Computer and information research scientists held about 31,700 jobs in 2018. The largest employers of computer and information research scientists were as follows:
| Federal government, excluding postal service | 28% |
| Computer systems design and related services | 20 |
| Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences | 16 |
| Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private | 8 |
| Software publishers | 5 |
Some computer scientists may work on teams with electrical engineers, computer hardware engineers, and other specialists on multidisciplinary projects.
Work Schedules
Most computer and information research scientists work full time. Some work more than 40 hours per week.
Most jobs for computer and information research scientists require 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
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.
Computer scientists who work in a specialized field may need knowledge of that field. For example, those working on biomedical applications may need to have taken some biology classes.
Advancement
Some computer scientists may 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 $122,840 in May 2019. 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 $69,990, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $189,780.
In May 2019, the median annual wages for computer and information research scientists in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
| Software publishers | $141,820 |
| Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences | 134,490 |
| Computer systems design and related services | 129,290 |
| Federal government, excluding postal service | 109,370 |
| Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private | 81,910 |
Most computer and information research scientists work full time. Some work more than 40 hours per week.
Employment of computer and information research scientists is projected to grow 16 percent from 2018 to 2028, much faster than the average for all occupations. However, because it is a small occupation, the fast growth will result in only about 5,200 new jobs over the 10-year period.
The research and development work of computer and information research scientists turns ideas into industry-leading technology. As demand for new and better technology grows, demand for computer scientists will grow as well.
Rapid growth in data collection by businesses will lead to an increased need for data-mining services. Computer scientists will be needed to write algorithms that help businesses make sense of very large amounts of data. With this information, businesses understand their consumers better, making the work of computer and information research scientists increasingly vital.
A growing emphasis on cybersecurity also should lead to new jobs, because computer scientists will be needed to find innovative ways to prevent cyberattacks.
In addition, an increase in demand for software may increase the need for computer scientists who create new programming languages to make software writing more efficient.
Job Prospects
Computer and information research scientists are likely to have excellent job prospects.
For applicants seeking employment in a specialized field, such as finance or biology, knowledge of that field, along with a computer science degree, may be helpful in getting a job.
For more information about computer and information research scientists, visit
Association for Computing Machinery
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