Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
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Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2021
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) |
| 30,840 |
3.8 % |
$ 68.58 |
$ 142,650 |
1.7 % |
Percentile wage estimates for Computer and Information Research Scientists:
| Percentile |
10% |
25% |
50%
(Median) |
75% |
90% |
| Hourly Wage |
$ 35.68 |
$ 47.66 |
$ 63.22 |
$ 78.98 |
(5) |
| Annual Wage (2) |
$ 74,210 |
$ 99,140 |
$ 131,490 |
$ 164,280 |
(5) |
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 Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) |
9,530 |
0.45 |
$ 53.80 |
$ 111,910 |
| Computer Systems Design and Related Services |
6,500 |
0.29 |
$ 85.66 |
$ 178,180 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services |
5,440 |
0.68 |
$ 72.57 |
$ 150,950 |
| Software Publishers |
2,010 |
0.38 |
$ 76.13 |
$ 158,360 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools |
1,290 |
0.04 |
$ 43.68 |
$ 90,860 |
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) |
| Scientific Research and Development Services |
5,440 |
0.68 |
$ 72.57 |
$ 150,950 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) |
9,530 |
0.45 |
$ 53.80 |
$ 111,910 |
| Software Publishers |
2,010 |
0.38 |
$ 76.13 |
$ 158,360 |
| Other Information Services |
1,100 |
0.30 |
$ 90.70 |
$ 188,660 |
| Computer Systems Design and Related Services |
6,500 |
0.29 |
$ 85.66 |
$ 178,180 |
Top paying industries for Computer and Information Research Scientists:
| Industry |
Employment (1) |
Percent of industry employment |
Hourly mean wage |
Annual mean wage (2) |
| Other Information Services |
1,100 |
0.30 |
$ 90.70 |
$ 188,660 |
| Computer Systems Design and Related Services |
6,500 |
0.29 |
$ 85.66 |
$ 178,180 |
| Electronic Shopping and Mail-Order Houses |
60 |
0.01 |
$ 82.13 |
$ 170,830 |
| Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing |
510 |
0.14 |
$ 81.56 |
$ 169,640 |
| Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing |
170 |
0.04 |
$ 78.41 |
$ 163,090 |
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.
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 |
8,140 |
0.49 |
2.25 |
(8) |
(8) |
| Virginia |
2,510 |
0.67 |
3.05 |
$ 62.35 |
$ 129,680 |
| Washington |
2,360 |
0.74 |
3.36 |
$ 65.75 |
$ 136,770 |
| Maryland |
2,220 |
0.87 |
3.98 |
$ 62.11 |
$ 129,200 |
| Texas |
2,000 |
0.16 |
0.75 |
$ 70.28 |
$ 146,180 |
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) |
| New Mexico |
800 |
1.02 |
4.68 |
$ 60.09 |
$ 124,980 |
| Rhode Island |
430 |
0.95 |
4.33 |
$ 53.97 |
$ 112,250 |
| Maryland |
2,220 |
0.87 |
3.98 |
$ 62.11 |
$ 129,200 |
| Washington |
2,360 |
0.74 |
3.36 |
$ 65.75 |
$ 136,770 |
| Virginia |
2,510 |
0.67 |
3.05 |
$ 62.35 |
$ 129,680 |
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) |
| Oregon |
560 |
0.31 |
1.41 |
$ 80.02 |
$ 166,450 |
| Arizona |
250 |
0.09 |
0.39 |
$ 71.20 |
$ 148,090 |
| Texas |
2,000 |
0.16 |
0.75 |
$ 70.28 |
$ 146,180 |
| Massachusetts |
(8) |
(8) |
(8) |
$ 67.06 |
$ 139,490 |
| Washington |
2,360 |
0.74 |
3.36 |
$ 65.75 |
$ 136,770 |
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) |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA |
2,410 |
1.08 |
4.92 |
$ 100.91 |
$ 209,890 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA |
2,290 |
2.14 |
9.77 |
(8) |
(8) |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV |
2,250 |
0.77 |
3.51 |
$ 65.52 |
$ 136,290 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA |
2,030 |
1.06 |
4.84 |
$ 68.30 |
$ 142,070 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA |
1,230 |
0.14 |
0.65 |
$ 66.91 |
$ 139,170 |
| San Diego-Carlsbad, CA |
980 |
0.70 |
3.21 |
$ 66.63 |
$ 138,590 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA |
980 |
0.17 |
0.78 |
$ 69.58 |
$ 144,720 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD |
930 |
0.74 |
3.37 |
$ 62.51 |
$ 130,010 |
| Ogden-Clearfield, UT |
610 |
2.28 |
10.42 |
$ 41.91 |
$ 87,170 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX |
560 |
0.16 |
0.71 |
$ 72.91 |
$ 151,650 |
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 |
360 |
7.65 |
34.96 |
$ 55.74 |
$ 115,940 |
| Ogden-Clearfield, UT |
610 |
2.28 |
10.42 |
$ 41.91 |
$ 87,170 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ |
260 |
2.28 |
10.40 |
$ 61.95 |
$ 128,860 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA |
2,290 |
2.14 |
9.77 |
(8) |
(8) |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL |
240 |
2.10 |
9.59 |
$ 50.95 |
$ 105,970 |
| Utica-Rome, NY |
150 |
1.33 |
6.07 |
$ 53.60 |
$ 111,480 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC |
380 |
1.12 |
5.13 |
$ 50.92 |
$ 105,910 |
| Bakersfield, CA |
340 |
1.10 |
5.02 |
$ 54.22 |
$ 112,780 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA |
2,410 |
1.08 |
4.92 |
$ 100.91 |
$ 209,890 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA |
2,030 |
1.06 |
4.84 |
$ 68.30 |
$ 142,070 |
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) |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA |
2,410 |
1.08 |
4.92 |
$ 100.91 |
$ 209,890 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ |
(8) |
(8) |
(8) |
$ 97.13 |
$ 202,020 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA |
60 |
0.29 |
1.33 |
$ 88.34 |
$ 183,750 |
| Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA |
150 |
0.15 |
0.68 |
$ 85.69 |
$ 178,230 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA |
500 |
0.44 |
2.02 |
$ 81.34 |
$ 169,180 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX |
560 |
0.16 |
0.71 |
$ 72.91 |
$ 151,650 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA |
200 |
0.13 |
0.59 |
$ 71.73 |
$ 149,190 |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX |
370 |
0.13 |
0.58 |
$ 69.90 |
$ 145,380 |
| Austin-Round Rock, TX |
350 |
0.32 |
1.47 |
$ 69.82 |
$ 145,220 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA |
980 |
0.17 |
0.78 |
$ 69.58 |
$ 144,720 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in Computer and Information Research Scientists:
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Computer and Information Research Scientists:
Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for Computer and Information Research Scientists:
About May 2021 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.
(5) This wage is equal to or greater than $100.00 per hour or $208,000 per year.
(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 2021 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2021 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2021 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2021 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2021 Occupation Profiles
Technical Notes
Last Modified Date: March 31, 2022
United States Department of Labor
