How long does the training take?

Typically about six years of study in total. That is the usual route rather than a rule — people arrive by other paths all the time.

How much do computer and information research scientists make?

The US median is $140,300 a year, meaning half earn more and half less. Pay varies widely by state, employer and experience.

Do you need a degree for this work?

Yes — a degree is the usual way in.

Where can you train for this work?

1,974 US colleges, community colleges and trade schools award credentials in a matching program. See which ones →

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Computer and information research scientists: pay, training and the programs that lead there

Computers & IT · SOC 15-1221

$140,300US median pay, 2025

+21.8%Projected growth, 2025–35

2,900Openings per year

DegreeUsual way in

How you get in

A degree is the usual way in.

Master's degree
Work in: computer and information research scientists

Programs that lead to this job

These are the federal program codes (CIP) that the Department of Education maps to this occupation, and how many US colleges, community colleges or trade schools report awarding credentials in each.

Program	Code	Schools
Computer Science	CIP 11.0701	951
Computer and Information Sciences, General	CIP 11.0101	866
Information Technology	CIP 11.0103	629
Information Science/Studies	CIP 11.0401	372
Data Science, General	CIP 30.7001	164
Medical Informatics	CIP 51.2706	128
Bioinformatics	CIP 26.1103	96
Computer and Information Sciences, Other	CIP 11.0199	74
Artificial Intelligence	CIP 11.0102	67
Informatics	CIP 11.0104	64
Human Computer Interaction	CIP 30.3101	44
Modeling, Virtual Environments and Simulation	CIP 11.0804	36
Cloud Computing	CIP 11.0902	35
Data Science, Other	CIP 30.7099	7
Cheminformatics/Chemistry Informatics	CIP 40.0512	1

See the 1,974 schools that offer these programs →

Common questions

How long does the training take?: Typically about six years of study in total. That is the usual route rather than a rule — people arrive by other paths all the time.
How much do computer and information research scientists make?: The US median is $140,300 a year, meaning half earn more and half less. Pay varies widely by state, employer and experience.
Do you need a degree for this work?: Yes — a degree is the usual way in.
Where can you train for this work?: 1,974 US colleges, community colleges and trade schools award credentials in a matching program. See which ones →

Pay and growth are national figures. What you earn depends on where you work, your employer and your experience, and these are projections rather than promises. Education requirements describe how most people enter the job, not a rule — plenty of people take another route.

Pay, growth, openings and entry requirements: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35. Program-to-occupation mapping: NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk (2020/2018). School counts: IPEDS completions, 2022–23.

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