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.
37,200 people do this job in the US. $140,300 a year.
of the working time. Estimate.
- 93%
- 4%
- 3%
Measured, from Anthropic's usage data (2025). Counts help on part of a task.
On the chosen pace and reliability. Estimate.
Share of the working time within reach, now to 2030
What each choice means: , , , , . Every pace starts from .
At this date and pace, models finish tasks up to 4.4 h long four times in five.
How far this has come
With GPT-4, measured in March 2023, 0% of this job's working time was within reach at . With Claude 3.7 Sonnet, measured in February 2025, 0%. With Claude Mythos Preview (early), measured in April 2026, 3%. Today's estimate: 6%.
A backcast: today's task data with the best model METR had measured by each date. It shows how fast the models have moved, not what anyone forecast at the time.
The tasks
Sorted by . 15 tasks from .
| Task | Kind | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Analyze problems to develop solutions involving computer hardware and software.Done daily by most who do it. AI observed on this task. | 16% | 6.7 h3.3 h to 2.5 work days | 10%Half by May 2027 | |
| Apply theoretical expertise and innovation to create or apply new technology, such as adapting principles for applying computers to new uses.Done daily by most who do it. | 16% | 2.1 work days6.7 h to 1.3 work weeks | 1%Half by Mar 2028 | |
| Conduct logical analyses of business, scientific, engineering, and other technical problems, formulating mathematical models of problems for solution by computers.Done more than yearly by most who do it. AI observed on this task. | 16% | 2.1 work days5 h to 1.7 work weeks | 1%Half by Jun 2028 | |
| Design computers and the software that runs them.Done hourly or more by most who do it. | 16% | 1.3 work weeks2.1 work days to 3.5 work weeks | 0%Half by Jan 2029 | |
| Participate in multidisciplinary projects in areas such as virtual reality, human-computer interaction, or robotics.Done more than yearly by most who do it. | 10% | 1.3 work days3.3 h to 4.2 work days | 4%Half by Dec 2027 | |
| Develop performance standards, and evaluate work in light of established standards.Done more than yearly by most who do it. | 9% | 6.7 h1.7 h to 2.5 work days | 8%Half by Sep 2027 | |
| Evaluate project plans and proposals to assess feasibility issues.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 4% | 6.7 h1.7 h to 2.5 work days | 8%Half by Sep 2027 | |
| Maintain network hardware and software, direct network security measures, and monitor networks to ensure availability to system users.Done more than yearly by most who do it. | 3% | 3.3 h50 min to 1.7 work days | Stays with people | |
| Develop and interpret organizational goals, policies, and procedures.Done more than monthly by most who do it. AI observed on this task. | 3% | 3.3 h1.3 h to 1.7 work days | 27%Half by Mar 2027 | |
| Participate in staffing decisions and direct training of subordinates.Done more than yearly by most who do it. | 2% | 4.2 h1.7 h to 1.7 work days | 23%Half by Mar 2027 | |
| Direct daily operations of departments, coordinating project activities with other departments.Done more than yearly by most who do it. | 2% | 3.3 h1.3 h to 1 work day | Stays with people | |
| Assign or schedule tasks to meet work priorities and goals.Done more than monthly by most who do it. AI observed on this task. | 2% | 1.3 h25 min to 3.3 h | 77%Half by now |
Within reach, per task: the share of the task's time whose instances are short enough for a model to finish at the chosen date, pace and reliability. Half by: the date half of that time comes within reach.
Jobs that share skills with this one
From O*NET's related occupations. Within reach now and by the end of 2028, long-run pace, four in five.
Where this job works
The industry groups that employ the most of it (BLS, May 2025).
Where the most of these jobs are
The metro areas with the most people in it (BLS, May 2025).