools and Technology
- 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)
Work Environment
Daily working conditions 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
Education and Training
Typical computer and information research scientists positions require a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with 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
Students preparing for 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
About the Data
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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