JRIJob Risk Index
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Profession JRI–37 / Technology

Will AI replace computer and information research scientists?

Computer and information research scientists advance computing by analyzing problems and devising software and hardware solutions. Much of the structured work—assigning tasks, checking feasibility against known criteria, and translating requirements into code—can be handled by automation within a few years.

The risk spectrum — where Computer and Information Research Scientist sits
Computer and Information Research Scientist vs the 83 other jobs
Risk rank37 / 84
Automation timeline2-5 years
Median salary$140,300
Projected growth+19.7% (2024–34)
01 / Your plan

Learn before your role changes.

Picked to match what this role actually asks for — refreshed weekly, never by what a platform pays.

What you'll learn
LLMs / GenAIMachine LearningExperimentation
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Updated Sep 21, 2026

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02 / Job market

Official outlook: still growing.

Within the 84 professions
Salary$140,300
$31k$171k
Growth+19.7% (2024–34)
-25.9%33.5%

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a +19.7% change in employment for this occupation between 2024 and 2034, from a current base of 37,200 people employed earning a median of $140,300 a year.

Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–34 & OEWS May 2025.

AI adoption in postings →

03 / Real salaries

Computer and Information Research Scientist salaries by city

Median pay from real records (H-1B filings and tech job postings), across the cities with most observations.

New York$183,800Seattle$175,000Bellevue$176,936Menlo Park$192,339San Francisco$225,000Mountain View$196,000

Range shows p25–p75; the dot is the median. Sources carry a documented bias — see the full salary page.

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04 / How to enter

How to become a computer and information research scientist.

Typical preparation

Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed

Education

Most of these occupations require graduate school.

Experience

Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience.

Job training

Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.

Getting in is one thing — the day-to-day runs on a specific set of tools and skills:

Foundations
Core skills
Tools

Full skill path with courses →

07 / FAQ

What people ask.

01Will AI replace computer and information research scientists?
Computer and information research scientists face genuine automation exposure: the evidence rates their risk index at 58 and places much of the structured workload on a 2-5 year timeline. Among the 37,200 people in this occupation, routine task scheduling and feasibility checks are the most likely to be automated, while judging which research questions merit investment remains human work.
02How soon could automation reshape Computer and Information Research Scientists' work?
According to the evidence, a 2-5 year horizon covers the shift of structured tasks for this profession. Its high risk index of 58 signals that automation timeline is relatively short. The tasks most exposed are assigning tasks and evaluating project feasibility against known criteria, while framing ill-defined research problems stays durable.
03What skills keep Computer and Information Research Scientists relevant?
Systems evaluation and stakeholder consultation are two high-demand capabilities to cultivate. Strategic problem framing carries medium demand. Entry also rests on complex problem solving, critical thinking, and judgment and decision making—abilities that shift work toward oversight of automated pipelines rather than routine implementation.
04How does someone become a Computer and Information Research Scientist?
Most positions call for graduate school per the education profile. The entry skill set includes critical thinking and complex problem solving, plus judgment and decision making. Tools like C, C++, TensorFlow, AWS, and Microsoft Power BI are typical.
05What related roles can Computer and Information Research Scientists move into?
Potential pivot destinations are data analyst, operations research analyst, and software engineer. Their risk indexes are 55, 53, and 30 respectively, so some transitions lower automation exposure. Each leverages the systems analysis and stakeholder consultation strengths developed in this role.
06Should I start a Computer and Information Research Scientist career in 2026?
If you start as a Computer and Information Research Scientist in 2026, the projections show +19.7% growth for 2024–34 and 37,200 current jobs. Median pay is $140,300, but the high-risk automation outlook means your tasks will likely skew toward problem framing and oversight of automated systems within a few years.
07How much do Computer and Information Research Scientists earn?
Median annual pay is $140,300 per the evidence pack. That figure sits within a high-risk technology occupation employing 37,200 people. Preparation emphasizes graduate school, and the work relies on tools like C++, TensorFlow, and AWS.