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How Much Does a Computer and Information Research Scientist Make?

A computer and information research scientist in the US earns a median salary of $140,300 a year, or $67.45 an hour (BLS, May 2025). The average is $153,930, and the middle half earn between $103,570 and $188,700.

Median a year $140,300
Median an hour $67.45
Median a month $11,692
Average a year $153,930

Computer and information research scientist pay range

What computer and information research scientists earn at each point of the pay scale. The 10th percentile is a rough guide to starting pay.

Percentile A year An hour
10th (lowest 10%) $82,200 $39.52
25th $103,570 $49.79
Median (50th) $140,300 $67.45
75th $188,700 $90.72
90th (top 10%) $230,630 $110.88

The median is 175% more than the $50,980 median for all US jobs. About 37,200 people work as computer and information research scientists in the US.

After tax and by period

A week
$2,698
Every two weeks
$5,396
Twice a month
$5,846
A month
$11,692

At the median salary, before tax.

Computer and information research scientist salary by state

Sorted by average pay. Oregon pays computer and information research scientists the most, at $215,420 a year on average.

State Average Median Jobs After tax
Oregon $215,420 $206,220 730 After tax
New York $203,370 $181,990 1,950 After tax
Washington $194,360 $202,400 2,050 After tax
New Mexico $173,530 $165,690 490 After tax
Massachusetts $170,470 $170,510 1,760 After tax
California $168,580 $159,100 8,440 After tax
Virginia $164,260 $157,390 3,590 After tax
Arizona $152,580 $129,760 360 After tax
New Hampshire $151,040 $136,160 90 After tax
District of Columbia $148,690 $144,190 330 After tax
Maryland $148,630 $145,310 2,870 After tax
New Jersey $148,250 $140,840 1,580 After tax
Colorado $146,790 $133,160 400 After tax
Illinois $142,950 $136,540 630 After tax
Nevada $142,800 $134,310 80 After tax
Minnesota $137,690 $135,850 30 After tax
North Carolina $136,080 $128,370 600 After tax
Missouri $134,230 $127,820 230 After tax
Connecticut $133,580 $131,650 – After tax
Pennsylvania $131,430 $130,300 330 After tax
Texas $130,400 $121,210 1,960 After tax
Hawaii $129,070 $134,350 70 After tax
Florida $128,620 $119,810 1,070 After tax
Rhode Island $127,470 $121,470 500 After tax
Ohio $126,370 $135,510 280 After tax
Alabama $124,970 $117,870 570 After tax
South Carolina $122,950 $126,980 430 After tax
Louisiana $117,930 $115,210 140 After tax
Tennessee $116,810 $108,830 – After tax
Mississippi $112,880 $109,050 300 After tax
Utah $109,430 $94,700 1,250 After tax
Michigan $106,130 $82,590 530 After tax
Georgia $105,860 $92,250 810 After tax
Oklahoma $99,480 $93,100 590 After tax
Indiana $92,800 $85,460 720 After tax

A dash means BLS did not publish that figure for the state.

Other computer and mathematical jobs

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (published 2026), for “Computer and Information Research Scientists” (SOC 15-1221). Wages are before tax and leave out self-employed workers. All job salaries

About the Job Salaries

Job Salaries shows what more than 500 US jobs pay, from nurses and electricians to software developers and truck drivers. Each job has its median and average salary, hourly and monthly pay, the pay range from the lowest-paid 10% to the top 10%, and a table of pay in every state. The figures come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the largest survey of US pay, in its latest release.

How to use it

  1. 1 Search for a job or pick one from the list.
  2. 2 Read the median salary, hourly pay and the pay range.
  3. 3 Check the salary by state to see where the job pays most.
  4. 4 Open the take-home pay calculator to see the salary after tax.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a computer and information research scientist make an hour?

The median hourly wage for a computer and information research scientist is $67.45, and the average is $74.00. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $39.52 an hour and the top 10% over $110.88.

How much does a computer and information research scientist make a month?

At the median salary of $140,300, a computer and information research scientist earns about $11,692 a month before tax, or $5,396 every two weeks.

Which state pays computer and information research scientists the most?

Oregon has the highest average pay for a computer and information research scientist, at $215,420 a year. Next are New York and Washington. Pay is usually higher where living costs are higher, so compare take-home pay too.

What is the starting salary for a computer and information research scientist?

The lowest-paid 10% of computer and information research scientists earn less than $82,200 a year, and the lowest 25% less than $103,570. That is a fair guide to starting pay, which depends on the state, the employer and your experience.

How much do the highest-paid computer and information research scientists make?

The top 10% earn more than $230,630 a year, and the top 25% more than $188,700.