Computer and Information Research Scientists
Career, Salary and Education Information
What They Do: Computer and information research scientists invent and design new approaches to computing technology and find innovative uses for existing technology.
Work Environment: Most computer and information research scientists work full time. Some work more than 40 hours per week.
How to Become One: Most jobs for computer and information research scientists require 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.
Salary: The median annual wage for computer and information research scientists was $140,300 in May 2025.
Job Outlook: Employment of computer and information research scientists is projected to grow 22 percent from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations.
Related Careers: Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of computer and information research scientists with similar occupations.
Following is everything you need to know about a career as a computer or information research scientist with lots of details. As a first step, take a look at some of the following jobs, which are real jobs with real employers. You will be able to see the very real job career requirements for employers who are actively hiring. The link will open in a new tab so that you can come back to this page to continue reading about the career:
Top 3 Computer Scientist Jobs
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Scientist
- Jiangsu Surun Talent Development Group Co.
- Columbus,OH
About the Company We are an international academic and technology exchange platform dedicated to fostering global research and innovation. Working with world-leading universities, institutes, and listed...
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Clinical Laboratory Scientist
- United States Army
- Columbus,OH
U.S. Army Clinical Laboratory Scientist (71E): Bridging the Gap Between Science and Patient Care U.S. Army Clinical Laboratory Scientists are the critical link between cutting-edge science and lifesaving patient care. By conducting essential...
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Data Scientist
- Harnham
- Columbus,OH
LEAD DATA SCIENTIST – CREDIT RISK & ADVANCED ANALYTICS TEMPE, AZ (HYBRID) $140,000 – $150,000 BASE + ANNUAL BONUS The...
Top 3 Information Research Scientist Jobs
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Pharmaceutical Research Scientist (Remote | $60–$90/hr)
- Synthires
- Columbus,OH
Drug Discovery Scientist Position: Drug Discovery Scientist Type: Hourly...
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Clinical Laboratory Scientist
- United States Army
- Columbus,OH
U.S. Army Clinical Laboratory Scientist (71E): Bridging the Gap Between Science and Patient Care U.S. Army Clinical Laboratory Scientists are the critical link between cutting-edge science and lifesaving patient care. By conducting essential...
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Scientific Researchers (Multiple Positions)
- Axia
- Columbus,OH
Scientific Researchers — Multiple Positions Open Scientific Domains | AI Training, Evaluation, Reinforcement Learning and Simulation About Axia Axia is building a marketplace and research...
What Computer and Information Research Scientists Do[About this section] [To Top]
Computer and information research scientists invent and design new approaches to computing technology and find innovative uses for existing technology. They study and solve complex problems in computing for business, science, medicine, and other fields.
Duties of Computer and Information Research Scientists
Computer and information research scientists typically do the following:
- Explore fundamental issues in computing and develop theories and models to address those issues
- Help scientists and engineers solve complex computing problems
- Invent new computing languages, tools, and methods to improve the way in which people work with computers
- Develop and improve the software systems that form the basis of the modern computing experience
- Design experiments to test the operation of these software systems
- Analyze the results of their experiments
- Publish their findings in academic journals and present their findings at conferences
Computer and information research scientists create and improve computer software and hardware.
Creating and improving software involves working with algorithms, which are sets of instructions that tell a computer what to do. Some computing tasks are very difficult and require complex algorithms. Computer and information research scientists try to simplify these algorithms to make computer systems as efficient as possible. The algorithms allow advancements in many types of technology, such as machine learning systems and cloud computing.
Computer and information research scientists design new computer architecture that improves the performance and efficiency of computer hardware. Their work often leads to technological advancements and efficiencies, such as better networking technology, faster computing speeds, and improved information security. In general, computer and information research scientists work at a more theoretical level than do other computer professionals.
Some computer scientists work with electrical engineers, computer hardware engineers, and other specialists on multidisciplinary projects. The following are examples of types of specialties for computer and information research scientists:
Data science. Computer and information research scientists write algorithms that are used to detect and analyze patterns in very large datasets. They improve ways to sort, manage, and display data. Computer scientists build algorithms into software packages that make the data easier for analysts to use. For example, they may create an algorithm to analyze a very large set of medical data in order to find new ways to treat diseases. They may also look for patterns in traffic data to help clear accidents faster.
