Computer and information research scientists

Detailed Occupation

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2020 Workforce

26k

Average Age

Average Salary

$110,461

Average Male Salary

$115,399

Average Female Salary

$96,407

About

Computer and information research scientists are most often employed by the Computer Systems Design industry. The average yearly wage for Computer and information research scientists was $110,461 in 2016. The top 3 most similar occupations to Computer and information research scientists by wage are Financial managers, Astronomers & physicists, and Other financial specialists.

Computer and information research scientists are part of the Computer & mathematical occupations, along with Computer systems analysts, Information security analysts, Computer and information research scientists, Computer support specialists, Computer network architects, and 11 more.

The top 3 locations that employ the most Computer and information research scientists are Mountain View, Palo Alto & Los Altos Cities PUMA, CA, Severn, Odenton, Crofton, Maryland City & Fort Meade PUMA, MD, and Queen Anne & Magnolia PUMA, WA. The top 3 locations with a relatively high concentration of Computer and information research scientists are Cambridge City PUMA, MA, Severn, Odenton, Crofton, Maryland City & Fort Meade PUMA, MD, and Mountain View, Palo Alto & Los Altos Cities PUMA, CA.

Employment

Information on the businesses and industries that employ Computer and information research scientists and on wages and locations for those in the field. Computer Systems Design is the industry that employs the most Computer and information research scientists, both by share and by number, though the highest paid industry for Computer and information research scientists, by average wage, is Pharmaceutical & medicine manufacturing. Computer and information research scientists are paid most in Brooklyn Heights & Fort Greene PUMA, NY but are relatively concentrated in Cambridge City PUMA, MA.

Yearly Wage

$110,461

AVERAGE SALARY

± $14,287

In 2020, Computer and information research scientists earned an average of $110,461, $54,507 more than than the average national salary of $55,954.

Astronomers & physicists make somewhat more than Computer and information research scientists while Financial managers make somewhat less. This chart shows the various occupations closest to Computer and information research scientists as measured by average annual salary in the US.

Wage Distribution

0.383

WAGE GINI

In 2019, Computer and information research scientists had a wage GINI coefficient of 0.383, which is lower than than the national average of 0.478. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly for Computer and information research scientists (shown in red) than for the overall labor force (shown in gray).

Wage by Location

HIGHEST PAYING PUMAS

This map shows the Public Use Microdata Areas (PUMAs) in the United States shaded by average annual wage for Computer and information research scientists.

Spatial Concentration

PUMAs with a Relatively High Concentration of Computer and information research scientists

This map displays which Public Use Microdata Areas (PUMAs) in the United States have a relatively high population of Computer and information research scientists.

Most Common

The most common industries employing Computer and information research scientists, by number of employees, are Computer Systems Design, National security & international affairs, Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges, Scientific research & development services, Management, scientific & technical consulting services, Internet publishing, broadcasting & web search portals, General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals, Administration of economic programs & space research, Software publishing, Electronic shopping and mail-order houses, and Computer & peripheral equipment manufacturing.

Highest Paying

The highest paying industries for Computer and information research scientists, by average wage, are Pharmaceutical & medicine manufacturing, Internet publishing, broadcasting & web search portals, and Telecommunications, except wired telecommunications carriers .

Industries by Share

26k

2020 Workforce

± 3,958

1.8%

1 YEAR GROWTH

± 21.2%

The number of people employed as Computer and information research scientists has been growing at a rate of 1.8%, from 25,529 people in 2019 to 25,989 people in 2020.

This graphic shows the share of Computer and information research scientists employed by various industries. Computer Systems Design employs the largest share of Computer and information research scientists at 25.6%, followed by National security & international affairs with 11.4% and Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges with 9.9%.

Diversity

Demographic information on Computer and information research scientists in the US. The average age of male Computer and information research scientists in the workforce is 38.7 and of female Computer and information research scientists is 40, and the most common race/ethnicity for Computer and information research scientists is White (Non-Hispanic).

Composition by Sex

19.2k

MALE WORKFORCE

± 3,405

6.76k

FEMALE WORKFORCE

± 2,018

74% of Computer and information research scientists are Male, making them the more common sex in the occupation. This chart shows the sex breakdown of Computer and information research scientists.

Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity of Computer and information research scientists

White (Non-Hispanic)
Asian (Non-Hispanic)
Black (Non-Hispanic)

64.1% of Computer and information research scientists are White (Non-Hispanic), making that the most common race or ethnicity in the occupation. Representing 21.6% of Computer and information research scientists, Asian (Non-Hispanic) is the second most common race or ethnicity in this occupation. This chart shows the racial and ethnic breakdown of Computer and information research scientists.

Age by Sex

38.7

AVERAGE MALE AGE

± 2.31

AVERAGE FEMALE AGE

± 3.87

The median age of Computer and information research scientists is 39, and Male employees are generally 1.28 years younger than than their Female counterparts.

Education

Data on higher education choices for Computer and information research scientists from The Department of Education and Census Bureau. The most common major for Computer and information research scientists is Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services but a relatively high number of Computer and information research scientists hold a major in Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services.