The national median salary for computer and information research scientists is $140,300, with a salary spread of $148,430 from the 10th to 90th percentile -- a 106% range that reflects differences in experience, location, and industry. The mean salary of $153,930 is higher than the median, indicating that top earners pull the average upward. The highest-paying metro area is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, where the median reaches $218,420.
| City | Median | P25 | P75 | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $218,420 | $171,990 | $270,170 | 2,210 |
| Seattle, WA | $211,270 | $153,130 | $255,550 | 1,620 |
| Portland, OR-WA | $206,220 | $169,410 | $309,340 | 660 |
| Rochester, NY | $204,340 | $165,330 | $213,160 | 50 |
| Albany, NY | $181,990 | $166,040 | $184,620 | 200 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $171,880 | $131,810 | $198,950 | 70 |
| San Francisco, CA | $171,440 | $108,670 | $219,630 | 1,670 |
| New York, NY-NJ | $170,890 | $129,990 | $252,670 | 2,100 |
| Palm Bay, FL | $170,850 | $128,230 | $204,790 | 60 |
| Boston, MA-NH | $170,510 | $119,920 | $216,180 | 1,620 |
| Boulder, CO | $169,400 | $132,770 | $215,090 | 90 |
| Atlanta, GA | $166,800 | $127,070 | $207,060 | 110 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $165,690 | $152,260 | $207,780 | 220 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $164,460 | $110,490 | $218,580 | 160 |
| Richmond, VA | $162,910 | $136,710 | $199,880 | 160 |
| Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV | $161,090 | $129,730 | $201,170 | 3,420 |
| Baltimore, MD | $156,750 | $128,860 | $183,770 | 1,070 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $155,960 | $104,470 | $189,260 | 940 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $155,910 | $94,620 | $157,140 | 50 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $151,110 | $118,190 | $161,440 | 50 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $144,580 | $107,680 | $175,960 | 40 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $142,660 | $107,470 | $174,550 | 100 |
| Atlantic City, NJ | $140,190 | $113,110 | $174,050 | 290 |
| Sacramento, CA | $139,210 | $115,440 | $185,340 | 140 |
| Riverside, CA | $137,330 | $106,270 | $159,700 | 150 |
| Dayton, OH | $137,300 | $109,660 | $157,710 | 160 |
| Durham, NC | $136,990 | $105,450 | $189,080 | 90 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $136,990 | $104,270 | $157,730 | 60 |
| Detroit, MI | $136,720 | $125,990 | $151,110 | 150 |
| Lexington Park, MD | $136,660 | $106,600 | $156,750 | 360 |
| Minneapolis, MN-WI | $135,880 | $118,870 | $158,830 | 30 |
| Chicago, IL-IN | $135,630 | $104,260 | $170,140 | 490 |
| Houston, TX | $134,050 | $96,790 | $159,270 | 380 |
| Denver, CO | $133,970 | $108,420 | $166,410 | 160 |
| Virginia Beach, VA-NC | $132,870 | $103,570 | $158,210 | 460 |
| Miami, FL | $132,680 | $93,320 | $188,030 | 110 |
| Hartford, CT | $131,650 | $131,650 | $131,650 | -- |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $130,300 | $113,010 | $160,780 | 50 |
| Binghamton, NY | $129,420 | $66,600 | $174,390 | 30 |
| Raleigh, NC | $128,370 | $128,370 | $162,910 | 280 |
| Austin, TX | $127,360 | $82,400 | $171,660 | 300 |
| Charleston, SC | $126,860 | $101,880 | $136,990 | 400 |
| Cleveland, OH | $126,860 | $95,620 | $164,690 | 40 |
| Utica, NY | $125,720 | $100,710 | $155,580 | 160 |
| Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $125,320 | $101,040 | $142,130 | 350 |
| Providence, RI-MA | $123,390 | $103,290 | $154,860 | 510 |
| Huntsville, AL | $122,200 | $80,600 | $150,200 | -- |
| Manchester, NH | $121,780 | $91,750 | $184,730 | 30 |
| San Diego, CA | $121,530 | $96,180 | $156,480 | 1,680 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $116,650 | $95,800 | $147,180 | 490 |
| Orlando, FL | $116,470 | $94,270 | $181,430 | 250 |
| Las Cruces, NM | $115,610 | $91,540 | $135,300 | 80 |
| Oxnard, CA | $112,050 | $94,310 | $134,870 | 350 |
| Nashville, TN | $111,090 | $107,990 | $111,090 | -- |
| Tampa, FL | $109,660 | $91,240 | $145,950 | 120 |
| Bremerton, WA | $109,550 | $89,270 | $134,220 | 110 |
| New Orleans, LA | $108,990 | $93,040 | $136,200 | 80 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $107,090 | $95,200 | $133,390 | 130 |
| Panama City, FL | $105,660 | $85,800 | $129,520 | 140 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $104,670 | $92,560 | $141,520 | 120 |
| Charlotte, NC-SC | $102,630 | $90,580 | $137,790 | 110 |
| Ogden, UT | $96,740 | $84,450 | $120,330 | 810 |
| Gulfport, MS | $96,450 | $77,000 | $126,440 | 150 |
| Champaign, IL | $94,700 | $69,470 | $144,840 | 50 |
| San Antonio, TX | $94,220 | $82,500 | $135,800 | -- |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $93,100 | $79,370 | $113,980 | 560 |
| Warner Robins, GA | $89,500 | $79,160 | $102,590 | 650 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $86,800 | $68,840 | $108,080 | 120 |
| Tucson, AZ | $79,580 | $59,680 | $104,510 | 60 |
| Lansing, MI | $66,700 | $66,700 | $66,700 | 110 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025 OEWS. This data reflects occupational employment and wage estimates and may not capture total compensation including equity, bonuses, or benefits.