Headline risk
18%
Moderate RiskComputer and information research scientists
United States AI Work Index tracks this occupation on the shared structural baseline and then layers on local demand resilience, wages, and confidence.
Why This Score
Share of job tasks that overlap with current AI capabilities
Median annual wage
Projected employment change over 10 years
Typical preparation needed for this occupation
Occupation profile
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.
Task evidence
100% weighted task match · 36% effective coverage
Scores combine AI task overlap, human advantages, and local demand. How it works
United States Now
Median Wage
USD 140,910
Employment 2024
40.3K
Projected Change (2024–34)
19.7%
Openings (2024–34)
3.2K
Wage distribution
Demand outlook
Employment of computer and information research scientists is projected to grow 20 percent from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations.
Role Profile
Tasks
- 1. Analyze problems to develop solutions involving computer hardware and software. AI use: 87%
- 2. Conduct logical analyses of business, scientific, engineering, and other technical problems, formulating mathematical models of problems for solution by computers. AI use: 90%
- 3. Apply theoretical expertise and innovation to create or apply new technology, such as adapting principles for applying computers to new uses. AI use: 0%
- 4. Meet with managers, vendors, and others to solicit cooperation and resolve problems. AI use: 0%
- 5. Assign or schedule tasks to meet work priorities and goals. AI use: 100%
- 6. Design computers and the software that runs them. AI use: 0%
Technologies
Requirements
Work context
Worker profile
Median age 46.4 · 646K employed
Under 25: 1% · 25–54: 78% · 55+: 22%
Related
Source coverage
11/11 source families · O*NET 30.2 / OEWS 2024 / ORS 2025 / OOH 2025-08-28 / Projections 2024-34 / CPS 2025 / Anthropic task penetration
Mapping quality
crosswalk_exact · employment series present
Narrative & sources
Computer and information research scientists design innovative uses for new and existing computing technology.
Most computer and information research scientists work full time.
Computer and information research scientists typically need at least 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.
The median annual wage for computer and information research scientists was $140,910 in May 2024.
Employment of computer and information research scientists is projected to grow 20 percent from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations.
Published limitations
This page shows the local country layer, not realised individual job outcomes. The global structural baseline is shared across countries; only the local demand and wage layer changes here.
Built from O*NET occupation descriptions, task statements, technology skills, work context, Job Zones, Anthropic task penetration, BLS OEWS wages, BLS projection tables, BLS ORS requirements, BLS OOH narrative content, BLS skills data, and BLS CPS occupation age tables.