Computer and Information Research Scientists
Computer and Mathematical · SOC 15-1221
AI exposure from the Anthropic Economic Index (2025); salary from BLS; skills from O*NET. See /sources.
Decision card
Career Evidence Passport
SOC 15-1221 evidence across exposure, wages, projections, postings, certified LCAs, skills, and transitions.
- SOC exposure
- 34.0%
- Very High · Anthropic AEI
- Automation friction
- 29/100
- Low friction; broad SOC seed ORS job-requirements coverage.
- Wages
- $140,300
- H-1B offered wage $182,000; LCAs are filings.
- Projected openings
- —
- BLS EP 2024–2034; employment change +19.7%.
- Observed/proxy demand
- 3,827
- FY2025 certified LCAs; 786 postings in 2025.
Skill evidence
- H-1B values are certified Labor Condition Applications, not visa approvals.
- Job postings are seed-static / seed-derived; treat as provider-ready proxy coverage until observed provider data is wired in.
- Transition matches are directional skill-overlap context, not placement guarantees.
- This release is a FutureGrid broad-SOC seed derived from public BLS ORS requirement concepts and categories, not direct occupation-level ORS survey estimates. It describes job requirements, not worker ability, AI capability, or displacement probability. Automation friction is a FutureGrid derived score and should be read alongside exposure, demand, wage, and projection signals.
Best transitions from here
Explore all pathways→Lower AI-exposure roles that reuse your skills, ranked by a transition score (skills that transfer, safety gain, pay and retraining effort).
AI Exposure Analysis
Across AI measures
Multiple exposure lenses for this occupation.
AI could do ~63.5% of this role but only ~34% is currently done with AI — a large capability-vs-adoption gap.
Top Skills
H-1B Visa Sponsorship Demand
View full H-1B trends →Certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications naming this occupation, FY2016–FY2025. A descriptive high-skill labor-demand signal — employer filings, not visa approvals or individual outcomes. Note: one LCA can cover multiple worker positions.
O*NET occupation profile
What this work involves
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.
Common titles: Computer Scientist, Computer Specialist, Control System Computer Scientist, Research Scientist, Scientific Programmer Analyst
Representative 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.
Detailed Work Activities
- •Analyze data to identify or resolve operational problems.
- •Apply information technology to solve business or other applied problems.
- •Assign duties or work schedules to employees.
- •Maintain computer hardware.
- •Monitor the performance of computer networks.
Tools & Technologies
Employment Projections & AI Exposure
Employment & Wage Trend
BLS OEWS, 2019–2025
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). See /sources.
Sector Comparison
| Metric | This Career | Sector Average |
|---|---|---|
| AI Exposure | 34.0% | 35.3% |
| Outlook | Average | 19% Bright |
| Median Salary | $140,300 | N/A |
| AI Resiliency | 66/100 | N/A |