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 is $131,490.
Job Outlook: Employment of computer and information research scientists is projected to grow 21 percent over the next ten years, 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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Senior Computer Scientist
- Applied Research Associates (ARA)
- Washington, DC
The Mission Concepts and Capabilities Division (MCC) of Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA) is seeking a motivated, energetic Senior Computer Scientist support the government in the development ...
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Software Engineer with Security Clearance
- Barbaricum
- Springfield, VA
Bachelor's degree in computer science , information science , or a related field. Minimum of 5 years of experience in software development and engineering roles using Python. Experience with web ...
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Data Scientist with Security Clearance
- Byte Systems, LLC
- Chantilly, VA
... Computer purchase plan
Top 3 Information Research Scientist Jobs
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Senior Computer Scientist
- Applied Research Associates (ARA)
- Washington, DC
... Scientist support the government in the development and application of high-assurance computer ... INFORMATION : Applied Research Associates, Inc. is an employee-owned international research and ...
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Lead Data Scientist
- MCG Health
- Seattle, WA
Lead and establish best practices for various research activities including data collection ... information , or political affiliation. We are committed to improving equity in healthcare and ...
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General Anesthesiology with Oregon Health & Science University
- AMN Healthcare
- Portland, OR
Direct and develop scholarly research on several critical topics if desired * Engage in public ... Participate in additional departmental or hospital administration if desired Community Information ...
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]
The median annual wage for computer and information research scientists is $131,490. 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 $74,210, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $208,000.
The median annual wages for computer and information research scientists in the top industries in which they work are as follows:
| Computer systems design and related services | $161,870 |
| Software publishers | $152,940 |
| Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences | $132,810 |
| Federal government, excluding postal service | $112,310 |
| Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private | $79,510 |
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 21 percent over the next ten years, much faster than the average for all occupations.
About 3,300 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 of Computer and Information Research Scientists
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.
| Occupational Title | Employment, 2021 | Projected Employment, 2031 | Change, 2021-31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Percent | Numeric | |||
| Computer and information research scientists | 33,500 | 40,600 | 21 | 7,100 |
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.