Research Scientist (Computer Science) salary
From 8,275 certified H-1B filings (FY2025–FY2026). Base salary only.
- Occupation code 15-1221: Computer and Information Research Scientists
- Also filed as: Machine Learning Engineer, AI Researcher
At a glance
- Mostly Level II (mid-level). 47% of Research Scientist (Computer Science) filings are Level II, compared with 42% across all H-1B filings.
- Top filer: Amazon. 2,167 filings (26% of the total), median $180,000.
- Pay depends on the city. Among the 10 metro areas with the most filings, the median ranges from $122,450 in Chicago, IL to $205,000 in San Francisco, CA.
- Median up 33% since FY2020. From $142,585 in FY2020 to $190,000 in FY2026 (Q1–Q3). Nominal, not adjusted for inflation.
Research Scientist (Computer Science) H-1B salary overview
Employers filed 8,275 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Research Scientist (Computer Science) jobs in FY2025–FY2026 (occupation code 15-1221, Computer and Information Research Scientists). The median base salary is $185,536, 51% above the median for all H-1B filings ($122,699), and half of the filings fall between $162,045 and $214,991. The most common wage level is Level II (mid-level), at 47% of filings. San Jose, CA has the most filings (2,156), and Amazon is the employer that files the most (2,167).
Is your Research Scientist (Computer Science) offer competitive?
Enter the base salary in your offer. We compare it with certified H-1B filings for Research Scientist (Computer Science) jobs, nationally or in one metro area.
Enter a salary to see where it falls.
Percentiles from certified H-1B filings, base salary only. Metro areas with at least 10 filings.
Top employers for Research Scientist (Computer Science)
Amazon2,167 filings · 26%$180,000
Meta1,201 filings · 15%$193,101
Google567 filings · 7%$204,000
NVIDIA235 filings · 3%$184,000
Adobe161 filings · 2%$195,000
ByteDance136 filings · 2%$300,000
Microsoft120 filings · 1%$193,950
Intel75 filings · 1%$154,390
IBM68 filings · 1%$232,992
JPMorgan Chase57 filings · 1%$176,700
Employers with the most Research Scientist (Computer Science) filings. Bar: share of all Research Scientist (Computer Science) filings. Figure: median base salary.
Pay by level
Entry-level · 17% of filings
Mid-level · 47% of filings
Senior · 21% of filings
Expert · 15% of filings
Show the table
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Level I · Entry | $156,000 | 1,195 |
| Level II · Qualified | $185,600 | 3,219 |
| Level III · Experienced | $205,000 | 1,466 |
| Level IV · Fully competent | $245,565 | 1,018 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Research Scientist (Computer Science) pay by city
Median base salary in each metro area. Rent: HUD Fair Market Rent, FY2027.
Show all 39 metro areas
| Metro area | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $201,094 | 2,156 |
| San Francisco, CA | $205,000 | 1,412 |
| Seattle, WA | $176,914 | 1,408 |
| New York, NY | $191,900 | 1,084 |
| Boston, MA | $180,000 | 300 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $165,838 | 199 |
| San Diego, CA | $169,320 | 147 |
| Austin, TX | $150,000 | 144 |
| Chicago, IL | $122,450 | 129 |
| Washington, DC | $160,900 | 110 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $167,580 | 90 |
| Atlanta, GA | $131,611 | 84 |
| Dallas, TX | $128,480 | 84 |
| Houston, TX | $135,854 | 56 |
| Knoxville, TN | $136,068 | 53 |
| Portland, OR | $133,050 | 50 |
| Trenton, NJ | $152,672 | 41 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $154,731 | 33 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $124,276 | 32 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $119,755 | 30 |
| Baltimore, MD | $131,107 | 26 |
| Raleigh, NC | $137,559 | 22 |
| Durham, NC | $137,998 | 20 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $144,851 | 19 |
| Nashville, TN | $131,500 | 18 |
| Detroit, MI | $130,000 | 17 |
| Charlotte, NC | $146,473 | 16 |
| Columbus, OH | $160,000 | 16 |
| Denver, CO | $150,240 | 16 |
| St. Louis, MO | $98,088 | 15 |
| Champaign, IL | $100,000 | 14 |
| Huntsville, AL | $99,000 | 14 |
| Miami, FL | $162,050 | 14 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $182,300 | 14 |
| Ithaca, NY | $138,000 | 13 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $105,435 | 12 |
| Lafayette, IN | $110,933 | 11 |
| Albany, NY | $89,090 | 10 |
| Salt Lake, UT | $162,603 | 10 |
Metro areas with at least 10 filings for this occupation.
