Computer Research Scientist Salary in the United States

How much does a Computer Research Scientist make in the United States?

As of April 01, 2026, the average salary for a Computer Research Scientist in the United States is $126,869 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $61.

However, a Computer Research Scientist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $169,143
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $113,455 to $148,997
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $101,242
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2025 Compensation Trend
AI Onboarding
Recruit with AI
View as table View as graph 25% $113,455 10% $101,242 90% $169,143 75% $148,997 $126,869 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Computer Research Scientist Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $148,997 $12,416 $2,865 $72
Average $126,869 $10,572 $2,440 $61
25th Percentile $113,455 $9,455 $2,182 $55
Check out Computer Research Scientist Job Openings in the United States
Lead Scientist Computer Sciences Microgravity Research

Justin Filiberto - Cleveland, OH

Scientist Computer Sciences

Justin Filiberto - Cleveland, OH

Research Scientist

Afference - Cleveland, OH

Research Scientist

Upstart - Columbus, OH

Search More Computer Research Scientist Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Computer Research Scientist Salaries

A Computer Research Scientist's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Computer Research Scientist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Computer Research Scientist's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $107,538
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $128,735
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $125,242
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $161,477
  • Expert (over 8 years): $175,057
Levels Salary
Community... Level Computer Research Scientist$107,538
Community... Level Computer Research Scientist$128,735
Computer ... Level Computer Research Scientist$125,242
Community... Level Computer Research Scientist$161,477
VP of Com... Level Computer Research Scientist$175,057
$107,538 0 yr
$128,735 < 2 yrs
$125,242 2-4 yrs
$161,477 5-8 yrs
$175,057 > 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Computer Research Scientists

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $160,020
  • San Francisco: $158,447
  • Oakland: $154,932

What Skills Can Increase a Computer Research Scientist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 12.16% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Accounting (Mentioned in 2.31% Job Postings): Creating financial statements and reports based on the summary of financial and business transactions.
  • Customer Satisfaction (Mentioned in 1.63% Job Postings): Customer satisfaction (often abbreviated as CSAT, more correctly CSat) is a term frequently used in marketing. It is a measure of how products and services supplied by a company meet or surpass customer expectation. Customer satisfaction is defined as "the number of customers, or percentage of total customers, whose reported experience with a firm, its products, or its services (ratings) exceeds specified satisfaction goals." The Marketing Accountability Standards Board (MASB) endorses the definitions, purposes, and constructs of classes of measures that appear in Marketing Metrics as part of its ongoing Common Language in Marketing Project. In a survey of nearly 200 senior marketing managers, 71 percent responded that they found a customer satisfaction metric very useful in managing and monitoring their businesses. It is seen as a key performance indicator within business and is often part of a Balanced Scorecard. In a competitive marketplace where businesses compete for customers, customer satisfaction is seen as a key differentiator and increasingly has become a key element of business strategy.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 12.16%
Accounting 2.31%
Customer Satisfaction 1.63%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Computer Research Scientist's salary.
  • Taking Ownership: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
  • Networking: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Coaching: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Taking Ownership
$143,362
13%
Networking
$137,019
8%
Coaching
$134,481
6%
Project Management
$134,481
6%
Community Management
$133,212
5%
Billing
$133,212
5%
Get Latest Data

How Education impacts a Computer Research Scientist's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Computer Research Scientists enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Computer Research Scientist with a Bachelor's Degree is between $123,084 and $133,966).

Computer Research Scientist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Computer Research Scientist
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 17.8%
High School 17.8%
Associates 3.0%
Bachelors 40.6%
Masters 33.7%
Doctorate 5.0%
view as graph

Computer Research Scientist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Computer Research Scientist's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on April 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Computer Research Scientist

Salaries for a Computer Research Scientist can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $103,349 in 2023 to around $102,778 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Computer Research Scientist salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Computer Research Scientist Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$103,349
2024
$103,740
2025
$102,778
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $103,349
2024 $103,740
2025 $102,778
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Computer Research Scientist

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

If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution.

Compensation Planning

Common company salaries for Computer Research Scientist

Here are companies hiring for Computer Research Scientist and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Computer Research Scientist Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Computer Research Scientist job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States
For Employees

Get a Salary Increase

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Search Job Openings

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

For Employers

Adjust Employee Salary

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Price My Industry Jobs

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst