Computer scientist salary
BLS occupation: Computer and Information Research Scientists · Computers and math · data for May 2025
Median salary $140,300 a year, US
Median hourly pay $67.45 an hour
Middle half earn $103,570–$188,700 25th to 75th percentile
Computer scientists employed 37,200 +21.8% projected by 2035
How much does a computer scientist make?
- The median computer scientist salary in the US is $140,300 a year ($67.45 an hour): half of the 37,200 computer scientists BLS counts earn more and half earn less. The average (mean) is $153,930.
- The middle half earn between $103,570 and $188,700. The lowest-paid 10% earn less than $82,200 and the top 10% more than $230,630.
- That is 2.8 times the median for all US workers ($50,980).
- Oregon pays computer scientists the most (median $206,220), followed by Washington ($202,400) and New York ($181,990). Michigan pays the least ($82,590).
- After adjusting for prices, the pay goes furthest in Oregon, where the median is worth $199,514 in typical US prices, then Washington and New Mexico.
- In 69 of the 70 metro areas with data, the median computer scientist salary is enough to rent a typical home without spending more than 30% of income on rent.
- BLS projects the number of computer scientists to grow 21.8% from 2025 to 2035 (all jobs: 3.5%), with about 2,900 openings a year. The typical entry education is a master's degree.
official From BLS's survey of employers: what computer scientists are actually paid, not job ads or self-reports. Adjusted figures are derived. How we calculate.
How does your pay compare?
Computer scientist salary range
Half of computer scientists earn between $103,570 and $188,700 a year
Yearly pay at each point of the range, US, May 2025. For comparison, the median for all US jobs is $50,980.
Lowest 10% earn under Yearly pay: $82,200
Lowest 25% earn under Yearly pay: $103,570
Median Yearly pay: $140,300
Top 25% earn over Yearly pay: $188,700
Top 10% earn over Yearly pay: $230,630
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
Show the numbers
| Yearly pay | |
|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn under | $82,200 |
| Lowest 25% earn under | $103,570 |
| Median | $140,300 |
| Top 25% earn over | $188,700 |
| Top 10% earn over | $230,630 |
Computer scientist salary by state
Oregon pays computer scientists the most; Michigan the least
Median yearly pay by state compared with the US median ($140,300), May 2025. Blue = higher pay.
- 20%+ below US
- 10–20% below
- 3–10% below
- Within 3%
- 3–10% above
- 10–20% above
- 20%+ above US
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025.
Show the numbers
| State | Median pay |
|---|---|
| Oregon | $206,220 median |
| Washington | $202,400 median |
| New York | $181,990 median |
| Massachusetts | $170,510 median |
| New Mexico | $165,690 median |
| California | $159,100 median |
| Virginia | $157,390 median |
| Maryland | $145,310 median |
| District of Columbia | $144,190 median |
| New Jersey | $140,840 median |
| Illinois | $136,540 median |
| New Hampshire | $136,160 median |
| Minnesota | $135,850 median |
| Ohio | $135,510 median |
| Hawaii | $134,350 median |
| Nevada | $134,310 median |
| Colorado | $133,160 median |
| Connecticut | $131,650 median |
| Pennsylvania | $130,300 median |
| Arizona | $129,760 median |
| North Carolina | $128,370 median |
| Missouri | $127,820 median |
| South Carolina | $126,980 median |
| Rhode Island | $121,470 median |
| Texas | $121,210 median |
| Florida | $119,810 median |
| Alabama | $117,870 median |
| Louisiana | $115,210 median |
| Mississippi | $109,050 median |
| Tennessee | $108,830 median |
| Utah | $94,700 median |
| Oklahoma | $93,100 median |
| Georgia | $92,250 median |
| Indiana | $85,460 median |
| Michigan | $82,590 median |
Where computer scientist pay goes furthest
A salary buys more where prices are low. We divide each state's median by its price level from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, so every figure is in typical US prices. derived
Computer scientists' pay goes furthest in Oregon once prices are counted
Median pay ÷ the state's price level (BEA, 2024; US = 100), shown in typical US prices. Top 10 states.
US median
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025; BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. Our calculation.
