Salary Range & Percentiles
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$82,200
- 25th Percentile — Junior$103,570
- 50th Percentile — Median$140,300
- 75th Percentile — Senior$188,700
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$230,630
The top 10% of Computer and Information Research Scientists earn $230,630 or more per year. Entry-level professionals can expect to start around $82,200, with significant growth over the first 5 years.
Salary by State
Geographic salary comparison
| State | Avg Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|
| Oregon | $215,420 | +39.9% |
| New York | $203,370 | +32.1% |
| Alaska (est.) | $203,188 | +32.0% |
| Washington | $194,360 | +26.3% |
| New Mexico | $173,530 | +12.7% |
| Massachusetts | $170,470 | +10.7% |
| California | $168,580 | +9.5% |
| Vermont (est.) | $166,244 | +8.0% |
| Virginia | $164,260 | +6.7% |
| Delaware (est.) | $161,626 | +5.0% |
| Maine (est.) | $157,009 | +2.0% |
| Arizona | $152,580 | -0.9% |
| New Hampshire | $151,040 | -1.9% |
| District of Columbia | $148,690 | -3.4% |
| Maryland | $148,630 | -3.4% |
| New Jersey | $148,250 | -3.7% |
| Colorado | $146,790 | -4.6% |
| Montana (est.) | $146,234 | -5.0% |
| Idaho (est.) | $143,155 | -7.0% |
| Wyoming (est.) | $143,155 | -7.0% |
| Illinois | $142,950 | -7.1% |
| Nevada | $142,800 | -7.2% |
| North Dakota (est.) | $141,616 | -8.0% |
| Wisconsin (est.) | $141,616 | -8.0% |
| Minnesota | $137,690 | -10.6% |
| North Carolina | $136,080 | -11.6% |
| Nebraska (est.) | $135,458 | -12.0% |
| Missouri | $134,230 | -12.8% |
| South Dakota (est.) | $133,919 | -13.0% |
| Connecticut | $133,580 | -13.2% |
| Iowa (est.) | $132,380 | -14.0% |
| Pennsylvania | $131,430 | -14.6% |
| Kansas (est.) | $130,840 | -15.0% |
| Texas | $130,400 | -15.3% |
| Hawaii | $129,070 | -16.2% |
| Florida | $128,620 | -16.4% |
| Arkansas (est.) | $127,762 | -17.0% |
| Kentucky (est.) | $127,762 | -17.0% |
| Rhode Island | $127,470 | -17.2% |
| Ohio | $126,370 | -17.9% |
| Alabama | $124,970 | -18.8% |
| South Carolina | $122,950 | -20.1% |
| West Virginia (est.) | $120,065 | -22.0% |
| Louisiana | $117,930 | -23.4% |
| Tennessee | $116,810 | -24.1% |
| Mississippi | $112,880 | -26.7% |
| Utah | $109,430 | -28.9% |
| Michigan | $106,130 | -31.1% |
| Georgia | $105,860 | -31.2% |
| Oklahoma | $99,480 | -35.4% |
| Indiana | $92,800 | -39.7% |
What Factors Affect Computer and Information Research Scientists Salary?
Key factors affecting compensation
Pay for Computer and Information Research Scientists is influenced by geographic location, years of experience, employer type, and educational background. Location alone is a large factor: Oregon pays an average of $215,420, while Indiana pays $92,800 — a gap of $122,620 per year.
The middle half of Computer and Information Research Scientists earn between $103,570 and $188,700 per year. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $82,200, while the top 10% earn more than $230,630.
These figures are the wages employers report to BLS: base pay plus commissions, production bonuses and tips. They exclude overtime pay, shift differentials, year-end bonuses, benefits and self-employed workers, so total compensation can be higher than the numbers shown.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Compare with Similar Jobs
Related career salary benchmarks
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- Software Quality Assurance Analysts $111,490/yr United States 27.6% vs this role
- Network and Computer Systems Administrators $103,680/yr United States 32.6% vs this role
- Computer Network Architects $139,580/yr United States 9.3% vs this role
- Registered Nurses $101,420/yr United States 34.1% vs this role
- Nurse Practitioners $137,300/yr United States 10.8% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average salary for Computer and Information Research Scientists?
The average salary for Computer and Information Research Scientists in the United States is $153,930 per year, with a median of $140,300.
What is the starting salary for Computer and Information Research Scientists?
Entry-level Computer and Information Research Scientists typically earn between $82,200 and $103,570 per year depending on location and employer.
What state pays Computer and Information Research Scientists the most?
Oregon pays Computer and Information Research Scientists the most at $215,420 per year on average, followed by New York ($203,370) and Washington ($194,360).
How much do Computer and Information Research Scientists make per hour?
Based on the average annual salary of $153,930, Computer and Information Research Scientists earn approximately $74.0 per hour (based on 2,080 working hours/year).
Is Computer and Information Research Scientists a good career in 2026?
BLS counts 37,200 Computer and Information Research Scientists jobs in the United States, with a mean annual wage of $153,930 and a median of $140,300 (OEWS May 2025). This site does not publish job-growth projections; the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook covers the outlook for each occupation.
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