Computer and Information Research Scientists: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)
Computer and Mathematical · SOC 15-1221 · O*NET 15-1221.00
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.
Computer and Information Research Scientists fall under the Computer and Mathematical category in the U.S. occupational classification. Computer and Information Research Scientists earn a median salary of $140,910 per year, ranking in the top 3% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +19.7% job growth through 2034, projected to grow far faster than the US average. Entry into this field typically requires a bachelor's degree, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.
What parents should know about computer and information research scientists right now
If your teen loves the deep end of computing, the part where you invent new algorithms rather than just use existing ones, computer and information research science may be their calling. This is the frontier work behind artificial intelligence, machine learning, and the theory that powers everything else in tech. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, these scientists earned a median wage of $140,910 in May 2024, with the lowest tenth around $80,670 and the top tenth reaching $232,120, so the ceiling here is unusually high. BLS also projects much-faster-than-average growth of 19.7 percent, which reflects how central this work has become. The 2025 hiring wave makes that vivid. According to Lightcast, unique U.S. job postings requiring generative-AI skills grew from just 55 in January 2021 to nearly 10,000 by May 2025, and AI/ML hiring grew roughly 88 percent year over year in 2025. Research scientists are exactly the talent this surge is competing for, because they design the models and prove the theory the rest of the industry builds on. Be clear-eyed with your teen about the road, though. This is a long, education-heavy ladder. A bachelor's in computer science comes first, then a master's, which BLS names as the typical entry credential, and for genuine research roles in academia, government labs, or corporate R&D a PhD is usually preferred or required, adding four to five more years of original dissertation research. There is no license or board exam, so it is about degrees, publications, and demonstrated research, not a certification test. In high school, the best preparation is concrete. Push math as far as it goes, calculus, statistics, and discrete math if offered, and take AP Computer Science. Encourage real coding projects, math or programming competitions, and, where possible, a summer research program or a mentor at a local university. Curiosity that outlasts a single class is the trait that carries students through the graduate years this career demands.
What do computer and information research scientists earn?
The median annual wage for computer and information research scientists is $140,910. That puts computer and information research scientists at #21 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. Pay at this level is well above the U.S. median household income, signaling sustained demand and meaningful credential requirements. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.
| 10th percentile (entry-level) | $80,670 |
| 25th percentile | $102,710 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $140,910 |
| 75th percentile | $181,210 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $232,120 |
| Median hourly wage | $67.74/hr |
Is computer and information research scientists a growing career?
The 10-year outlook for computer and information research scientists is +19.7%, projected to grow far faster than the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 40K positions in 2024 to 48K in 2034, a net change of 8K. Very fast growth indicates significant talent shortages and unusually strong hiring momentum — often the most resilient outlook a teenager can plan toward.
What do computer and information research scientists do every day?
According to O*NET task surveys of working computer and information research scientists, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.
- 1.Analyze problems to develop solutions involving computer hardware and software.
- 2.Apply theoretical expertise and innovation to create or apply new technology, such as adapting principles for applying computers to new uses.
- 3.Assign or schedule tasks to meet work priorities and goals.
- 4.Meet with managers, vendors, and others to solicit cooperation and resolve problems.
- 5.Design computers and the software that runs them.
- 6.Conduct logical analyses of business, scientific, engineering, and other technical problems, formulating mathematical models of problems for solution by computers.
- 7.Evaluate project plans and proposals to assess feasibility issues.
- 8.Participate in multidisciplinary projects in areas such as virtual reality, human-computer interaction, or robotics.
Top skills for computer and information research scientists
O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.
What education does my child need to become computer and information research scientist?
The standard path into computer and information research scientists begins with a bachelor's degree in a related field, followed by entry-level experience or internships during college. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.
Based on O*NET surveys of incumbents — what people in this job actually have, not what employers list as required.
How to become computer and information research scientist: step by step
The typical education and licensing pathway from high school into this profession. Total time to entry is about 10 to 14+ years. Steps marked optional are common for advancement but not required to start.
- 1
Bachelor's degree (foundation)
~4 yearsA bachelor's in computer science or a closely related field is the entry foundation and the prerequisite for graduate study. No license or exam applies at this stage. The federal government may hire for some research roles at the bachelor's level, but most positions require graduate education.
- •Earn a bachelor's in computer science, computer engineering, or a related computer/information field
- •Build strong programming, mathematics, algorithms, and theory coursework
- •Prerequisite for graduate admission
- 2
Master's degree (typical entry credential)
~2.5 yearsBLS states these workers typically need a master's or higher degree in computer science or a related field, making the master's the standard entry credential. Graduate research experience is built here and is effectively expected by employers. Optional, non-required certifications exist (CISSP, Certified Data Professional, vendor/cloud ML certificates) but none gate entry.
- •Earn a master's in computer science or a related field such as computer engineering
- •Develop graduate research experience through papers and projects
- •This is the BLS-designated typical entry education for the occupation
- 3
Doctorate (PhD) for research-track roles
Optional~4.5 yearsFor the actual research track (universities, government research labs, and frontier corporate R&D), a PhD is typically necessary, taking roughly 4 to 5 additional years of full-time study beyond the master's. It centers on original dissertation research and publication. It is marked optional because BLS lists the master's as the typical entry credential, but a PhD is preferred or required for most true research positions.
- •Complete a PhD in computer science or a closely related discipline
- •Conduct original dissertation research and publish
- •Preferred/often required for academia, government research labs, and cutting-edge corporate R&D
- 4
Professional research experience
Optional~4 yearsMany organizations expect several years of hands-on research experience, commonly 3 to 5 or more, often accrued during graduate study, postdoctoral appointments, or industry research roles, for senior and independent research positions.
- •Accrue several years of hands-on research experience via graduate study, postdocs, or industry research roles
- •Publish and lead projects to qualify for senior/independent research positions
Related careers your child might also consider
How parents help teens explore careers like this
Solyo helps parents map a teen's interests to specific careers, then back to the colleges and majors that lead there. Salary, outlook, and education data come from BLS and O*NET — the same sources high school counselors use — but presented for the parent's planning lens, not the student's exploration view.
Common questions parents ask about computer and information research scientists
What is the median salary for computer and information research scientists?
The median annual salary for computer and information research scientists is $140,910 according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Is computer and information research scientists a growing career?
BLS projects +19.7% growth for computer and information research scientists from 2024 through 2034, which is very fast growth projected to grow far faster than the US average.
What education does my child need to become computer and information research scientist?
The typical entry path requires a bachelor's degree, plus any state licensure or certification specific to the role. Programs that align well with this career can be filtered inside Solyo's college search.
What careers are similar to computer and information research scientists?
Related occupations within the Computer and Mathematical category share education paths and skill profiles, so they're a useful starting set when a teen is uncertain. The "Related careers" section below lists nearby options.
Salary data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics program. Skills, tasks, and education distribution from the O*NET database. Job outlook from the BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 release.