Show the numbers
| Worth, in US prices | |
|---|---|
| Oregon | $199,514 |
| Washington | $189,136 |
| New Mexico | $179,684 |
| New York | $168,633 |
| Massachusetts | $161,228 |
| Virginia | $155,671 |
| Ohio | $146,065 |
| California | $143,696 |
| Missouri | $140,745 |
| Maryland | $138,445 |
Computer scientist pay in every state
| State | Median a year | Hourly | Lowest 10% | Top 10% | Employed | After cost of living |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | $206,220 | $99.14 | $117,570 | $351,690 | 730 | $199,514 |
| Washington | $202,400 | $97.31 | $95,890 | $281,050 | 2,050 | $189,136 |
| New York | $181,990 | $87.50 | $95,260 | $314,130 | 1,950 | $168,633 |
| Massachusetts | $170,510 | $81.98 | $77,160 | $233,340 | 1,760 | $161,228 |
| New Mexico | $165,690 | $79.66 | $101,210 | $257,950 | 490 | $179,684 |
| California | $159,100 | $76.49 | $88,920 | $275,320 | 8,440 | $143,696 |
| Virginia | $157,390 | $75.67 | $96,300 | $230,630 | 3,590 | $155,671 |
| Maryland | $145,310 | $69.86 | $98,380 | $195,190 | 2,870 | $138,445 |
| District of Columbia | $144,190 | $69.32 | $100,010 | $196,640 | 330 | $131,200 |
| New Jersey | $140,840 | $67.71 | $85,780 | $209,850 | 1,580 | $129,443 |
| Illinois | $136,540 | $65.64 | $49,190 | $243,360 | 630 | $136,597 |
| New Hampshire | $136,160 | $65.46 | $90,760 | $246,160 | 90 | $130,716 |
| Minnesota | $135,850 | $65.31 | $83,920 | $174,740 | 30 | $137,750 |
| Ohio | $135,510 | $65.15 | $44,920 | $173,510 | 280 | $146,065 |
| Hawaii | $134,350 | $64.59 | $90,960 | $165,690 | 70 | $122,191 |
| Nevada | $134,310 | $64.57 | $85,940 | $190,400 | 80 | $134,338 |
| Colorado | $133,160 | $64.02 | $84,660 | $215,090 | 400 | $129,216 |
| Connecticut | $131,650 | $63.29 | $129,690 | $131,650 | – | $127,063 |
| Pennsylvania | $130,300 | $62.64 | $83,330 | $175,480 | 330 | $133,542 |
| Arizona | $129,760 | $62.38 | $62,870 | $386,290 | 360 | $128,887 |
| North Carolina | $128,370 | $61.72 | $82,410 | $182,050 | 600 | $136,092 |
| Missouri | $127,820 | $61.45 | $73,630 | $200,010 | 230 | $140,745 |
| South Carolina | $126,980 | $61.05 | $84,200 | $161,180 | 430 | $135,447 |
| Rhode Island | $121,470 | $58.40 | $91,230 | $170,680 | 500 | $118,762 |
| Texas | $121,210 | $58.27 | $65,480 | $204,250 | 1,960 | $124,885 |
| Florida | $119,810 | $57.60 | $73,780 | $194,840 | 1,070 | $115,855 |
| Alabama | $117,870 | $56.67 | $63,290 | $174,030 | 570 | $132,702 |
| Louisiana | $115,210 | $55.39 | $80,250 | $161,120 | 140 | $130,613 |
| Mississippi | $109,050 | $52.43 | $69,220 | $161,890 | 300 | $125,413 |
| Tennessee | $108,830 | $52.32 | $82,750 | $174,760 | – | $118,461 |
| Utah | $94,700 | $45.53 | $72,990 | $169,890 | 1,250 | $95,788 |
| Oklahoma | $93,100 | $44.76 | $71,930 | $136,340 | 590 | $105,985 |
| Georgia | $92,250 | $44.35 | $73,780 | $153,630 | 810 | $95,801 |
| Indiana | $85,460 | $41.09 | $65,820 | $134,490 | 720 | $91,569 |
| Michigan | $82,590 | $39.71 | $66,700 | $159,500 | 530 | $85,837 |
BLS does not publish pay for computer scientists in 16 states (too few workers to estimate reliably). After cost of living = median ÷ (BEA price level ÷ 100).
Computer scientist salary by city
Metro areas where BLS publishes computer scientist pay: 70 of 387. Rent share = typical rent (September 2026, Zillow) × 12 ÷ the median salary; under 30% is affordable by the usual rule.
