Skills it runs on
The capabilities O*NET rates most important for this occupation — the human ground the work is built on.
See all skills →Computer and Information Research Scientists
Occupation · SOC 15-1221.00
Conduct research into fundamental computer and information science as theorists, designers, or inventors. Develop solutions to problems in the field of computer hardware and software.
Also called: Computer Scientist · Computer Specialist · Control System Computer Scientist · Research Scientist · Scientific Programmer Analyst · AI Engineer (Artificial Intelligence Engineer) · Applied Scientist · Artificial Intelligence Specialist (AI Specialist) · Computational Linguist · Computational Scientist · Computational Theory Scientist · Computer Vision Scientist
Job family: Computer and Mathematical Occupations
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/roles/role-15-1221-00/context.md directly.
AI work map
A fast read on where AI already shows up in this occupation, where it stays a copilot, where humans remain in the loop, and what the labor market is doing. Built from observed Claude.ai conversations mapped to O*NET tasks and from published research — measures of usage and exposure, not advice or predictions that the job is going away.
Market signal
Independent published positions, read together — not a forecast.
- Growing fast employment outlook (+19.7% by 2034)
- 3,200 openings/yr
- Moderate AI exposure
- Median pay $140,910/yr
67th-percentile task overlap — yet about 3,200 openings a year (+19.7% projected, BLS) . What exposure means →
AI & job outlook
What today's research says about this occupation's exposure to AI, how AI is actually being used in it, and where employment is headed. These are positions within published studies — measures of exposure and usage, not predictions that this job will disappear.
Exposure to current AI
Each study uses its own scale, so the raw scores are not comparable across rows — the percentile (this job's rank among all U.S. occupations with data) is the comparable figure, and sizes the bars.
| Measure | Rank vs all occupations | Percentile | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| LLM task exposure, γ (OpenAI / Eloundou) High | 76th | 0.9 | |
| AI assistant applicability (Microsoft) Moderate | 58th | 0.2 |
OpenAI's exposure study scores tasks three ways: with a language model alone (α 0.4), with simple added tooling (β 0.6), and including AI-powered software (γ 0.9). Higher means more of the job's tasks could be done at least twice as fast — not that they will be automated away.
How AI is actually used in this job
Among measured AI assistant conversations mapped to this occupation (Anthropic Economic Index, 2026-01-15), these task types came up most. These are shares of observed AI conversations — not shares of the job, of worker time, or of what could be automated.
| Conduct logical analyses of business, scientific, engineering, and other technical problems, formulating mathematical models of problems for solution by computers. | 75.5% | |
| Analyze problems to develop solutions involving computer hardware and software. | 12.3% | |
| Consult with users, management, vendors, and technicians to determine computing needs and system requirements. | 7.3% | |
| Design computers and the software that runs them. | 0.9% | |
| Develop and interpret organizational goals, policies, and procedures. | 0.5% | |
| Apply theoretical expertise and innovation to create or apply new technology, such as adapting principles for applying computers to new uses. | 0.3% |
Job outlook
Independent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projection for 2024–2034 — a labor-market forecast, not an AI-impact forecast.
| Outlook | Growing fast · +19.7% by 2034 |
| Projected annual openings | 3,200 |
| Employment 2024 → 2034 | 40,300 → 48,300 |
“Annual openings” counts new jobs plus replacements for workers who leave the occupation, so it can be large even when growth is modest.
Tasks
All 15 tasks O*NET lists for this occupation, ordered by importance. Each links to its own page with AI-exposure and observed-use detail.
- Analyze problems to develop solutions involving computer hardware and software. Core · importance 4.2
- Apply theoretical expertise and innovation to create or apply new technology, such as adapting principles for applying computers to new uses. Core · importance 3.9
- Assign or schedule tasks to meet work priorities and goals. Core · importance 3.8
- Maintain network hardware and software, direct network security measures, and monitor networks to ensure availability to system users. Supplemental · importance 3.7
- Meet with managers, vendors, and others to solicit cooperation and resolve problems. Core · importance 3.6
- Design computers and the software that runs them. Core · importance 3.6
- Conduct logical analyses of business, scientific, engineering, and other technical problems, formulating mathematical models of problems for solution by computers. Core · importance 3.6
- Evaluate project plans and proposals to assess feasibility issues. Core · importance 3.5
- Participate in multidisciplinary projects in areas such as virtual reality, human-computer interaction, or robotics. Core · importance 3.4
- Consult with users, management, vendors, and technicians to determine computing needs and system requirements. Core · importance 3.4
- Direct daily operations of departments, coordinating project activities with other departments. Supplemental · importance 3.3
- Develop and interpret organizational goals, policies, and procedures. Core · importance 3.2
- Develop performance standards, and evaluate work in light of established standards. Core · importance 3.1
- Participate in staffing decisions and direct training of subordinates. Supplemental · importance 3.0
- Approve, prepare, monitor, and adjust operational budgets. Supplemental · importance 2.8
Work activities
- Analyze data to identify or resolve operational problems.
- Assign duties or work schedules to employees.
