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Computer and Information Research Scientists

Typical education: Master's degreeLower pressure Bright Outlook

What they do

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.

Kinds of work

  • Investigative: Science, research, figuring out how things work and solving complex problems.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.
  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.

Lower pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $140,300 Median per year · $67.45/hr Most earn $82,200–$230,630

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Apply theoretical expertise and innovation to create or apply new technology, such as adapting principles for applying computers to new uses.
  • Direct daily operations of departments, coordinating project activities with other departments.
  • Participate in staffing decisions and direct training of subordinates.
  • Evaluate project plans and proposals to assess feasibility issues.
  • Maintain network hardware and software, direct network security measures, and monitor networks to ensure availability to system users.
  • Participate in staffing decisions and direct training of subordinates.

Job outlook

Bright Outlook Rapid Growth

United States
22% more jobs by 2035, much faster than average · about 2,900 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Federal government, excluding postal service30.6%
  • Computer systems design and related services16.5%
  • Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences14.3%
  • Colleges, universities, and professional schools9.1%
  • Web search portals, libraries, archives, and other information services3.6%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 2 to 4 years

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Master's degreeExperience before this job: 2 to 4 years

This isn't an entry-level job. Most people earn a master's degree and work 2 to 4 years in computing first, so the full path usually takes roughly 8 to 10 years after high school. The path below is one common route, not the only one.

  1. Bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field

    4 years

    You learn programming, algorithms, and how computer systems work, which gives you the foundation for both industry jobs and graduate study.

  2. Computer Programmer

    2-4 years

    Working on real software projects teaches you how systems are built and what problems matter in practice, which shapes the research questions you'll later ask.

  3. Master's degree in computer science

    about 2 years

    Graduate study builds research skills, deeper theory, and experience with a research project; many people do this part-time while working.

  4. Computer and Information Research Scientist

    Ongoing career

    You design new algorithms, systems, or theories, test them, and publish or patent results, often in a company research lab, university, or government agency.

Where it can lead

  1. Principal Research Scientist

    5-8 years of experience first

    You lead bigger research directions, set the goals for other scientists, and are recognized as an expert both inside and outside your organization.

  2. Research Scientist Manager

    3-5 years in a senior research role of experience first

    You guide a team of researchers, plan their work, and manage budgets, so you spend more time on direction and less on hands-on experiments.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take the highest-level math you can, including statistics if offeredStrong math, especially logic and discrete math, is the base for computer science theory and algorithms.
  • Learn to program on your own or in a classAny intro computer science course, coding club, or free online lessons in Python will show you whether you enjoy building things with code.
  • Join a robotics, coding, or math competition teamCompetitions give you practice solving open-ended problems, which is the core skill of research.
  • Volunteer or work a starter job helping with computersHelping at a library, tech help desk, or local business builds practical troubleshooting skills and shows you how people use technology.
  • Read about current computing researchFollowing science news or reading accessible articles about AI, security, or computing helps you find topics you care about.

In college

  • Major in computer science, or pair it with math or a science fieldA computer science degree is the most direct route, and a math or data-focused minor can strengthen research skills.
  • Work on research with a professorHelping a faculty member on a project teaches you how research is designed, tested, and written up, and it can lead to a strong recommendation for graduate school.
  • Get an internship or co-op at a tech companyReal industry experience helps you understand practical problems and makes you a stronger candidate for both jobs and graduate programs.
  • Join a coding or hackathon student groupHackathons and project teams let you build and test ideas quickly, and they show employers and graduate schools what you can do.
  • Start thinking about a master's program earlyResearch roles usually require a master's, so checking admission requirements, building a strong GPA, and talking to professors in your junior year will help you plan.

Tips for getting started

  • Build a portfolio of projects on GitHub or a personal site, so people can see what you have actually built and tested.
  • Get comfortable reading research papers early; this is a big part of the work and helps you learn what questions are still open.
  • Look for a summer or part-time job in a lab, startup, or tech company, since research jobs often value real hands-on experience.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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