Highest-paying metro areas
- San Jose, CA $218,420
- Seattle, WA $211,270
- Portland, OR $206,220
- Rochester, NY $204,340
- Albany, NY $181,990
- Santa Maria, CA $171,880
- San Francisco, CA $171,440
- New York, NY $170,890
- Palm Bay, FL $170,850
- Boston, MA $170,510
Where the pay goes furthest
- Rochester, NY $210,584
- San Jose, CA $197,803
- Portland, OR $195,616
- Seattle, WA $190,106
- Albany, NY $182,783
- Albuquerque, NM $173,414
- Palm Bay, FL $170,841
- Atlanta, GA $166,703
- Richmond, VA $166,476
- Cincinnati, OH $163,479
All 70 metro areas
| Metro area | Median a year | Employed | After cost of living | Rent share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $218,420 | 2,210 | $197,803 | 21% |
| Seattle, WA | $211,270 | 1,620 | $190,106 | 13% |
| Portland, OR | $206,220 | 660 | $195,616 | 10% |
| Rochester, NY | $204,340 | 50 | $210,584 | 9% |
| Albany, NY | $181,990 | 200 | $182,783 | 11% |
| Santa Maria, CA | $171,880 | 70 | $157,981 | 23% |
| San Francisco, CA | $171,440 | 1,670 | $148,288 | 24% |
| New York, NY | $170,890 | 2,100 | $151,817 | 25% |
| Palm Bay, FL | $170,850 | 60 | $170,841 | 13% |
| Boston, MA | $170,510 | 1,620 | $157,492 | 21% |
| Boulder, CO | $169,400 | 90 | $161,024 | 16% |
| Atlanta, GA | $166,800 | 110 | $166,703 | 13% |
| Albuquerque, NM | $165,690 | 220 | $173,414 | 11% |
| Phoenix, AZ | $164,460 | 160 | $159,182 | 13% |
| Richmond, VA | $162,910 | 160 | $166,476 | 13% |
| Washington, DC | $161,090 | 3,420 | $147,946 | 18% |
| Baltimore, MD | $156,750 | 1,070 | $150,019 | 15% |
| Los Angeles, CA | $155,960 | 940 | $137,330 | 23% |
| Cincinnati, OH | $155,910 | 50 | $163,479 | 12% |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $151,110 | 50 | $149,792 | 15% |
| Charlottesville, VA | $144,580 | 40 | $145,825 | 17% |
| St. Louis, MO | $142,660 | 100 | $150,029 | 12% |
| Atlantic City, NJ | $140,190 | 290 | $141,811 | 18% |
| Sacramento, CA | $139,210 | 140 | $130,505 | 20% |
| Riverside, CA | $137,330 | 150 | $129,019 | 22% |
| Dayton, OH | $137,300 | 160 | $148,122 | 12% |
| Durham, NC | $136,990 | 90 | $140,399 | 14% |
| Jacksonville, FL | $136,990 | 60 | $137,701 | 15% |
| Detroit, MI | $136,720 | 150 | $136,314 | 13% |
| Lexington Park, MD | $136,660 | 360 | $135,629 | 18% |
| Minneapolis, MN | $135,880 | 30 | $129,629 | 15% |
| Chicago, IL | $135,630 | 490 | $130,923 | 19% |
| Houston, TX | $134,050 | 380 | $135,913 | 15% |
| Denver, CO | $133,970 | 160 | $126,647 | 17% |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $132,870 | 460 | $135,663 | 17% |
| Miami, FL | $132,680 | 110 | $116,228 | 24% |
| Hartford, CT | $131,650 | – | $128,132 | 18% |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $130,300 | 50 | $137,635 | 14% |
| Binghamton, NY | $129,420 | 30 | $139,367 | 15% |
| Raleigh, NC | $128,370 | 280 | $130,780 | 16% |
| Austin, TX | $127,360 | 300 | $129,872 | 15% |
| Charleston, SC | $126,860 | 400 | $125,651 | 19% |
| Cleveland, OH | $126,860 | 40 | $135,068 | 14% |
| Utica, NY | $125,720 | 160 | $135,652 | 14% |
| Philadelphia, PA | $125,320 | 350 | $122,199 | 18% |
| Providence, RI | $123,390 | 510 | $121,240 | 21% |
| Huntsville, AL | $122,200 | – | $131,296 | 14% |
| Manchester, NH | $121,780 | 30 | $115,260 | 21% |
| San Diego, CA | $121,530 | 1,680 | $108,619 | 29% |
| Bakersfield, CA | $116,650 | 490 | $115,626 | 19% |
| Orlando, FL | $116,470 | 250 | $114,842 | 20% |
| Las Cruces, NM | $115,610 | 80 | $128,154 | 15% |
| Oxnard, CA | $112,050 | 350 | $101,372 | 32% |
| Nashville, TN | $111,090 | – | $115,313 | 19% |
| Tampa, FL | $109,660 | 120 | $108,693 | 22% |
| Bremerton, WA | $109,550 | 110 | $103,734 | 22% |
| New Orleans, LA | $108,990 | 80 | $117,704 | 17% |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $107,090 | 130 | $106,338 | 20% |
| Panama City, FL | $105,660 | 140 | $108,596 | 20% |