- Evaluate project designs to determine adequacy or feasibility.
- Apply information technology to solve business or other applied problems.
- Collaborate with others to determine design specifications or details.
- Collaborate with others to resolve information technology issues.
- Analyze data to identify trends or relationships among variables.
- Develop organizational goals or objectives.
- Train others in computer interface or software use.
- Participate in staffing decisions.
- Develop performance metrics or standards related to information technology.
- Design integrated computer systems.
- Monitor the performance of computer networks.
- Maintain computer hardware.
- Collaborate on research activities with scientists or technical specialists.
- Manage budgets for appropriate resource allocation.
- Manage information technology projects or system activities.
- Coordinate project activities with other personnel or departments.
Knowledge, skills & abilities
O*NET importance rating, from 1 (not important) to 5 (extremely important).
Knowledge
| Computers and Electronics | 4.6 | |
| Mathematics | 4.1 | |
| Engineering and Technology | 4.0 | |
| English Language | 3.9 | |
| Administration and Management | 3.3 | |
| Design | 3.3 |
Abilities
| Deductive Reasoning | 4.1 | |
| Inductive Reasoning | 4.1 | |
| Oral Comprehension | 4.0 | |
| Oral Expression | 4.0 | |
| Written Comprehension | 3.9 | |
| Fluency of Ideas | 3.9 | |
| Problem Sensitivity | 3.9 | |
| Written Expression | 3.8 | |
| Information Ordering | 3.8 | |
| Category Flexibility | 3.8 | |
| Near Vision | 3.8 | |
| Originality | 3.6 | |
| Mathematical Reasoning | 3.4 | |
| Number Facility | 3.3 | |
| Visualization | 3.3 | |
| Speech Recognition | 3.3 | |
| Speech Clarity | 3.3 |
Essential skills
| Critical Thinking | 4.0 | |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.8 | |
| Active Listening | 3.8 | |
| Speaking | 3.5 | |
| Active Learning | 3.5 | |
| Writing | 3.4 | |
| Mathematics | 3.4 | |
| Science | 3.1 | |
| Monitoring | 3.1 |
Transferable skills
| Complex Problem Solving | 4.0 | |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 4.0 | |
| Systems Analysis | 3.8 | |
| Programming | 3.6 | |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.6 | |
| Time Management | 3.4 | |
| Operations Analysis | 3.1 | |
| Technology Design | 3.1 |
Skills in demand
Skills employers ask for in job postings for this occupation (Lightcast), with whether each is a common or specialized skill.
Showing the top 40 of 83.
Tools & technology
Showing the top 40 of 164.
Work context
How characteristic each condition is of the job, on O*NET's 1–5 context scale (higher = more present in day-to-day work). Each condition links to how it varies across all occupations.
How to get in
- Job zone
- Zone 5 — Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Typical entry-level education
- Master's degree · BLS, the typical path — not a requirement
- Related experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Preparation level
- SVP (8.0 and above) — total schooling plus on-the-job experience.
What to study: Biological and Biomedical Sciences , Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services , Health Professions and Related Programs , Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies , Physical Sciences . Fields of study crosswalked to this occupation (NCES CIP–SOC), not a requirement.
Education of current workers
Share of people in this occupation at each level of education.
| Doctoral Degree | 28.4% | |
| Master's Degree | 19.9% | |
| Some College Courses | 8.3% | |
| Post-Doctoral Training | 4.5% | |
| First Professional Degree | 2.6% |
Interests & work styles
The interests and personal qualities O*NET associates with people who do this work.
Career interests (Holland / RIASEC)
| Investigative | 7.0 | |
| Conventional | 4.8 | |
| Realistic | 3.7 | |
| Artistic | 3.0 | |
| Enterprising | 2.5 |
Work styles
| Dependability | 7.0 | |
| Attention to Detail | 6.0 | |
| Intellectual Curiosity | 5.0 | |
| Achievement Orientation | 4.0 | |
| Perseverance | 3.0 | |
| Innovation | 2.8 |
Interest areas
| Information Technology | 6.4 | |
| Mathematics/Statistics | 5.4 | |
| Engineering | 4.5 | |
| Management/Administration | 3.0 | |
| Mechanics/Electronics | 2.8 |
Wages & employment
U.S. · annual wages (BLS OEWS)
| 10th percentile | $80,670 |
| 25th percentile | $102,710 |
| Median (50th) | $140,910 |
| 75th percentile | $181,210 |
| 90th percentile | $232,120 |
| People employed | 38,480 |
Industries that employ this occupation
Where these workers are employed, by number of jobs (national, BLS OEWS). Pay shown is the occupation's national median, not industry-specific.
| Industry | Workers | National median pay |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services · Sector | 17,520 | $140,910 |
| Information · Sector | 4,230 | $219,620 |
| Educational Services · Sector | 2,160 | $88,700 |
| Manufacturing · Sector | 1,680 | $172,590 |
| Engineering Services · National industry | 1,040 | $156,830 |
| Wholesale Trade · Sector | 660 | $174,900 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises · Sector | 540 | $160,820 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services · Sector | 440 | $138,590 |
| Temporary Help Services · National industry | 270 | $130,460 |
| Finance and Insurance · Sector | 260 | $136,420 |
| Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities · National industry | 130 | $138,530 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance · Sector | 110 | $92,660 |
Where this work is most concentrated
Industries where this occupation is far more common than in the economy as a whole. The location quotient is how many times more concentrated it is here (a value of 5 means five times its economy-wide share).
