Research Scientist (Computer Science) salary in Portland, OR
Based on 50 certified H-1B filings in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Hillsboro, Vancouver, Hillsborow.
Also listed as: Machine Learning Engineer, AI Researcher
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $128,738 |
| 25th | $130,052 |
| 50th (median) | $133,050 |
| 75th | $173,646 |
| 90th | $180,482 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $112,778 | $109,158 | $134,243 | 21 |
| FY2021 | $111,723 | $110,853 | $125,000 | 37 |
| FY2022 | $118,398 | $117,239 | $118,926 | 39 |
| FY2023 | $129,368 | $124,503 | $141,073 | 40 |
| FY2024 | $130,603 | $130,603 | $158,060 | 40 |
| FY2025 | $130,458 | $128,738 | $178,611 | 34 |
| FY2026 | $140,552 | $133,050 | $157,551 | 16 |
Cost of living
Portland's median Research Scientist (Computer Science) salary of $133,050 is worth about $126,200 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Portland = 105.4).
Compared with all workers here
All Computer and Information Research Scientists in the Portland, OR area earned a median of $206,220 in May 2025 (660 employed). The H-1B median here is $133,050, 35% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Top employers filing
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | too few | 3 |
| Mid-level · Level II | too few | 2 |
| Senior · Level III | too few | 5 |
| Expert · Level IV | – | 0 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.