Robotics. Some computer and information research scientists study how to improve robots. Robotics explores how a machine can interact with the physical world. Computer and information research scientists create the programs that control the robots. They work closely with engineers who focus on the hardware design of robots. Together, these workers test how well the robots do the tasks they were created to do, such as assemble cars or collect data on other planets.
Programming. Computer and information research scientists design new programming languages that are used to write software. The new languages make software writing more efficient by improving an existing language, such as Java, or by making a specific aspect of programming, such as image processing, easier.
Work Environment for Computer and Information Research Scientists[About this section] [To Top]
Computer and information research scientists hold about 33,500 jobs. The largest employers of computer and information research scientists are as follows:
| Federal government, excluding postal service | 31% |
| Computer systems design and related services | 20% |
| Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences | 16% |
| Software publishers | 6% |
| Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private | 5% |
Some scientists collaborate with engineers or other specialists or research scientists in different locations and do much of their work online.
Computer and Information Research Scientist Work Schedules
Most computer and information research scientists work full time.
How to Become a Computer or Information Research Scientist[About this section] [To Top]
Get the education you need: Find schools for Computer and Information Research Scientists near you!
Most jobs for computer and information research scientists require 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 for Computer and Information Research Scientists
Most computer and information research scientists need a master's 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.
Computer scientists who work in a specialized field may need knowledge of that field. For example, those working on biomedical applications may need to have taken some biology classes.
Advancement for Computer and Information Research Scientists
Some computer scientists may become computer and information systems managers.
Important Qualities for Computer and Information Research Scientists
Analytical skills. Computer and information research scientists must be organized in their thinking and analyze the results of their research to formulate conclusions.
Communication skills. Computer and information research scientists must communicate well with programmers and managers and be able to clearly explain their conclusions to people with no technical background. They often present their research at conferences.
Critical-thinking skills. Computer and information research scientists work on many complex problems.
Detail oriented. Computer and information research scientists must pay close attention to their work, because a small programming error can cause an entire project to fail.
Ingenuity. Computer and information research scientists must continually come up with innovative ways to solve problems, particularly when their ideas do not initially work as intended.
Logical thinking. Computer algorithms rely on logic. Computer and information research scientists must have a talent for reasoning.
Math skills. Computer and information research scientists must have knowledge of advanced math and other technical topics that are critical in computing.
Computer and Information Research Scientist Salaries[About this section] [More salary/earnings info] [To Top]
Salary and job outlook data updated October 2026 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook (May 2025 wages, 2025-35 employment projections).
The median annual wage for computer and information research scientists was $140,300 in May 2025. 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 $82,200, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $230,630.
In May 2025, the median annual wages for computer and information research scientists in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
| Miscellaneous information services (5131, 516, 519) | $218,560 |
| Computer systems design and related services | $162,760 |
| Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences | $141,830 |
| Federal government, excluding postal service | $124,870 |
| Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state | $85,460 |
Most computer and information research scientists work full time.
Job Outlook for Computer and Information Research Scientists[About this section] [To Top]
Employment of computer and information research scientists is projected to grow 22 percent from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations.
About 2,900 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 is projected to grow as well. For example, computer scientists’ expertise will be needed in the creation of new technologies related to artificial intelligence (AI).
Rapid growth in data collection by businesses is projected to lead to an increased need for data-mining services. Computer and information research scientists may develop new technology to help businesses make sense of very large amounts of data.
A growing emphasis on cybersecurity also is projected to lead to new jobs because computer and information research scientists may study innovative ways to prevent potential cyberattacks.
| Occupational Title | Employment, 2025 | Projected Employment, 2035 | Change, 2025-35 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Percent | Numeric | |||
| Computer and information research scientists | 38,600 | 47,000 | 22 | 8,400 |
More Computer and Information Research Scientist Information[About this section] [To Top]
For more information about computer and information research scientists, visit
Association for Computing Machinery
For information about opportunities for women pursuing information technology careers, visit
A portion of the information on this page is used by permission of the U.S. Department of Labor.