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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2022

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)
33,780 5.8 % $ 74.94 $ 155,880 6.7 %

Percentile wage estimates for Computer and Information Research Scientists:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $ 37.59 $ 47.79 $ 65.69 $ 84.99 $ 111.54
Annual Wage (2) $ 78,190 $ 99,410 $ 136,620 $ 176,790 $ 232,010


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)
Computer Systems Design and Related Services 10,240 0.41 $ 75.42 $ 156,870
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) 9,540 0.46 $ 55.50 $ 115,440
Scientific Research and Development Services 6,230 0.72 $ 78.08 $ 162,410
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools 1,370 0.05 $ 45.72 $ 95,100
Software Publishers 1,060 0.17 $ 96.78 $ 201,300

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 6,230 0.72 $ 78.08 $ 162,410
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) 9,540 0.46 $ 55.50 $ 115,440
Computer Systems Design and Related Services 10,240 0.41 $ 75.42 $ 156,870
Software Publishers 1,060 0.17 $ 96.78 $ 201,300
Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing 490 0.13 $ 90.41 $ 188,050

Top paying industries for Computer and Information Research Scientists:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Software Publishers 1,060 0.17 $ 96.78 $ 201,300
Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing 490 0.13 $ 90.41 $ 188,050
Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers 60 0.03 $ 90.25 $ 187,720
Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 70 0.01 $ 87.40 $ 181,800
Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods (4232, 4233, 4235, 4236, 4237, and 4239 only) (8) (8) $ 84.88 $ 176,540


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 2022


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 7,510 0.43 1.86 $ 111.64 $ 232,210
Florida 3,100 0.34 1.47 $ 63.42 $ 131,920
Virginia 2,550 0.66 2.88 $ 68.02 $ 141,490
Texas 2,280 0.18 0.77 $ 68.62 $ 142,740
Maryland 2,160 0.82 3.58 $ 63.64 $ 132,370


Map of location quotient of computer and information research scientists by state, May 2022


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 450 0.95 4.15 $ 55.86 $ 116,180
Maryland 2,160 0.82 3.58 $ 63.64 $ 132,370
Virginia 2,550 0.66 2.88 $ 68.02 $ 141,490
District of Columbia 380 0.54 2.38 $ 61.85 $ 128,640
California 7,510 0.43 1.86 $ 111.64 $ 232,210


Map of annual mean wages of computer and information research scientists by state, May 2022


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)
California 7,510 0.43 1.86 $ 111.64 $ 232,210
Oregon 540 0.28 1.24 $ 91.30 $ 189,910
Washington 1,180 0.35 1.52 $ 87.89 $ 182,800
New Mexico (8) (8) (8) $ 73.53 $ 152,950
Massachusetts (8) (8) (8) $ 73.11 $ 152,060



Map of employment of computer and information research scientists by area, May 2022


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)
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 2,460 0.81 3.56 $ 70.90 $ 147,480
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 2,250 0.94 4.12 $ 124.98 $ 259,960
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 1,950 1.74 7.60 $ 140.62 $ 292,490
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH 1,560 0.58 2.53 $ 74.14 $ 154,210
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 1,250 0.14 0.60 $ 61.81 $ 128,570
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA 980 0.66 2.89 $ 71.24 $ 148,180
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 910 0.44 1.95 $ 95.49 $ 198,610
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD 900 0.70 3.05 $ 62.77 $ 130,570
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 820 0.13 0.59 $ 118.63 $ 246,750
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 600 0.16 0.69 $ 69.68 $ 144,940


Map of location quotient of computer and information research scientists by area, May 2022


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 7.20 31.51 $ 58.16 $ 120,960
Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ 90 2.69 11.80 $ 55.97 $ 116,420
Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ 300 2.46 10.76 $ 60.68 $ 126,210
Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL 250 2.12 9.26 $ 54.18 $ 112,690
Ogden-Clearfield, UT 580 2.08 9.11 $ 44.25 $ 92,040
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 1,950 1.74 7.60 $ 140.62 $ 292,490
Utica-Rome, NY 150 1.29 5.67 $ 54.85 $ 114,090
Charleston-North Charleston, SC 390 1.08 4.74 $ 52.21 $ 108,590
Bakersfield, CA 350 1.07 4.71 $ 56.50 $ 117,520
Bremerton-Silverdale, WA 90 0.99 4.35 $ 53.65 $ 111,580


Map of annual mean wages of computer and information research scientists by area, May 2022


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 100 0.51 2.22 $ 170.92 $ 355,510
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 1,950 1.74 7.60 $ 140.62 $ 292,490
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 2,250 0.94 4.12 $ 124.98 $ 259,960
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 820 0.13 0.59 $ 118.63 $ 246,750
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 910 0.44 1.95 $ 95.49 $ 198,610
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA 520 0.44 1.93 $ 91.86 $ 191,070
Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA 110 0.11 0.47 $ 84.91 $ 176,600
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY 120 0.28 1.24 $ 82.37 $ 171,330
North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL (8) (8) (8) $ 79.59 $ 165,550
Pittsburgh, PA 140 0.13 0.56 $ 78.74 $ 163,770

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 750 15.39 67.40 $ 57.62 $ 119,850
Southwest Mississippi nonmetropolitan area 130 1.87 8.21 $ 51.80 $ 107,740

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 750 15.39 67.40 $ 57.62 $ 119,850
Southwest Mississippi nonmetropolitan area 130 1.87 8.21 $ 51.80 $ 107,740

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 750 15.39 67.40 $ 57.62 $ 119,850
Southwest Mississippi nonmetropolitan area 130 1.87 8.21 $ 51.80 $ 107,740


About May 2022 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 2022 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 Occupation Profiles

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: April 25, 2023