| Industry | Concentration | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities · National industry | 8.57× | 130 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services · Sector | 6.52× | 17,520 |
| Information · Sector | 5.83× | 4,230 |
| Engineering Services · National industry | 3.6× | 1,040 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises · Sector | 0.77× | 540 |
| Educational Services · Sector | 0.63× | 2,160 |
| Manufacturing · Sector | 0.53× | 1,680 |
| Wholesale Trade · Sector | 0.44× | 660 |
Related occupations
Part of the Digital Technology career cluster.
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Side-by-side comparisons place two occupations’ pay, preparation, skills, and AI exposure on the same page — same data, same scale, no forecast.
What you can do with this
Options the data surfaces for Computer and Information Research Scientists — not advice or a forecast. Each is a real cross-link you can follow into the evidence.
Skills that travel
Capabilities this work builds that are used across many other occupations.
Adjacent roles
Occupations O*NET rates as related — the nearby moves on the map.
Paths in
How people typically prepare for this work.
- Master's degree · typical entry level
- Job zone 5 — Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed · preparation tier
- Biological and Biomedical Sciences · field of study
- Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services · field of study
Zoom out
See where this work sits in the bigger picture.
Write a report on thisheadline · factoids · citation
Computer and Information Research Scientists show 67th-percentile AI task overlap — and about 3,200 annual U.S. openings
- Computer and Information Research Scientists rank in the 67th percentile (High band) for AI task overlap across U.S. occupations — a measure of how much of the work today's AI can attempt, not how much is automated.Eloundou et al. (GPTs are GPTs) + Felten AIOE
- The occupation is projected to see about 3,200 U.S. job openings per year (2024–34), counting growth and replacement — a labor-demand projection made independently of AI.BLS Employment Projections 2024–34
- BLS projects employment to be growing fast (+19.7%) from 2024 to 2034.BLS Employment Projections 2024–34
- Median annual pay is $140,910, across about 38,480 U.S. workers.BLS OEWS (May 2024)
Copy the whole kit
Computer and Information Research Scientists show 67th-percentile AI task overlap — and about 3,200 annual U.S. openings • Computer and Information Research Scientists rank in the 67th percentile (High band) for AI task overlap across U.S. occupations — a measure of how much of the work today's AI can attempt, not how much is automated. (Eloundou et al. (GPTs are GPTs) + Felten AIOE) • The occupation is projected to see about 3,200 U.S. job openings per year (2024–34), counting growth and replacement — a labor-demand projection made independently of AI. (BLS Employment Projections 2024–34) • BLS projects employment to be growing fast (+19.7%) from 2024 to 2034. (BLS Employment Projections 2024–34) • Median annual pay is $140,910, across about 38,480 U.S. workers. (BLS OEWS (May 2024)) Source: Singulariki — "Computer and Information Research Scientists". https://singulariki.com/roles/role-15-1221-00 Note: AI task overlap measures what today's AI can attempt, not automation, job loss, or a forecast.
AssetsShare imageMethodology & sourcesPress & newsroomThe newsroom
Every line is built only from figures this page already shows and cites. AI task overlap means what today's AI can attempt — not automation, job loss, or a forecast.
Sources for this page
Every figure above traces to a named public dataset and the exact release below — not hand-written opinion. See the full methodology for what each measure does and does not mean.
- O*NET 30.3 U.S. Department of Labor / National Center for O*NET Development
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Anthropic Economic Index v4 (2026-01-15) + v2 (2025-03-27) Anthropic
- Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai Microsoft Research
- “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130 OpenAI / academic
Data compiled June 2, 2026. Figures are estimates, not advice.
Cite this page
Plain
Singulariki. "Computer and Information Research Scientists." Singulariki: a source-backed encyclopedia of work. Built from O*NET 30.3; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024; BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034; Anthropic Economic Index v4 (2026-01-15) + v2 (2025-03-27); Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai; “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130. Accessed June 7, 2026. https://singulariki.com/roles/role-15-1221-00
APA
Singulariki. (2026). Computer and Information Research Scientists. Singulariki: a source-backed encyclopedia of work. Retrieved June 7, 2026, from https://singulariki.com/roles/role-15-1221-00
BibTeX
@misc{singulariki-role-15-1221-00,
title = {Computer and Information Research Scientists},
author = {{Singulariki}},
year = {2026},
note = {O*NET 30.3; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024; BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034; Anthropic Economic Index v4 (2026-01-15) + v2 (2025-03-27); Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai; “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130. Accessed June 7, 2026},
url = {https://singulariki.com/roles/role-15-1221-00}
} Citations name the underlying public dataset releases — they reflect what this page is built from, not just the URL.