Computer and Information Research Scientists: Salary, career path, job outlook, education and more

Education Required

Most computer and information research scientists need a master’s 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.

Job Outlook

The projected percent change in employment from 2016 to 2026: 19% (Much faster than average)
(The average growth rate for all occupations is 7 percent.)

Advancement

Some computer scientists may become computer and information systems managers.

Median pay: How much do Computer and Information Research Scientists make?

$111,840 Annual Salary

$53.77 per hour

Computer and information research scientists invent and design new approaches to computing technology and find innovative uses for existing technology. They study and solve complex problems in computing for business, science, medicine, and other fields.

What do Computer and Information Research Scientists do?

Computer and information research scientists typically do the following:

Explore fundamental issues in computing and develop theories and models to address those issues
Help scientists and engineers solve complex computing problems
Invent new computing languages, tools, and methods to improve the way in which people work with computers
Develop and improve the software systems that form the basis of the modern computing experience
Design experiments to test the operation of these software systems
Analyze the results of their experiments
Publish their findings in academic journals and present their findings at conferences

Computer and information research scientists create and improve computer software and hardware.

Creating and improving software involves working with algorithms, which are sets of instructions that tell a computer what to do. Some computing tasks are very difficult and require complex algorithms. Computer and information research scientists try to simplify these algorithms to make computer systems as efficient as possible. The algorithms allow advancements in many types of technology, such as machine learning systems and cloud computing.

Computer and information research scientists design new computer architecture that improves the performance and efficiency of computer hardware. Their work often leads to technological advancements and efficiencies, such as better networking technology, faster computing speeds, and improved information security. In general, computer and information research scientists work at a more theoretical level than do other computer professionals.

Some computer scientists work with electrical engineers, computer hardware engineers, and other specialists on multidisciplinary projects. The following are examples of types of specialties for computer and information research scientists: