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Computer Scientist Salary in the United States

How much does a Computer Scientist make in the United States? The salary range for a Computer Scientist job is from $100,205 to $138,398 per year in the United States. Click on the filter to check out Computer Scientist job salaries by hourly, weekly, biweekly, semimonthly, monthly, and yearly.

Average base salary
updated at March 01, 2025
$120,083
Per Year
The average salary for a Computer Scientist is $120,083
per Year in the United States.
Individually reported data submitted by users of our website

HOW SHOULD YOU USE THIS DATA?

Employees: Use this as a guide for salary expectations, but be aware that responsibilities can change across companies for the same job title, so there may be differences between this data, other free site and our subscription products bought by employers.

Employers: This data could be used as reference point in your market pricing, but not the only source, due to differences across jobs locations, and sizes of companies.Consider additional sources like our Employer reported data.

Base Salary
$100,205
$120,083
Medium
$138,398

Highest Paying Cities for Computer Scientist in the United States

Computer Scientist salaries in the United States will pay differently by cities. Below following are the eight cities with the highest income for Computer Scientist jobs in the United States. The city with the highest salary is San Jose. Click on the Computer Scientist salary in cities you are interested in to view detailed job salary information.

States with Higher Salaries for Computer Scientist

The five states where Computer Scientist jobs get higher salaries in the United States are: District of Columbia, California, New Jersey, Alaska, and Massachusetts. Compared with the average salary of a Computer Scientist in the United States, the state of District of Columbia with the highest job income for this job. The second and third states are California and New Jersey respectively. The high or low salary paid to Computer Scientist by the US has a greater relationship with the demand for jobs and the cost of living.

How Much Do Similar Professions Get Paid in the United States?

There are some different titles for Computer Scientist jobs, and the job title of Computer Scientist will vary in different companies. The job title has a lot to do with the department and responsibilities, and the same job title will vary in different departments. The following list is the salary of jobs similar to Computer Scientist, start to view Computer Scientist-related jobs you are interested in.
Computer Research Scientist
Average salary
United States
$134,209
per Year
Computer Vision Scientist
Average salary
United States
$78,880
per Year
Senior Computer Scientist
Average salary
United States
$170,362
per Year
Computer & Information Research Scientist
Average salary
United States
$114,409
per Year
Chief Data Scientist
Average salary
United States
$272,900
per Year

How Much Should You Be Earning?

Get an estimated calculation of how much you should be earning and insight into your career options.

What Does a Computer Scientist Do?

Sought-after soft skills for computer scientists include creative thinking, complex problem solving, time management, and effective interpersonal communication – both written and verbal.

December 22, 2021

Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of computer and information research scientists with similar occupations.

December 21, 2021

Computer scientists are often hired by software publishing firms, scientific research and development organizations where they develop the theories that allow new technologies to be developed.

December 20, 2021

Computer scientists bring a highly technical skillset that can effectively ensure their employment with any range of companies, as well as being able to command high salaries as independent contractors.

December 18, 2021

Becoming a computer scientist is a great career option if you have an interest in technology and problem solving and want a job where you will be challenged and learn new skills.

December 18, 2021

Most Common Benefits for Computer Scientist

Social Security
Healthcare
401(k)
Pension
Disability
Time Off (days)

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about salaries for a Computer Scientist
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Sought-after soft skills for computer scientists include creative thinking, complex problem solving, time management, and effective interpersonal communication – both written and verbal.
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Check the below career pages for detailed pay ranges for similar professions to Computer Scientist:
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The highest Computer Scientist salary is $138,398, while the lowest is $100,205 in the United States.
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