What is the highest salary for Computer Scientist?

The highest salary for Computer Scientist is $244,618 per year, $20,385 per month or $118 per hour.

What is the lowest salary for Computer Scientist?

The lowest salary for Computer Scientist is $148,837 per year, $12,403 per month or $72 per hour.

Do Computer Scientists Make Good Money in United States?

Roughly 73% of computer scientists are happy with their income. Additional earnings of around $44,565.55 can significantly boost a computer scientist's salary, and obtaining a Master's degree and additional certifications can also increase your earning potential.

How to Make More Money as a Computer Scientist

A master's degree in computer science isn't mandatory, but it can increase how much you can earn as a computer scientist. A postgraduate qualification demonstrates a detailed understanding of in-demand subjects, such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and information systems. Highly-paid computer scientist jobs require advanced technical expertise, so employers often favor candidates with proven credentials. For example, vendor-specific certifications from Microsoft or Cisco can expand your employment opportunities and earning power. Cybersecurity skills are also highly desirable. Therefore, it's worth considering completing a qualification in this area, such as the CompTIA Security + certification.

How to Negotiate a Higher Salary as a Computer Scientist

If you've found a computer scientist job you love, but the compensation package is less than generous, negotiating with the employer can help you secure an appropriate salary for your skills and experience. Highlighting any role-specific skills can be helpful, but giving examples of how your skills have benefited your employers in the past is more persuasive. So, instead of simply pointing out your advanced cybersecurity knowledge, you could provide statistical evidence of a reduction in security breaches or accuracy percentages for security weakness testing. If you're in a leadership position, highlighting factors such as employee retention rates can also help convince your employer to make you a better offer.

Computer Scientist Salaries

How much does Computer Scientist make?

Q: How much does Computer Scientist make?

The average salary for Computer Scientist is $189,587 per year or $91 per hour, with top earners making up to $305,323 (90th percentile). Typically, pay ranges from $148,837 (25th percentile) to $244,618 (75th percentile) annually. Salary estimates are based on 2215 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by Computer Scientist employees.

Total pay range

$149K - $245K/yr

$190K/yrMedian total pay

Pay breakdown

$115K - $182K/yrBase pay

$33K - $62K/yrAdditional pay

About our data

Last updated Apr 10, 20252.2K Salaries submitted

How accurate is a total pay range of $149K-$245K/yr?

Your input helps Glassdoor refine our pay estimates over time.

Popular companies for Computer Scientists

US Naval Research Laboratory3.6★

$120K - $173K/yr Total pay

$144K Median

Computer Scientist

Southwest Research Institute4.2★

$122K - $179K/yr Total pay

$148K Median

Computer Scientist

Tinker AFB3.9★

$113K - $167K/yr Total pay

$137K Median

Computer Scientist

University of Southern California4.2★

$96K - $151K/yr Total pay

$120K Median

Computer Scientist

Robins Air Force Base3.8★

$105K - $156K/yr Total pay

$128K Median

Computer Scientist

Viewing 11 - 15 of 542

Glassdoor Economist Pay Overview

Illustration of an economist reviewing pay data

What is the pay outlook for Research & Science?

Research and science jobs offer pay well above the national average. Increased demand for STEM workers is increasing salaries in research and science. Jobs in these fields, however, often require higher education at the graduate level and/or specialized training. While domain-specific expertise gives workers in these fields access to very specialized jobs, there are also many employers who hire STEM workers for their general data and technology skills.

Computer Scientist salary in US

A Computer Scientist salary range in US can vary based on important factors such as education, skills, certifications, and years of experience. A Computer Scientist in US can expect to see an entry level salary range of $62,893 to $183,608 per year, based on 2,176 salary contributions. At the highest seniority level, an experienced Computer Scientist in US can make a salary range of $96,503 to $203,199 with at least 5 years of experience, based on 8 salary contributions. The top 3 companies in US where a Computer Scientist gets the highest compensation are Orbital Insight Inc, SMA, Inc. and Booz Allen Hamilton Inc.. Bigger companies typically pay 28.10% more than smaller companies for a Computer Scientist.

Recent salaries shared by Computer Scientist

50 salaries

Job Title | Years of Experience

Base • Additional pay

Location

Date submitted

Job Title | Years of Experience

Location

Date submitted

Base • Additional pay

Computer Scientist

|

15+ years

$121K/yr

($121K • $0)

Berkeley, CA

submitted on Apr 30, 2026

$121K/yr

$121K • $0

Computer Scientist

|

4-6 years

$81K/yr

($79K • $2K)

Ogden, UT

submitted on Apr 27, 2026

$81K/yr

$79K • $2K

Computer Scientist

|

15+ years

$189K/yr

($186K • $3K)

Philadelphia, PA

submitted on Apr 26, 2026

$189K/yr

$186K • $3K

Computer Scientist

|

4-6 years

$103K - $120K/yr

Warner Robins, GA

submitted on Apr 24, 2026

$103K - $120K/yr

Computer Scientist

|

7-9 years

$121K/yr

($121K • $0)

Patuxent River, MD

submitted on Apr 8, 2026

$121K/yr

$121K • $0

Anonymously share your salary to help the community.

Computer Scientist

|

1-3 years

$84K/yr

($84K • $0)

Huntsville, AL

submitted on Apr 2, 2026

$84K/yr

$84K • $0

Computer Scientist

|

7-9 years

$87K - $102K/yr

Stennis Space Center, MS

submitted on Mar 27, 2026

$87K - $102K/yr

Computer Scientist

|

1-3 years

$84K/yr

($79K • $5K)

Las Vegas, NV

submitted on Mar 20, 2026

$84K/yr

$79K • $5K

Computer Scientist

|

1-3 years

$86K/yr

($86K • $0)

Keyport, WA

submitted on Mar 17, 2026

$86K/yr

$86K • $0

Computer Scientist

|

4-6 years

$88K/yr

($88K • $0)

Midwest City, OK

submitted on Feb 26, 2026

$88K/yr

$88K • $0

Viewing 21 - 30 of 50

Top paying industries

The top 5 paying industries for Computer Scientist in United States are Information Technology with a median total pay of $251,027, Energy, Mining & Utilities with a median total pay of $163,133, Management & Consulting with a median total pay of $162,435, Manufacturing with a median total pay of $152,315, and Personal Consumer Services with a median total pay of $149,355.

Information Technology

Top paying companies in Information Technology for Computer Scientist are Meta, Amazon, and Apple.

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Computer Scientist Salaries

How much does Computer Scientist make?

About our data

Popular companies for Computer Scientists

Glassdoor Economist Pay Overview

Recent salaries shared by Computer Scientist

Top paying industries

Information Technology

Jobs you may like

Frequently asked questions about Computer Scientist salaries

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How much does Computer Scientist make?

About our data

Glassdoor Economist Pay Overview

Recent salaries shared by Computer Scientist

Top paying industries

Information Technology

Frequently asked questions about Computer Scientist salaries

Popular companies for Computer Scientists

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