Mid-level Research Scientist (Computer Science) salary in Pittsburgh, PA
Based on 30 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level II in the Pittsburgh, PA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Mars, Pittsburg, Sewickley.
Also listed as: Machine Learning Engineer, AI Researcher
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $117,556 |
| 25th | $149,025 |
| 50th (median) | $160,500 |
| 75th | $188,000 |
| 90th | $211,040 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $120,000 | $90,000 | $136,000 | 21 |
| FY2021 | $120,500 | $90,792 | $124,722 | 22 |
| FY2022 | $95,067 | $87,610 | $130,000 | 13 |
| FY2023 | $137,500 | $120,551 | $182,325 | 12 |
| FY2024 | $158,100 | $144,000 | $174,693 | 11 |
| FY2025 | $160,500 | $156,500 | $176,000 | 15 |
| FY2026 | $156,000 | $118,768 | $190,000 | 15 |
Cost of living
Pittsburgh's median mid-level Research Scientist (Computer Science) salary of $160,500 is worth about $169,500 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Pittsburgh = 94.7).
Compared with all workers here
All Computer and Information Research Scientists in the Pittsburgh, PA area earned a median of $130,300 in May 2025 (50 employed). The H-1B median here is $160,500, 23% higher.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Employers filing at this level
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Duolingo | too few | 8 |
| Fujitsu Research of America | too few | 5 |
| Meta | too few | 4 |
| Carnegie Mellon University | too few | 3 |
| Amazon | too few | 2 |
| too few | 2 | |
| Robert Bosch | too few | 2 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $111,500 | 28 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $160,500 | 30 |
| Senior · Level III | $192,668 | 21 |
| Expert · Level IV | $238,630 | 11 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Minimum H-1B salary by level
| Wage level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $60,965 | $111,500 | 28 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $131,456 | $160,500 | 30 |
| Senior · Level III | $134,826 | $192,668 | 21 |
| Expert · Level IV | $150,883 | $238,630 | 11 |
The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.