Computer and Information Research Scientists : Occupational Outlook Handbook : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Summary

Computer and information research scientists create new ways to use computers.

Quick Facts: Computer and Information Research Scientists
2010 Median Pay	$100,660 per year $48.39 per hour
Entry-Level Education	Doctoral or professional degree
Work Experience in a Related Occupation	None
On-the-job Training	None
Number of Jobs, 2010	28,200
Job Outlook, 2010-20	19% (About as fast as average)
Employment Change, 2010-20	5,300

What Computer and Information Research Scientists Do

Computer and information research scientists invent and design new technology and find new uses for existing technology. They study and solve complex problems in computing for business, science, medicine, and other uses.

Work Environment

Most computer and information research scientists work for computer systems design and related services firms, scientific research and development companies, or the federal government. Most work full time, and those who do independent research may have flexibility in their work schedules.

How to Become a Computer and Information Research Scientist

A Ph.D. in computer science or a related subject is required for most computer and information research scientist jobs.

Pay

The median annual wage of computer and information research scientists was $100,660 in May 2010.

Job Outlook

Employment of computer and information research scientists is expected to grow by 19 percent from 2010 to 2020, about as fast as the average of all occupations. Computer and information research scientists are likely to enjoy excellent job prospects, as many companies report difficulties finding a sufficient number of these highly skilled workers.

Similar Occupations

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

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What Computer and Information Research Scientists Do About this section

Some computer scientists create programs to control robots.

Duties

Computer and information research scientists typically do the following:

Explore fundamental issues in computation and develop theories and models to address those issues
Help scientists and engineers solve complex computing problems
Invent new computing languages, tools, and methods to improve the way in which people work with computers
Develop and improve the software systems that form the basis of the modern computing experience
Design experiments to test the operation of these software systems
Analyze the results of their experiments
Publish their findings in academic journals

Computer and information research scientists create and improve computer algorithms, which are sets of instructions that tell a computer what to do. Some computer tasks are very difficult and require complex algorithms. Computer and information research scientists try to simplify these instructions to make the computer system as efficient as possible. These algorithms become the foundation for advancements in many types of technology, such as machine learning systems and cloud computing.

Computer and information research scientists’ work often leads to advancement and increased efficiency in many areas, such as better networking technology, faster computing speeds, and improved information security. In general, computer and information research scientists work on a more theoretical level than other computer professionals.

Many people with a computer and information research science background become professors and teachers. For more information on computer science professors, see the profile on postsecondary teachers. In general, researchers in an academic setting focus on computer theory, although those working for businesses or scientific organizations usually focus on projects that have the possibility of producing profits.

Some computer scientists collaborate with electrical engineers, computer hardware engineers, and other specialists to work on multidisciplinary projects. The following are examples of some specialties for computer and information research scientists:

Hardware. Computer and information research scientists who study hardware architecture discover new ways to process and send information. They design computer chips and processors using new materials and technology to make chips and processors work faster and to give them more computing power.

Robotics. Some computer and information research scientists study how to improve robots. Robotics explores how a machine can interact with the physical world as effectively as humans and other living creatures. Computer and information research scientists create the programs that control the robots. They work closely with engineers who focus on the hardware design of robots. Together, these workers test how well the robots do the tasks they were created to do – such as assemble cars and collect data on other planets.

Software. Computer and information research scientists write the software that controls the electronic components in cars and other advanced machines. The embedded software written by computer scientists is complex and requires a high degree of accuracy because of the consequences of failure of the electronic components within such products, such as a car’s braking system or an ultrasound machine.

Work Environment About this section

Some computer scientists work in research and development.

Computer and information research scientists held about 28,200 jobs in 2010. Most computer and information research scientists work for computer systems design and related services firms, scientific research and development companies, or the federal government. Some also work for software companies.

The following industries employed the most computer and information research scientists in 2010:

Federal government	24%
Computer systems design and related services	23
Scientific research and development services	13
Educational services; state, local, and private	9
Software publishers	5

Work Schedules

Most computer and information research scientists work full time. Those working on independent research may have flexibility in their work schedules.

How to Become a Computer and Information Research Scientist About this section

During their PhD program computer scientists choose a specialty, such as robotics.

A Ph.D. in computer science or a related subject is required for most computer and information research scientist jobs. In the federal government, a bachelor’s degree may be sufficient for some jobs.

Education

Most computer and information research scientists need a Ph.D. in computer science or a related subject, such as computer engineering. A Ph.D. usually requires 4 to 5 years of study after the bachelor’s degree, usually in a computer-related field such as computer science or information systems. Students spend the first two years in a Ph.D. program taking a range of computer science classes. They then choose a specialty and spend the remaining years doing research within that specialty.

