Computer and information research scientists held about 33,500 jobs in 2021. The largest employers of computer and information research scientists were as follows:
| Federal government, excluding postal service | 31% |
| Computer systems design and related services | 20 |
| Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences | 16 |
| Software publishers | 6 |
| Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private | 5 |
Some scientists collaborate with engineers or other specialists or research scientists in different locations and do much of their work online.
Work Schedules
Most computer and information research scientists work full time.
Computer and information research scientists typically need at least a master’s degree in computer science or a related field. In the federal government, a bachelor’s degree may be sufficient for some jobs.
Education
Computer and information research scientists typically need a master’s or higher degree in computer science or a related field, such as computer engineering. A master’s degree usually requires 2 to 3 years of study after earning a bachelor’s degree in a computer-related field, such as computer science or information systems. Some employers prefer to hire candidates who have a Ph.D. Others, such as the federal government, may hire candidates who have a bachelor’s degree in computer and information technology.
Computer and information research scientists who work in a specialized field may need knowledge of that field. For example, those working on biomedical applications may need to have studied biology.
Advancement
Some computer and information research scientists advance to become computer and information systems managers.
Computer and information research scientists typically have an interest in the Building,
Thinking and Creating interest areas, according to the Holland Code framework. The Building interest area indicates a focus on working with tools and machines, and making or fixing practical things. The Thinking interest area indicates a focus on researching, investigating, and increasing the understanding of natural laws. The Creating interest area indicates a focus on being original and imaginative, and working with artistic media.
If you are not sure whether you have a Building or Thinking or Creating interest which might fit with a career as a computer and information research scientist, you can take a career test to measure your interests.
Computer and information research scientists should also possess the following specific qualities:
Analytical skills. Computer and information research scientists must be organized in their thinking and analyze the results of their research to formulate conclusions.
Communication skills. Computer and information research scientists must communicate well with programmers and managers and be able to clearly explain their conclusions to people with no technical background. They often write for academic journals and similar publications.
Critical-thinking skills. Computer and information research scientists work on many complex problems.
Detail oriented. Computer and information research scientists must pay close attention to their work, because a small error can cause an entire project to fail.
Ingenuity. Computer and information research scientists must continually come up with innovative ways to solve problems, particularly when their ideas do not initially work as intended.
Logical thinking. Computer algorithms rely on logic. Computer and information research scientists must have a talent for reasoning.
Math skills. Computer and information research scientists must have knowledge of advanced math and other technical topics that are critical in computing.
The median annual wage for computer and information research scientists was $131,490 in May 2021. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $74,210, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $208,000.
In May 2021, the median annual wages for computer and information research scientists in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
| Computer systems design and related services | $161,870 |
| Software publishers | 152,940 |
| Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences | 132,810 |
| Federal government, excluding postal service | 112,310 |
| Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private | 79,510 |
Most computer and information research scientists work full time.
Employment of computer and information research scientists is projected to grow 21 percent from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations.
About 3,300 openings for computer and information research scientists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Employment
The research and development conducted by computer and information research scientists turn ideas into technology. As demand for new and better technology grows, demand for computer and information research scientists will grow as well.
Rapid growth in data collection by businesses will lead to an increased need for data-mining services. Computer and information research scientists will be needed to write algorithms that help businesses make sense of very large amounts of data.
A growing emphasis on cybersecurity also should lead to new jobs because computer and information research scientists will be needed to find innovative ways to prevent potential cyberattacks. In addition, an increase in demand for software may increase the need for computer and information research scientists who create new programming languages to make software writing more efficient.
For more information about computer and information research scientists, visit
Association for Computing Machinery
Computing Research Association
For information about opportunities for women pursuing information technology careers, visit
National Center for Women & Information Technology
To find job openings for computer and information research scientists in the federal government, visit