### Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Computer and Information Research Scientists Summary
                        
            
                                                        
                                                                
                        
            
            
            
                            
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
            						
							
				                                                
                                            




            			computer and information research scientists imageComputer and information research scientists study and solve complex problems in computing.							
						Quick Facts:     Computer and Information Research Scientists2023     Median Pay
            						$145,080     per year
										$69.75     per hourTypical Entry-Level Education
                                    Master's degreeWork Experience in a Related Occupation
                                    NoneOn-the-job Training
                                    NoneNumber of Jobs, 2022
                                    36,500Job Outlook, 2022-32
                                    23% (Much faster than average)Employment Change, 2022-32
                                    8,300What Computer and Information Research Scientists Do
                                                
                        
                        
Computer and information research scientists design innovative uses for new and existing computing technology.
            
                        Work Environment
                        
Most computer and information research scientists work full time.
            
                                                How to Become a Computer and Information Research Scientist
                                                
                        
Computer and information research scientists typically need at least a master’s degree in computer science or a related field. In the federal government, a bachelor’s degree may be sufficient for some jobs.
            
                        Pay
                        												                            																				    														The median annual wage for computer and information research scientists was $145,080 in May 2023.									                                					
						
            
                        Job Outlook
                        						
												Employment							of computer and information research scientists is projected to grow							 23 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.
						About 3,400 openings for computer and information research scientists are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
            			
            			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
						State & Area Data
                       Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for computer and information research scientists.
            
            
						
                        Similar Occupations
                        
                                                    Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of computer and information research scientists with similar occupations.
            
            
                        More Information, Including Links to O*NET
                        
                                               
                        Learn more about computer and information research scientists by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
 What Computer and Information Research Scientists Do 
            

			Computer and information research scientistsSome computer scientists create programs to control robots.			
Computer and information research scientists design innovative uses for new and existing technology. They study and solve complex problems in computing for business, science, medicine, and other fields.
Duties
Computer and information research scientists typically do the following:
Explore problems in computing and develop theories and models to address those problems
Collaborate with scientists and engineers to solve complex computing problems
Determine computing needs and system requirements
Develop new computing languages, software systems, and other tools to improve how people work with computers
Design and conduct experiments to test the operation of software systems, frequently using techniques from data science and machine learning
Analyze the results of their experiments
Write papers for publication and present research findings at conferencesComputer and information research scientists create and improve computer software and hardware.
To create and improve software, computer and information research scientists work with algorithms: sets of instructions that tell a computer what to do. Some difficult computing tasks require complex algorithms, which these scientists simplify to make computer systems as efficient as possible. These simplified algorithms may lead to advancements in many types of technology, such as machine learning systems and cloud computing.
To improve computer hardware, these scientists design computer architecture. Their work may result in increased efficiencies, such as better networking technology, faster computing speeds, and improved information security.
The following are examples of specialties for computer and information research scientists:
***Programming.*** Some computer and information research scientists study and design new programming languages that are used to write software. New languages make software writing efficient by improving an existing language, such as Java, or by simplifying a specific aspect of programming, such as image processing.
***Robotics*.** These scientists study the development and application of robots. They explore how a machine can interact with the physical world. For example, they may create systems that control the robots or design robots to have features such as information processing or sensory feedback.
Some computer and information research scientists work on multidisciplinary projects with electrical engineers, computer hardware engineers, and other specialists. For example, robotics specialists and engineers who design robots’ hardware may team up to test whether the robots complete tasks as intended.
 Work Environment
			Computer and information research scientistsComputer and information research scientists improve ways to sort, manage, and display data.			

	    
				
	
	
	
	
	
	
	    					 Computer and information research scientists held about 36,500 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of computer and information research scientists were as follows:
        Federal government, excluding postal service
                28%Computer systems design and related services
                28Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences
                17Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private
                5Software publishers
                3Some scientists collaborate with engineers or other specialists or research scientists in different locations and do much of their work online.
Work Schedules
Most computer and information research scientists work full time.
 How to Become a Computer and Information Research Scientist

			computer and information research scientists imageSome computer scientists specialize in computer languages.			
Computer and information research scientists typically need at least a master’s degree in computer science or a related field. In the federal government, a bachelor’s degree may be sufficient for some jobs.
Education
Computer and information research scientists typically need a master’s or higher degree in computer science or a related field, such as computer engineering. A master’s degree usually requires 2 to 3 years of study after earning a bachelor’s degree in a computer-related field, such as computer science or information systems. Some employers prefer to hire candidates who have a Ph.D. Others, such as the federal government, may hire candidates who have a bachelor’s degree in computer and information technology.
Computer and information research scientists who work in a specialized field may need knowledge of that field. For example, those working on biomedical applications may need to have studied biology.
Advancement
Some computer and information research scientists advance to become computer and information systems managers.
Important Qualities
***Analytical skills.*** Computer and information research scientists must be organized in their thinking to evaluate the results of their research.
***Communication skills.*** Computer and information research scientists must be able to clearly explain their research, including to a nontechnical audience. They write papers for publication and present their research at conferences.
***Detail oriented.*** Computer and information research scientists must pay close attention to their work, such as when testing the systems they design. Small programming errors could affect an entire project.
***Interpersonal skills.*** Computer and information research scientists must work effectively with programmers and managers. They also may be on teams with engineers or other specialists.
***Logical thinking.***Computer and information research scientists must use sound reasoning when working on algorithms.
***Math skills.*** Computer and information research scientists need a solid grasp of advanced math and other technical subjects critical to computing.
***Problem-solving skills.*** Computer and information research scientists must think creatively to find innovative solutions in their research.
 Pay

			



	
 
                                                     
            
    
                Computer and Information Research ScientistsMedian annual wages, May 2023Computer and information research scientists$145,080  Computer occupations$104,420  Total, all occupations$48,060Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
 

	
	



		
	
	
	
The median annual wage for computer and information research scientists was $145,080 in May 2023. 


