Computer Scientists
Median Salary: $101,600
Many computer scientists across the U.S. share a number of important professional characteristics. For example, independence, adaptability/flexibility, and dependability can be crucial for success in the industry, especially when blended with career training. Around 26,130 individuals were employed as computer scientists nationwide in 2009. With that much workplace competition, it's vital to develop these attributes and receive good training, particularly if you're ready to progress in the field.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual income for computer scientists in the U.S. was $101,600 in 2009, which works out to a median hourly wage of $48.80. Of course, income can vary with training and by place. Below, you'll find more data about computer scientists, including wages and job density for metro areas all over the U.S..
Computer scientists should be skilled in:
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Different individuals go into different careers; computer scientists are typically:
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Working as a computer scientist requires knowledge in subjects like:
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Below, you'll see links to more information on the top cities for this occupation (based on the number of individuals employed as computer scientists). Note: "Job density" refers to the proportion of computer scientists in each city as compared to the national average.
City/Area | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
Job Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Huntsville | 520 | $101,000 | $48.60 | $115,200 | $55.40 | 1163% |
City/Area | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
Job Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Phoenix | 150 | $116,100 | $55.80 | $134,900 | $64.90 | -58.5% |
City/Area | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
Job Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Los Angeles (Area) | 710 | $122,900 | $59.10 | $144,600 | $69.50 | -49% |
Oakland | 100 | $98,100 | $47.20 | $166,400+ | $80.00+ | -52% |
Oxnard | 190 | $110,500 | $53.10 | $126,500 | $60.80 | 222.5% |
Sacramento | 40 | $125,800 | $60.50 | $146,800 | $70.60 | -77% |
San Diego | 760 | $106,000 | $50.90 | $113,300 | $54.50 | 196% |
San Francisco (Area) | 900 | $106,900 | $51.40 | $166,400+ | $80.00+ | 127% |
San Francisco (City) | 800 | $115,600 | $55.60 | $135,700 | $65.20 | 306.5% |
San Jose | 1,490 | $133,600 | $64.20 | $153,200 | $73.70 | 737% |
City/Area | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
Job Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Boulder | 130 | $96,600 | $46.40 | $125,300 | $60.20 | 312.5% |
Colorado Springs | 80 | $111,500 | $53.60 | $129,100 | $62.10 | 54.5% |
Denver | 140 | $91,800 | $44.20 | $108,600 | $52.20 | -44.5% |
City/Area | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
Job Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hartford | 80 | $96,900 | $46.60 | $139,400 | $67.00 | -32.5% |
City/Area | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
Job Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Washington (Area) | 3,750 | $106,400 | $51.20 | $132,700 | $63.80 | 558% |
City/Area | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
Job Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fort Walton Beach | 110 | $81,100 | $39.00 | $95,400 | $45.90 | 592% |
Miami (Area) | 140 | $88,200 | $42.40 | $101,300 | $48.70 | -56% |
Orlando | 140 | $79,900 | $38.40 | $96,100 | $46.20 | -29% |
Palm Bay | NA | $80,700 | $38.80 | $99,900 | $48.00 | NA |
Tampa | NA | $104,900 | $50.40 | $120,600 | $58.00 | NA |
City/Area | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
Job Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Atlanta | 450 | $108,700 | $52.30 | $149,000 | $71.70 | -2% |
Warner Robins | 120 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 926% |
City/Area | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
Job Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Honolulu | 50 | $91,800 | $44.10 | $119,300 | $57.30 | -40% |
City/Area | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
Job Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chicago (Area) | NA | $91,600 | $44.00 | $109,600 | $52.70 | NA |
City/Area | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
Job Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Indianapolis | 70 | $90,200 | $43.40 | $118,900 | $57.20 | -57% |
City/Area | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
Job Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Baton Rouge | 190 | $79,600 | $38.30 | $85,300 | $41.00 | 166% |
City/Area | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
Job Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Baltimore | 350 | $95,000 | $45.70 | $121,700 | $58.50 | 38.5% |
City/Area | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
Job Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Boston (Area) | NA | $116,600 | $56.10 | $140,800 | $67.70 | NA |
Worcester | 140 | $98,100 | $47.20 | $112,600 | $54.10 | 197% |
City/Area | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
Job Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Detroit (Area) | 90 | $93,500 | $45.00 | $113,300 | $54.50 | -56% |
City/Area | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
Job Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Minneapolis | 210 | $104,200 | $50.10 | $128,800 | $61.90 | -40% |
City/Area | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
Job Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Gulfport | 150 | $74,400 | $35.80 | $89,200 | $42.90 | 636.5% |
City/Area | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
Job Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kansas City | NA | $66,400 | $31.90 | $77,300 | $37.20 | NA |
St. Louis | 50 | $79,000 | $38.00 | $96,400 | $46.40 | -81.5% |
City/Area | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
Job Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Omaha | 40 | $82,500 | $39.70 | $100,100 | $48.10 | -59% |
City/Area | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
Job Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Trenton | NA | $93,600 | $45.00 | $132,600 | $63.80 | NA |
City/Area | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
Job Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Albuquerque | 60 | $84,600 | $40.70 | $103,700 | $49.90 | -20.5% |
Las Cruces | 60 | $71,900 | $34.60 | $84,000 | $40.40 | 369% |
City/Area | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
Job Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Albany | 160 | $84,300 | $40.50 | $115,900 | $55.70 | 83.5% |
New York (Area) | 1,250 | $95,200 | $45.80 | $118,300 | $56.90 | 20% |
City/Area | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
Job Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Durham | 190 | $82,700 | $39.80 | $121,100 | $58.20 | 244% |
Raleigh | 120 | $94,300 | $45.30 | $105,000 | $50.50 | 17.5% |
City/Area | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
Job Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Akron | NA | $85,900 | $41.30 | $108,700 | $52.30 | NA |
Cincinnati | 140 | $109,700 | $52.70 | $118,500 | $57.00 | -27% |
Cleveland | 220 | $103,500 | $49.80 | $121,600 | $58.50 | 11.5% |
Columbus | 190 | $95,700 | $46.00 | $114,700 | $55.10 | 5.5% |
Dayton | 140 | $95,700 | $46.00 | $112,700 | $54.20 | 85.5% |
City/Area | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
Job Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Oklahoma City | 90 | $85,000 | $40.90 | $94,300 | $45.30 | -20% |
City/Area | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
Job Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Eugene | NA | $118,700 | $57.10 | $128,700 | $61.90 | NA |
Portland | 70 | $99,800 | $48.00 | $116,900 | $56.20 | -66% |
City/Area | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
Job Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Harrisburg | 50 | $97,000 | $46.60 | $112,500 | $54.10 | -25% |
Philadelphia (Area) | 500 | $88,200 | $42.40 | $106,000 | $51.00 | 20.5% |
Pittsburgh | 540 | $67,300 | $32.40 | $85,600 | $41.20 | 141% |
City/Area | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
Job Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Providence | 340 | $104,000 | $50.00 | $113,400 | $54.50 | 208% |
City/Area | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
Job Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Charleston | 160 | $80,600 | $38.80 | $95,900 | $46.10 | 176.5% |
Columbia | NA | $121,800 | $58.50 | $130,800 | $62.90 | NA |
City/Area | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
Job Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Knoxville | 130 | $84,400 | $40.60 | $100,400 | $48.30 | 105% |
Memphis | 30 | $94,600 | $45.50 | $115,600 | $55.60 | -74.5% |
City/Area | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
Job Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Austin | 510 | $123,100 | $59.20 | $147,200 | $70.80 | 229.5% |
Dallas (Area) | NA | $104,000 | $50.00 | $124,200 | $59.70 | NA |
Houston | 290 | $108,400 | $52.10 | $132,700 | $63.80 | -44% |
San Antonio | 340 | $88,400 | $42.50 | $103,600 | $49.80 | 100.5% |
City/Area | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
Job Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ogden | 120 | $80,200 | $38.60 | $90,500 | $43.50 | 217% |
Provo | NA | $145,400 | $69.90 | $166,400+ | $80.00+ | NA |
Salt Lake City | 90 | $64,900 | $31.20 | $91,200 | $43.90 | -26% |
City/Area | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
Job Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Blacksburg | 140 | $73,500 | $35.30 | $92,400 | $44.40 | 999.5% |
Richmond | 140 | $75,900 | $36.50 | $90,100 | $43.30 | 19.5% |
Virginia Beach | 350 | $82,300 | $39.60 | $99,500 | $47.80 | 137.5% |
City/Area | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
Job Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Seattle (Area) | 1,270 | $109,100 | $52.50 | $136,700 | $65.70 | 353.5% |
City/Area | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
Job Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Milwaukee | 60 | NA | NA | NA | NA | -61% |