Computer and Information Research Scientists
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.
Most important skills
- Critical Thinking
- Complex Problem Solving
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Systems Analysis
- Programming
- Systems Evaluation
Key knowledge
- Computers and Electronics
- Mathematics
- Engineering and Technology
- English Language
- Administration and Management
- Design
- Telecommunications
- Physics
What the work involves
- Analyze problems to develop solutions involving computer hardware and software.
- Assign or schedule tasks to meet work priorities and goals.
- Evaluate project plans and proposals to assess feasibility issues.
- Apply theoretical expertise and innovation to create or apply new technology, such as adapting principles for applying computers to new uses.
- Consult with users, management, vendors, and technicians to determine computing needs and system requirements.
- Meet with managers, vendors, and others to solicit cooperation and resolve problems.
- Conduct logical analyses of business, scientific, engineering, and other technical problems, formulating mathematical models of problems for solution by computers.
- Develop and interpret organizational goals, policies, and procedures.
Strongest interest areas (O*NET): Investigative, Conventional, Realistic.
Qualifications and licensing
- Most common education
- Bachelor's Degree (36.2% of respondents)
- Related experience
- Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years (43.8%)
- On-the-job training
- Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year (36.1%)
- Preparation level
- O*NET job zone 5: Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Licensing
- Not yet verified. Check your state licensing board.
Check before planning
- Licensing for Computer and Information Research Scientists is not yet verified for any state: check the state licensing board before planning.
Limits
- Distributions show what current workers or occupational experts report, not legal minimums.
- Requirements vary by employer and state; time to qualify is not estimated.
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0); BLS Employment Projections · dataset 2026.10.8 · method e3-qualification-1.0.0
Work environment
How the typical conditions of this occupation compare with 911 occupations in O*NET (very low = the lowest fifth).
Levels are relative. Most occupations involve a lot of contact with people, for example, so “very low” can still mean regular contact; the last column shows what workers actually reported.
| Condition | Level | Compared with other occupations | Most common answer (O*NET survey) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contact with others | Moderate | Higher on contact with others than 55% of occupations compared | 62% of surveyed respondents chose “Constant contact with others” |
| Dealing with the public | High | Higher on dealing with the public than 60% of occupations compared | 49% of surveyed respondents chose “Extremely important” |
| Teamwork | High | Higher on teamwork than 64% of occupations compared | 51% of surveyed respondents chose “Extremely important” |
| Freedom to make decisions | Moderate | Higher on freedom to make decisions than 54% of occupations compared | 54% of surveyed respondents chose “A lot of freedom” |
| Time pressure | Low | Lower on time pressure than 62% of occupations compared | 66% of surveyed respondents chose “Once a week or more but not every day” |
| Conflict situations | Low | Lower on conflict situations than 66% of occupations compared | 69% of surveyed respondents chose “Once a month or more but not every week” |
| Dealing with unpleasant or angry people | Very low | Lower on dealing with unpleasant or angry people than 89% of occupations compared | 43% of surveyed respondents chose “Once a year or more but not every month” |
| Consequence of error | Low | Lower on consequence of error than 68% of occupations compared | — |
Work-pressure profile
- Time pressure: low
- Conflict situations: low
- Dealing with unpleasant or angry people: very low
- Consequence of error: low
Each part is shown on its own. There is no combined stress score, and conditions vary by employer and role.
Full answer distributions
Contact with others
- No contact with others: 0%
- Occasional contact with others: 0%
- Contact with others about half the time: 18.26%
- Contact with others most of the time: 19.38%
- Constant contact with others: 62.36%
n = 17, Incumbent 08/2019
Dealing with the public
- Not important at all: 5.07%
- Fairly important: 32.88%
- Important: 2.65%
- Very important: 10.03%
- Extremely important: 49.37%
n = 17, Incumbent 08/2019
Teamwork
- Not important at all: 0%
- Fairly important: 0%
- Important: 6.22%
- Very important: 43.24%
- Extremely important: 50.54%
n = 17, Incumbent 08/2019
Freedom to make decisions
- No freedom: 0%
- Very little freedom: 0%
- Limited freedom: 37.42%
- Some freedom: 8.23%
- A lot of freedom: 54.35%
n = 17, Incumbent 08/2019
Time pressure
- Never: 0%
- Once a year or more but not every month: 9.96%
- Once a month or more but not every week: 16.58%
- Once a week or more but not every day: 66%
- Every day: 7.47%
n = 17, Incumbent 08/2019
Conflict situations
- Never: 12.92%
- Once a year or more but not every month: 17.57%
- Once a month or more but not every week: 68.5%
- Once a week or more but not every day: 0%
- Every day: 1%
n = 17, Incumbent 08/2019
Dealing with unpleasant or angry people
- Never: 22.8%
- Once a year or more but not every month: 43.32%
- Once a month or more but not every week: suppressed by O*NET (low precision)
- Once a week or more but not every day: 1%
- Every day: 0%
n = 17, Incumbent 08/2019
Consequence of error
- Not serious at all: suppressed by O*NET (low precision)
- Fairly serious: 0%
- Serious: 24.27%
- Very serious: 34.29%
- Extremely serious: 2.3%
n = 16, Incumbent 08/2019
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O*NET-SOC 15-1221.00 · SOC 15-1221 (exact, high confidence) · dataset 2026.10.8