Field guide

How to become a computer research scientist

A computer research scientist invents new methods in computing, such as machine learning algorithms, programming languages and systems. Most roles ask for a master's or PhD, and they are concentrated at large technology companies, research labs and universities. This is usually what a "research scientist" salary search means in tech.

Median pay (US)
$140,300
Middle 50%
$103,570 to $188,700
Employed (US)
37,200
Usual entry level
Master's degree

BLS calls this group "computer and information research scientists".

What the work looks like

The work is reading and testing ideas, building prototypes, and publishing or shipping them. This page covers research roles, not data scientist jobs, which are a different and much larger occupation.

The official O*NET job description lists tasks such as:

  • Analyze problems to develop solutions involving computer hardware and software.
  • Apply theoretical expertise and innovation to create or apply new technology, such as adapting principles for applying computers to new uses.
  • Assign or schedule tasks to meet work priorities and goals.

The route in

  1. Major in computer science, math or a closely related subject.
  2. Do research with a faculty member, aiming for real contributions to a project.
  3. Apply to a PhD or research master's program.
  4. Intern at an industry research lab during graduate school if you can.
The catch. Top research posts are extremely competitive, and pay varies far more by employer than the average suggests. BLS wage figures leave out non-production bonuses and employer benefits, so total pay at large technology firms can sit well above them.

Pay in the US

The May 2025 national figures for computer and information research scientists run from $82,200 at the 10th percentile to $230,630 at the 90th, with a median of $140,300 and a mean of $153,930. BLS projects employment growth of 22% over 2025-35 (much faster than average), with about 2,900 openings a year.

If you do a PhD in this area

In 2025 the median research doctorate recipient in computer and information sciences took 8.1 years from bachelor's degree, 7.0 years from starting graduate school and 5.6 years from starting the doctoral program.

In 2025, of 3,002 research doctorate recipients in computer and information sciences, 1,892 reported a definite postgraduation commitment and 359 of those were postdoctoral study positions in the United States. That is 19.0% of those with a commitment.

In the UK

In the UK, these jobs cluster around London, Cambridge and Oxford, with PhDs at around four years through doctoral training centers.

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Related fields

Pay: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, SOC 15-1221, May 2025, national, all industries, retrieved 2026-11-03. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, retrieved 2026-11-03. NSF NCSES, Survey of Earned Doctorates 2025, Table 1-12 (NSF 26-326), retrieved 2026-11-03. NSF NCSES, Survey of Earned Doctorates 2025, Table 6-1 (NSF 26-326), retrieved 2026-11-03. Tasks from the O*NET 31.0 Database by USDOL/ETA, used under CC BY 4.0.