Computer & Math

Computer & Information Research Scientists

SOC 15-1221

Invent the methods that become the next generation of computing.

The job

Median pay

$140k

$104k to $189k typical range

Outlook, 2025 to 2035

Growing fast

+22% projected

Openings a year

BLS projection

Typical education

Master's

Our model

AI displacement risk

Very high

How much of this job AI may do instead of the person

Works with AI

4/100

AI alongside the person rather than instead of them

AI exposure

96th pct

More exposed than 96% of occupations · modeled estimate · 59th pct in Microsoft's data

Future-proof

66/100

Take the next step

Weigh it against Computer Network ArchitectsPay, outlook, entry and AI exposure side by side See where it pays mostOregon leads at $206k; every state is below Find careers like itOpen the map at Computer & Information Research Scientists and explore its neighbours See open jobsComputer & Information Research Scientists roles hiring now Learn the skillsCourses for Computer & Information Research Scientists, who lean most on critical thinking Real pay & reviewsWhat Computer & Information Research Scientists say they actually earn

Key skills

Critical Thinking
Reading Comprehension
Active Listening
Speaking
Active Learning
Writing

Pay and jobs by state

BLS OEWS May 2025, 51 states. Sorted by jobs; per 1,000 is jobs per thousand workers in the state; vs national compares that rate with the country's. A tilde marks a figure estimated from the parent occupation group where BLS publishes none.

State	Jobs	Per 1,000	vs national	Median pay
California	8,440	0.5	1.9×	$159k
Virginia	3,590	0.9	3.6×	$157k
Maryland	2,870	1.0	4.3×	$145k
Washington	2,050	0.6	2.4×	$202k
Texas	1,960	0.1	0.6×	$121k
New York	1,950	0.2	0.8×	$182k
Massachusetts	1,760	0.5	2.0×	$171k
New Jersey	1,580	0.4	1.5×	$141k
Utah	1,250	0.7	3.0×	$95k
Florida	1,070	0.1	0.5×	$120k

All 51 states

State	Jobs	Per 1,000	vs national	Median pay
Georgia	810	0.2	0.7×	$92k
Oregon	730	0.4	1.6×	$206k
Indiana	720	0.2	0.9×	$85k
Illinois	630	0.1	0.4×	$137k
North Carolina	600	0.1	0.5×	$128k
Oklahoma	590	0.3	1.4×	$93k
Tennessee	585	0.2	0.8×	$109k~
Wisconsin	577	0.2	0.8×	$123k~
Alabama	570	0.3	1.1×	$118k
Michigan	530	0.1	0.5×	$83k
Rhode Island	500	1.0	4.2×	$121k
New Mexico	490	0.6	2.4×	$166k
South Carolina	430	0.2	0.8×	$127k
Colorado	400	0.1	0.6×	$133k
Arizona	360	0.1	0.5×	$130k
Connecticut	341	0.2	0.8×	$132k~
Washington DC	330	0.5	2.0×	$144k
Pennsylvania	330	0.1	0.2×	$130k
Mississippi	300	0.3	1.1×	$109k
Ohio	280	0.1	0.2×	$136k
Kentucky	277	0.1	0.6×	$109k~
Iowa	271	0.2	0.7×	$115k~
Kansas	268	0.2	0.8×	$121k~
Missouri	230	0.1	0.3×	$128k
Nebraska	221	0.2	0.9×	$112k~
Arkansas	197	0.2	0.6×	$108k~
Louisiana	140	0.1	0.3×	$115k
Maine	106	0.2	0.7×	$117k~
West Virginia	103	0.1	0.6×	$104k~
Delaware	102	0.2	0.9×	$146k~
New Hampshire	90	0.1	0.6×	$136k
Nevada	80	0.1	0.2×	$134k
Hawaii	70	0.1	0.5×	$134k
Idaho	70	0.1	0.3×	$116k~
South Dakota	68	0.1	0.6×	$105k~
Montana	67	0.1	0.6×	$103k~
Vermont	55	0.2	0.8×	$123k~
North Dakota	49	0.1	0.5×	$105k~
Alaska	39	0.1	0.5×	$118k~
Wyoming	31	0.1	0.5×	$109k~
Minnesota	30	0.0	0.0×	$136k

Top metro areas

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV3,420 jobs · $161k median
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA2,210 jobs · $218k median
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ2,100 jobs · $171k median
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA1,680 jobs · $122k median
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA1,670 jobs · $171k median
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH1,620 jobs · $171k median
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA1,620 jobs · $211k median
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD1,070 jobs · $157k median

Where this ranks

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Pay and outlook from BLS (OEWS 2025, Employment Projections 2025-2035). Skills and work activities from O*NET 30.3. AI exposure and future-proof scores are modeled estimates. How these numbers are made.