Computer and information research scientists design new uses for new and existing technology. They study problems in computing, invent new approaches and build the methods that later become products, including AI systems. AI tools now help them write code and analyze results. Deciding what to research and whether it works stays with people.
The short answer: AI is a reason this job is growing. The ILO's 2025 index rates software and applications developers and analysts not elsewhere classified, the closest group, at gradient 3 with a score of 0.55. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 22 percent growth for computer and information research scientists from 2025 to 2035, much faster than average, with about 2,900 openings a year. Projections are estimates, not guarantees.
How exposed computer research scientists are
The International Labour Organization scores occupations' tasks from 0 (cannot be automated with generative AI) to 1 (could be done without a human operator), and groups them into gradients from 1 to 4, with 4 the most exposed; below them sit minimal exposure and not exposed (ILO Working Paper 140, 2025).
| Occupation (ISCO-08) | ILO category | Mean task score (0 to 1) |
|---|---|---|
| Software and Applications Developers and Analysts Not Elsewhere Classified | Gradient 3 | 0.55 |
The ILO scores groups of occupations, so this is the closest group for computer and information research scientists, not a score for the job title itself.
What the BLS projects
| Occupation | Projected change 2025 to 2035 | Openings a year |
|---|---|---|
| Computer and information research scientists | Grow 22% | About 2,900 |
The BLS says demand will grow with demand for new and better technology, and that computer scientists' expertise will be needed to create new technologies related to AI. It also points to rapid growth in business data collection and a growing emphasis on cybersecurity.
Where AI is helping
- Writing and reviewing code for experiments.
- Searching and summarizing research papers.
- Analyzing results and drafting papers.
What stays with computer research scientists
- Research questions: choosing problems worth solving.
- New methods: inventing approaches that do not exist yet.
- Testing and safety: showing that a system works and finding where it fails, as in the NIST AI Risk Management Framework.
- Checking AI help: generated code and citations can be wrong, which NIST calls confabulation (NIST AI 600-1). See checking AI output.
How the job is changing
Exposure is high because much of the work is code and writing, which AI tools can help with. The BLS still expects strong growth, partly because AI itself needs researchers. See jobs AI will create. This page is general information, not career advice.
See also will AI replace software engineers?, will AI replace data analysts? and will AI replace cybersecurity jobs?
Pay and how to get in
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the median annual pay for computer and information research scientists at $140,300 in May 2025, against $50,980 for all workers. The typical education needed to enter is: master's degree. See how this job compares in AI exposure by pay and AI exposure by education level.
Questions and answers
Will AI replace computer research scientists?
Not on current projections. The BLS projects 22 percent growth from 2025 to 2035, much faster than average.
How exposed are computer research scientists to AI?
The ILO rates software and applications developers and analysts not elsewhere classified, the closest group, at gradient 3 with a score of 0.55.
How many openings are expected?
About 2,900 a year on average over the decade, according to the BLS.
Does AI create demand for these jobs?
Yes. The BLS says computer scientists will be needed to create new technologies related to AI.