For some computer scientist positions in the federal government, a bachelor’s degree in computer science is sufficient. For computer scientists seeking employment in a specialized field, such as finance or biology, knowledge of that field, along with the computer science degree, may be helpful in attaining a job.

Important Qualities

Advanced math skills. Advanced math and other technical topics are critical in computing.

Analytical skills. Computer and information research scientists must be organized in their thinking and analyze the results of their research to formulate conclusions.

Communication skills. Computer and information research scientists must communicate well with programmers and managers, as well as be able to clearly explain their conclusions to people who may have no technical background. They often write for academic journals and similar publications.

Critical-thinking skills. Computer and information research scientists work on many complex problems.

Detail oriented. Computer and information research scientists must pay close attention to their work because a small error can cause an entire project to fail.

Ingenuity. Computer and information research scientists must continually come up with innovative ways to solve problems, particularly when their ideas do not initially work as they had hoped.

Logical thinking. Computer algorithms rely on logic. Computer and information research scientists must have an aptitude for reasoning.

Pay About this section

Computer and Information Research Scientists

Median annual wages, May 2010

Computer and Information Research Scientists: $100,660
Computer Occupations: $73,710
Total, All Occupations: $33,840

The median annual wage of computer and information research scientists was $100,660 in May 2010. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $57,630, and the top 10 percent earned more than $153,120.

Most computer and information research scientists work full time. Those working on independent research may have flexibility in their work schedules.

Job Outlook About this section

Computer and Information Research Scientists

Percent change in employment, projected 2010-20

Computer Occupations: 22%
Computer and Information Research Scientists: 19%
Total, All Occupations: 14%

Employment of computer and information research scientists is expected to grow by 19 percent from 2010 to 2020, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Computer scientists will be needed to develop the software that controls increasingly complicated electronics. These electronic components, called embedded systems, are in many products, from cars to machines that are used for performing some healthcare procedures remotely. A growing emphasis on cyber security also should lead to new jobs, as computer scientists will be needed to identify innovative ways to prevent attacks or track hackers.

In addition, growth will be driven by an increase in cloud computing systems, which allow users to store files, get software, and use other information technology (IT) services over the Internet. Computer scientists will be needed to design the infrastructure to enable widespread adoption of cloud computing.

Job Prospects

Computer and information research scientists are likely to enjoy excellent job prospects. There are a limited number of Ph.D. graduates each year. As a result, many companies report difficulties finding a sufficient supply of these highly skilled workers.

For applicants seeking employment in a specialized field, such as finance or biology, knowledge of that field, along with the computer science degree, may be helpful in attaining a job.

Employment projections data for computer and information research scientists, 2010-20
Occupational Title	SOC Code	Employment, 2010	Projected Employment, 2020	Change, 2010-20		Employment by Industry
Occupational Title	SOC Code	Employment, 2010	Projected Employment, 2020	Percent	Numeric	Employment by Industry
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
Computer and Information Research Scientists	15-1111	28,200	33,500	19	5,300	[XLS]

Similar Occupations About this section

This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of computer and information research scientists.

Occupation	Job Duties	ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION	2010 MEDIAN PAY
Computer and Information Systems Managers	Computer and information systems managers, often called information technology managers (IT managers or IT project managers), plan, coordinate, and direct computer-related activities in an organization. They help determine the information technology goals of an organization and are responsible for implementing the appropriate computer systems to meet those goals.	Bachelor’s degree	$115,780
Computer Hardware Engineers	Computer hardware engineers research, design, develop, and test computer equipment such as chips, circuit boards, or routers. By solving complex problems in computer hardware, these engineers create rapid advances in computer technology.	Bachelor’s degree	$98,810
Computer Programmers	Computer programmers write code to create software programs. They turn the program designs created by software developers and engineers into instructions that a computer can follow.	Bachelor’s degree	$71,380
Database Administrators	Database administrators use software to store and organize data, such as financial information and customer shipping records. They make sure that data are available to users and are secure from unauthorized access.	Bachelor’s degree	$73,490
Postsecondary Teachers	Postsecondary teachers instruct students in a wide variety of academic and vocational subjects beyond the high school level. They also conduct research and publish scholarly papers and books.	Doctoral or professional degree	$62,050
Software Developers	Software developers are the creative minds behind computer programs. Some develop the applications that allow people to do specific tasks on a computer or other device. Others develop the underlying systems that run the devices or control networks.	Bachelor’s degree	$90,530