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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2023

15-1221 Computer and Information Research Scientists

Conduct research into fundamental computer and information science as theorists, designers, or inventors. Develop solutions to problems in the field of computer hardware and software.


National estimates for Computer and Information Research Scientists
Industry profile for Computer and Information Research Scientists
Geographic profile for Computer and Information Research Scientists

National estimates for Computer and Information Research Scientists:

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for Computer and Information Research Scientists:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3)
Mean hourly
wage
Mean annual
wage (2)
Wage RSE (3)
35,210 3.7 % $ 75.56 $ 157,160 1.0 %

Percentile wage estimates for Computer and Information Research Scientists:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $ 39.16 $ 52.88 $ 69.75 $ 89.02 $ 112.07
Annual Wage (2) $ 81,450 $ 109,990 $ 145,080 $ 185,160 $ 233,110


Industry profile for Computer and Information Research Scientists:

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for Computer and Information Research Scientists are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in Computer and Information Research Scientists, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in Computer and Information Research Scientists:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) 9,890 0.46 $ 57.79 $ 120,190
Computer Systems Design and Related Services 8,080 0.32 $ 80.82 $ 168,100
Scientific Research and Development Services 5,820 0.63 $ 81.87 $ 170,300
Software Publishers 2,900 0.44 $ 104.49 $ 217,340
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools 1,980 0.06 $ 46.10 $ 95,880

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in Computer and Information Research Scientists:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services 1,160 0.63 $ 138.07 $ 287,180
Scientific Research and Development Services 5,820 0.63 $ 81.87 $ 170,300
Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) 9,890 0.46 $ 57.79 $ 120,190
Software Publishers 2,900 0.44 $ 104.49 $ 217,340
Computer Systems Design and Related Services 8,080 0.32 $ 80.82 $ 168,100

Top paying industries for Computer and Information Research Scientists:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services 1,160 0.63 $ 138.07 $ 287,180
Software Publishers 2,900 0.44 $ 104.49 $ 217,340
Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers 70 0.03 $ 102.45 $ 213,100
Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing 610 0.16 $ 93.76 $ 195,030
Communications Equipment Manufacturing 50 0.06 $ 92.50 $ 192,400


Geographic profile for Computer and Information Research Scientists:

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for Computer and Information Research Scientists are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in Computer and Information Research Scientists, see the Create Customized Tables function.



Map of employment of computer and information research scientists by state, May 2023


States with the highest employment level in Computer and Information Research Scientists:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California 7,560 0.42 1.82 $ 90.11 $ 187,420
Washington 2,940 0.84 3.63 $ 97.55 $ 202,910
Virginia 2,340 0.59 2.53 $ 70.13 $ 145,860
Maryland 2,310 0.86 3.72 $ 68.54 $ 142,570
Texas 1,580 0.12 0.50 $ 66.99 $ 139,340


Map of location quotient of computer and information research scientists by state, May 2023


States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Computer and Information Research Scientists:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Rhode Island 460 0.94 4.03 $ 57.52 $ 119,640
Maryland 2,310 0.86 3.72 $ 68.54 $ 142,570
Washington 2,940 0.84 3.63 $ 97.55 $ 202,910
Virginia 2,340 0.59 2.53 $ 70.13 $ 145,860
Utah 810 0.49 2.09 $ 47.62 $ 99,050


Map of annual mean wages of computer and information research scientists by state, May 2023


Top paying states for Computer and Information Research Scientists:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Washington 2,940 0.84 3.63 $ 97.55 $ 202,910
California 7,560 0.42 1.82 $ 90.11 $ 187,420
West Virginia 50 0.07 0.29 $ 86.99 $ 180,940
Massachusetts (8) (8) (8) $ 85.97 $ 178,820
Oregon 790 0.41 1.76 $ 85.96 $ 178,790



Map of employment of computer and information research scientists by area, May 2023


Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in Computer and Information Research Scientists:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 2,410 1.16 5.01 $ 101.64 $ 211,410
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 2,240 0.72 3.12 $ 75.40 $ 156,840
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 2,210 1.93 8.35 $ 108.17 $ 225,000
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 1,540 0.64 2.74 $ 101.80 $ 211,740
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA 1,120 0.73 3.16 $ 65.87 $ 137,010
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 1,080 0.17 0.75 $ 79.88 $ 166,150
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD 1,050 0.81 3.49 $ 68.49 $ 142,470
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 940 0.10 0.43 $ 69.33 $ 144,200
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA 750 0.62 2.68 $ 86.88 $ 180,720
Ogden-Clearfield, UT 700 2.44 10.50 $ 44.48 $ 92,510


Map of location quotient of computer and information research scientists by area, May 2023


Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Computer and Information Research Scientists:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California-Lexington Park, MD 340 7.14 30.78 $ 60.78 $ 126,420
Warner Robins, GA 480 6.24 26.93 $ 41.94 $ 87,230
Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ 90 2.63 11.34 $ 59.06 $ 122,840
Ogden-Clearfield, UT 700 2.44 10.50 $ 44.48 $ 92,510
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 2,210 1.93 8.35 $ 108.17 $ 225,000
Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL 230 1.92 8.26 $ 55.10 $ 114,610
Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ 230 1.87 8.06 $ 67.79 $ 141,010
Huntsville, AL 420 1.66 7.15 $ 50.95 $ 105,970
Panama City, FL 130 1.50 6.47 $ 49.80 $ 103,590
Utica-Rome, NY 150 1.25 5.39 $ 58.07 $ 120,780


Map of annual mean wages of computer and information research scientists by area, May 2023


Top paying metropolitan areas for Computer and Information Research Scientists:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA 110 0.54 2.33 $ 158.39 $ 329,460
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 2,210 1.93 8.35 $ 108.17 $ 225,000
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 1,540 0.64 2.74 $ 101.80 $ 211,740
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 2,410 1.16 5.01 $ 101.64 $ 211,410
Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA 120 0.12 0.50 $ 94.03 $ 195,580
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH (8) (8) (8) $ 89.34 $ 185,830
Idaho Falls, ID (8) (8) (8) $ 89.24 $ 185,620
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY 120 0.28 1.19 $ 87.36 $ 181,710
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA 750 0.62 2.68 $ 86.88 $ 180,720
Pittsburgh, PA 130 0.12 0.52 $ 82.07 $ 170,710

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in Computer and Information Research Scientists:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area 760 15.26 65.80 $ 60.39 $ 125,600
Southwest Mississippi nonmetropolitan area 130 1.85 7.96 $ 54.96 $ 114,310
West Central-Southwest New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area 40 0.35 1.51 $ 53.81 $ 111,920

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Computer and Information Research Scientists:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area 760 15.26 65.80 $ 60.39 $ 125,600
Southwest Mississippi nonmetropolitan area 130 1.85 7.96 $ 54.96 $ 114,310
West Central-Southwest New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area 40 0.35 1.51 $ 53.81 $ 111,920

Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for Computer and Information Research Scientists:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area 760 15.26 65.80 $ 60.39 $ 125,600
Southwest Mississippi nonmetropolitan area 130 1.85 7.96 $ 54.96 $ 114,310
West Central-Southwest New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area 40 0.35 1.51 $ 53.81 $ 111,920


About May 2023 National, State, Metropolitan, and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.

The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate—50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.


(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.

(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.

(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.

(8) Estimate not released.

(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.


Other OEWS estimates and related information:

May 2023 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2023 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2023 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2023 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2023 Occupation Profiles

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: April 3, 2024