| Kansas City, MO | $104,670 | 120 | $113,104 | 18% |
| Charlotte, NC | $102,630 | 110 | $105,426 | 20% |
| Ogden, UT | $96,740 | 810 | $96,404 | 20% |
| Gulfport, MS | $96,450 | 150 | $107,160 | 18% |
| Champaign, IL | $94,700 | 50 | $102,153 | 18% |
| San Antonio, TX | $94,220 | – | $99,476 | 18% |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $93,100 | 560 | $102,978 | 18% |
| Warner Robins, GA | $89,500 | 650 | $95,427 | 20% |
| Indianapolis, IN | $86,800 | 120 | $90,704 | 21% |
| Tucson, AZ | $79,580 | 60 | $82,129 | 22% |
| Lansing, MI | $66,700 | 110 | $70,217 | 23% |
What the median computer scientist salary pays per paycheck
| Period | Before taxes |
|---|---|
| Year | $140,300 |
| Month | $11,692 |
| Every two weeks | $5,396 |
| Week | $2,698 |
| Hour | $67.45 |
Gross pay, 52 weeks a year, 2,080 hours. Hourly to salary calculator.
Becoming a computer scientist: education and job outlook
| Typical entry education | Master's degree |
|---|---|
| Work experience needed | None |
| On-the-job training | None |
| Projected change in jobs, 2025–35 | +21.8% (all jobs: +3.5%) |
| Openings a year (average) | 2,900 |
| Self-employed | % |
official BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35. Openings include workers who retire or change jobs. What the work involves: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Similar jobs
| Job | Median a year | Typical education |
|---|---|---|
| Software engineer | $135,980 | Bachelor's degree |
| Cybersecurity analyst | $129,180 | Bachelor's degree |
| Actuary | $130,000 | Bachelor's degree |
| Network engineer | $134,050 | Bachelor's degree |
| Network administrator | $99,130 | Bachelor's degree |
| Data scientist | $120,230 | Bachelor's degree |
| UX designer | $104,000 | Bachelor's degree |
| Systems analyst | $105,850 | Bachelor's degree |
Questions about computer scientist pay
How much does a computer scientist make an hour?
The median is $67.45 an hour. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $39.52 and the top 10% over $110.88.
How much does a computer scientist make a month?
About $11,692 a month before taxes at the median salary of $140,300, or $5,396 every two weeks.
What state pays computer scientists the most?
Oregon, with a median of $206,220. Washington ($202,400), New York ($181,990), Massachusetts ($170,510) and New Mexico ($165,690) follow.
Where do computer scientists make the most after cost of living?
Oregon: its median of $206,220 is worth $199,514 at typical US prices. Washington, New Mexico and New York come next.
How much do entry-level computer scientists make?
BLS does not report pay by experience. The lowest-paid 10% of computer scientists earn under $82,200 a year, and the lowest-paid quarter under $103,570, which is a reasonable guide to starting pay.
What education do you need to become a computer scientist?
BLS lists the typical entry-level education as a master's degree. Work experience in a related job: none. On-the-job training: none.
Sources and limits
- Pay and employment: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation 15-1221 (Computer and Information Research Scientists). Downloaded 2026-10-24.
- OEWS counts wage and salary workers at employers, including tips and commissions but not overtime pay, bonuses that are not tied to production, or benefits. It leaves out the self-employed. BLS does not publish figures above $239,200 a year or for states and metro areas with too few workers.
- Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (US = 100). Rents: Zillow Observed Rent Index, September 2026; Data Provided by Zillow Group.
- Outlook and education: BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35.
- Pay is not broken down by experience, employer or specialty (for example, ER or pediatric nursing); BLS does not publish those splits.