The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $81,450, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $233,110.





		
	    					 In May 2023, the median annual wages for computer and information research scientists in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        Software publishers
                $233,110Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences
                172,190Computer systems design and related services
                164,500Federal government, excluding postal service
                119,480Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private
                83,710Most computer and information research scientists work full time.
 Job Outlook

   
        
    
          
        
    
                Computer and Information Research ScientistsPercent change in employment, projected 2022-32Computer and information research scientists23%  Computer occupations14%  Total, all occupations3%Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
            
            
			 
	
	
	

			Employment				of computer and information research scientists is projected to grow				 23 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.
			
			About 3,400 openings for computer and information research scientists are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
			
			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
			Employment
	
			
The research and development conducted by computer and information research scientists turn ideas into technology. As demand for new and better technology grows, demand for computer and information research scientists will grow as well.
Rapid growth in data collection by businesses will lead to an increased need for data-mining services. Computer and information research scientists will be needed to write algorithms that help businesses make sense of very large amounts of data.
A growing emphasis on cybersecurity also should lead to new jobs because computer and information research scientists will be needed to find innovative ways to prevent potential cyberattacks. In addition, an increase in demand for software may increase the need for computer and information research scientists who create new programming languages to make software writing more efficient.
			

                        Employment projections data for     computer and information research scientists, 2022-32
                Occupational Title
                        SOC Code
                        Employment, 2022
                        Projected Employment, 2032
                        Change, 2022-32
                        Employment by IndustryPercent
                        NumericSOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program**Computer and information research scientists**
			15-1221
			36,500
			44,800
			23
			8,300
			Get data
 State & Area Data **Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)** The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OES data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Computer and information research scientists **Projections Central** Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved. **CareerOneStop** CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.
 Similar Occupations This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of computer and information research scientists. Occupation
                Job Duties
                ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION
                2023     MEDIAN PAY**Computer and Information Systems Managers**
            Computer and information systems managers plan, coordinate, and direct computer-related activities in an organization.
            Bachelor's degree
            $169,510**Computer Hardware Engineers**
            Computer hardware engineers research, design, develop, and test computer systems and components.
            Bachelor's degree
            $138,080**Computer Programmers**
            Computer programmers write, modify, and test code and scripts that allow computer software and applications to function properly.
            Bachelor's degree
            $99,700**Database Administrators and Architects**
            Database administrators and architects create or organize systems to store and secure data.
            Bachelor's degree
            $117,450**Data Scientists**
            Data scientists use analytical tools and techniques to extract meaningful insights from data.
            Bachelor's degree
            $108,020**Software Developers, Quality Assurance Analysts, and Testers**
            Software developers design computer applications or programs. Software quality assurance analysts and testers identify problems with applications or programs and report defects.
            Bachelor's degree
            $130,160**Computer Network Architects**
            Computer network architects design and implement data communication networks, including local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), and intranets.
            Bachelor's degree
            $129,840**Computer Systems Analysts**
            Computer systems analysts study an organization’s current computer systems and design ways to improve efficiency.
            Bachelor's degree
            $103,800**Information Security Analysts**
            Information security analysts plan and carry out security measures to protect an organization’s computer networks and systems.
            Bachelor's degree
            $120,360**Network and Computer Systems Administrators**
            Network and computer systems administrators install, configure, and maintain organizations’ computer networks and systems.
            Bachelor's degree
            $95,360**Web Developers and Digital Designers**
            Web developers create and maintain websites. Digital designers develop, create, and test website or interface layout, functions, and navigation for usability.
            Bachelor's degree
            $92,750**Top Executives**
            Top executives plan strategies and policies to ensure that an organization meets its goals.
            Bachelor's degree
            $103,840
 Contacts for More Information
								
For more information about computer and information research scientists, visit
Association for Computing Machinery
Computing Research Association
IEEE Computer Society
For information about opportunities for women pursuing information technology careers, visit
National Center for Women & Information Technology
To find job openings for computer and information research scientists in the federal government, visit
USAJOBS
CareerOneStop
For a career video on computer and information research scientists, visit
Computer and Information Research Scientists

                                                
                                                        
                                                                                                    O*NET
                                        Computer and Information Research Scientists
 Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.  Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Computer and Information Research Scientists, 
        	 at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/computer-and-information-research-scientists.htm (visited *May 20, 2024*).
 **Last Modified Date:**
                        Wednesday, April 17, 2024


**U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics**
Office of Occupational Statistics and Employment Projections 
PSB Suite 2135 
2 Massachusetts Avenue NE  
Washington, DC 20212-0001 Telephone:1-202-691-5700 

www.bls.gov/ooh
Contact OOH