Average Salary for Computer and Information Research Scientists
SOC 15-1221 · Computer and Mathematical Occupations · 2024 data
The median annual wage for Computer and Information Research Scientists in the United States is $140,910 ($67.74/hr), based on 2024 BLS OEWS data. Wages range from $80,670 at the 10th percentile to $232,120 at the 90th percentile nationally. An estimated 38,480 people work in this occupation across the country. The national median wage has grown 14.7% since 2019.
Median Annual
$140,910
Mean Annual
$152,310
10th Pct
$80,670
75th Pct
$181,210
Employment
38,480
Salary Distribution
$81k
10th
$103k
25th
$141k
Median
$181k
75th
$232k
90th
Highest Paying Metro Areas
| Metro Area | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $232,120 |
| Richmond, VA | $231,930 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $191,880 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $180,520 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $177,360 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $170,100 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $169,510 |
| Boise City, ID | $169,340 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $168,820 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $167,300 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $166,080 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $163,100 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $161,850 |
| Idaho Falls, ID | $161,130 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $160,550 |
Salary by State
| State | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| 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 |
Salary by Industry
National median wage for Computer and Information Research Scientists broken down by industry sector, 2024 data.
| Industry | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Software Publishers | $237,990 |
| Publishing Industries | $237,990 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods | $232,120 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4242 and 4246 only) | $232,120 |
| Communications Equipment Manufacturing | $221,650 |
| Information | $219,620 |
| Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services | $218,500 |
| Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services | $218,500 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods (4232, 4233, 4235, 4236, 4237, and 4239 only) | $206,110 |
| Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services | $193,430 |
| Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services | $193,430 |
| Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | $179,390 |
| Wholesale Trade | $174,900 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods | $174,850 |
| Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing | $172,590 |
| Manufacturing | $172,590 |
| Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing | $172,590 |
| Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers | $172,500 |
| Computer Systems Design and Related Services | $166,620 |
| Telecommunications | $166,080 |
| Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | $162,200 |
| Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities | $161,850 |
| Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $161,850 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $160,820 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $160,820 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $160,820 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | $156,830 |
| Engineering Services | $156,830 |
| Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences | $153,430 |
| Employment Services | $153,080 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | $152,980 |
| Machinery Manufacturing | $152,360 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $140,910 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $140,910 |
| Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing | $140,550 |
| Office Administrative Services | $138,590 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | $138,590 |
| Administrative and Support Services | $138,590 |
| Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities | $138,530 |
| Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | $136,750 |
| Utilities | $136,750 |
| Utilities | $136,750 |
| Finance and Insurance | $136,420 |
| Insurance Carriers | $131,720 |
| Credit Intermediation and Related Activities | $130,520 |
| Temporary Help Services | $130,460 |
| Insurance Carriers and Related Activities | $128,730 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | $124,490 |
| Federal Government, including the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $123,340 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) | $123,340 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $123,320 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $123,320 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | $120,930 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, including State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $116,690 |
| Educational Services | $116,490 |
| Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $112,740 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $112,250 |
| Hospitals | $107,930 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | $107,930 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | $106,800 |
| Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services | $97,490 |
| Ambulatory Health Care Services | $92,660 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | $92,660 |
| Educational Services | $88,700 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | $88,490 |
| State Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $85,420 |
| Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services | $68,200 |
National Wage Trend
View data table
| Year | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $140,910 |
| 2023 | $145,080 |
| 2022 | $136,620 |
| 2021 | $131,490 |
| 2020 | $126,830 |
| 2019 | $122,840 |