What a Research Scientist (Computer Science) does
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.
Typical tasks
- Analyze problems to develop solutions involving computer hardware and software.
- Apply theoretical expertise and innovation to create or apply new technology, such as adapting principles for applying computers to new uses.
- Assign or schedule tasks to meet work priorities and goals.
- Meet with managers, vendors, and others to solicit cooperation and resolve problems.
- Design computers and the software that runs them.
- Conduct logical analyses of business, scientific, engineering, and other technical problems, formulating mathematical models of problems for solution by computers.
Preparation
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed. 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).
O*NET occupation: Computer and Information Research Scientists (15-1221.00). This section includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
H-1B pay vs. all U.S. workers
Across all U.S. workers in this occupation (Computer and Information Research Scientists), the median annual wage was $140,300 in May 2025, with 37,200 people employed. The median H-1B base salary in FY2025–FY2026 is $185,536, 32% higher.
| H-1B filings | All U.S. workers (BLS, May 2025) | |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $124,276 | $82,200 |
| 25th percentile | $162,045 | $103,570 |
| Median | $185,536 | $140,300 |
| 75th percentile | $214,991 | $188,700 |
| 90th percentile | $252,000 | $230,630 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). BLS wages cover all wage and salary workers and include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are the base salary offered on certified LCAs. The two sources cover different periods. BLS reports wages of $239,200 or more as a single top value.
Salary details
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $124,276 |
| 25th | $162,045 |
| 50th (median) | $185,536 |
| 75th | $214,991 |
| 90th | $252,000 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $142,585 | $115,000 | $160,000 | 3,090 |
| FY2021 | $144,123 | $113,859 | $169,406 | 2,754 |
| FY2022 | $155,000 | $123,661 | $180,000 | 3,262 |
| FY2023 | $167,400 | $132,027 | $190,000 | 2,853 |
| FY2024 | $173,971 | $144,000 | $202,900 | 2,573 |
| FY2025 | $182,000 | $157,801 | $209,500 | 3,803 |
| FY2026 | $190,000 | $165,000 | $221,094 | 4,472 |
Questions
How much does an H-1B Research Scientist (Computer Science) make?
The median base salary in certified H-1B filings for Research Scientist (Computer Science) jobs is $185,536 (8,275 filings, FY2025–FY2026). Half of the filings are between $162,045 and $214,991.
What does an entry-level Research Scientist (Computer Science) earn on an H-1B?
Level I (entry-level) filings have a median of $156,000. Level I accounts for 17% of Research Scientist (Computer Science) filings.
Which city pays H-1B Research Scientist (Computer Science)s the most?
Among metro areas with at least 100 filings, San Francisco, CA has the highest median base salary for Research Scientist (Computer Science) jobs: $205,000 (1,412 filings).
Which employers file the most H-1B applications for Research Scientist (Computer Science)s?
Amazon (2,167), Meta (1,201) and Google (567) filed the most Research Scientist (Computer Science) LCAs in FY2025–FY2026.
Do H-1B Research Scientist (Computer Science)s earn more than other U.S. workers in the same job?
The H-1B median base salary ($185,536) is 32% higher than the median wage of all U.S. workers in this occupation ($140,300, BLS May 2025). The sources measure pay differently, so treat this as a rough comparison.