U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsConduct research into fundamental computer and information science as theorists, designers, or inventors. Develop solutions to problems in the field of computer hardware and software.
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:
| Employment (1) | Employment RSE (3) |
Mean hourly wage |
Mean annual wage (2) |
Wage RSE (3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24,880 | 4.5 % | $49.84 | $103,670 | 1.3 % |
Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) |
75% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly Wage | $27.51 | $38.11 | $49.13 | $59.12 | $73.03 |
| Annual Wage (2) | $57,220 | $79,260 | $102,190 | $122,960 | $151,900 |
Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) | 6,440 | 0.32 | $49.25 | $102,440 |
| Computer Systems Design and Related Services | 4,700 | 0.29 | $50.60 | $105,250 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | 3,050 | 0.48 | $53.37 | $111,000 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | 2,770 | 0.10 | $43.40 | $90,260 |
| Software Publishers | 2,230 | 0.79 | $55.29 | $115,010 |
Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Software Publishers | 2,230 | 0.79 | $55.29 | $115,010 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | 3,050 | 0.48 | $53.37 | $111,000 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) | 6,440 | 0.32 | $49.25 | $102,440 |
| Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing | 500 | 0.32 | $49.72 | $103,410 |
| Computer Systems Design and Related Services | 4,700 | 0.29 | $50.60 | $105,250 |
Top paying industries for this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 90 | 0.01 | $59.20 | $123,140 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 220 | 0.01 | $59.11 | $122,950 |
| Communications Equipment Manufacturing | (8) | (8) | $58.18 | $121,010 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers | (8) | (8) | $56.07 | $116,630 |
| Software Publishers | 2,230 | 0.79 | $55.29 | $115,010 |
States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
States with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 6,460 | 0.45 | 2.37 | $54.35 | $113,050 |
| Maryland | 3,430 | 1.36 | 7.15 | $50.15 | $104,310 |
| Virginia | 1,800 | 0.50 | 2.62 | $56.04 | $116,560 |
| Texas | 1,630 | 0.15 | 0.81 | $39.24 | $81,610 |
| New York | 990 | 0.12 | 0.61 | $41.12 | $85,540 |
States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | 3,430 | 1.36 | 7.15 | $50.15 | $104,310 |
| Rhode Island | 370 | 0.81 | 4.26 | $50.86 | $105,790 |
| District of Columbia | 340 | 0.52 | 2.73 | $55.19 | $114,800 |
| Virginia | 1,800 | 0.50 | 2.62 | $56.04 | $116,560 |
| Utah | 550 | 0.46 | 2.39 | $38.97 | $81,060 |
Top paying States for this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | (8) | (8) | (8) | $62.77 | $130,560 |
| Virginia | 1,800 | 0.50 | 2.62 | $56.04 | $116,560 |
| District of Columbia | 340 | 0.52 | 2.73 | $55.19 | $114,800 |
| New Jersey | 730 | 0.19 | 1.01 | $54.73 | $113,830 |
| California | 6,460 | 0.45 | 2.37 | $54.35 | $113,050 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 1,860 | 2.08 | 10.87 | $58.63 | $121,950 |
| Baltimore-Towson, MD | 1,520 | 1.21 | 6.31 | $47.85 | $99,530 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division | 1,470 | 0.63 | 3.28 | $60.17 | $125,160 |
| Bethesda-Rockville-Frederick, MD Metropolitan Division | 1,280 | 2.28 | 11.92 | $51.69 | $107,520 |
| San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos, CA | 930 | 0.74 | 3.87 | $45.26 | $94,150 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA NECTA Division | 790 | 0.46 | 2.41 | $51.99 | $108,140 |
| San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City, CA Metropolitan Division | 780 | 0.78 | 4.09 | $57.02 | $118,590 |
| Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX Metropolitan Division | 550 | 0.26 | 1.37 | $32.93 | $68,500 |
| New York-White Plains-Wayne, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division | 450 | 0.09 | 0.45 | $39.67 | $82,520 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 430 | 0.53 | 2.77 | $50.45 | $104,940 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bethesda-Rockville-Frederick, MD Metropolitan Division | 1,280 | 2.28 | 11.92 | $51.69 | $107,520 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 1,860 | 2.08 | 10.87 | $58.63 | $121,950 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | 210 | 1.52 | 7.96 | $53.41 | $111,090 |
| Huntsville, AL | 270 | 1.32 | 6.91 | $50.98 | $106,040 |
| Baltimore-Towson, MD | 1,520 | 1.21 | 6.31 | $47.85 | $99,530 |
| Utica-Rome, NY | 130 | 1.04 | 5.42 | $46.23 | $96,160 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | 270 | 0.98 | 5.13 | $47.56 | $98,920 |
| Ogden-Clearfield, UT | 190 | 0.97 | 5.09 | $38.94 | $81,000 |
| Charleston-North Charleston-Summerville, SC | 250 | 0.87 | 4.54 | $39.50 | $82,170 |
| San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City, CA Metropolitan Division | 780 | 0.78 | 4.09 | $57.02 | $118,590 |
Top paying metropolitan areas for this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oakland-Fremont-Hayward, CA Metropolitan Division | 290 | 0.29 | 1.54 | $63.64 | $132,370 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | (8) | (8) | (8) | $63.36 | $131,790 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | 60 | 0.30 | 1.59 | $62.75 | $130,520 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division | 1,470 | 0.63 | 3.28 | $60.17 | $125,160 |
| Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Goleta, CA | (8) | (8) | (8) | $59.95 | $124,700 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 1,860 | 2.08 | 10.87 | $58.63 | $121,950 |
| Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine, CA Metropolitan Division | (8) | (8) | (8) | $57.51 | $119,620 |
| San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City, CA Metropolitan Division | 780 | 0.78 | 4.09 | $57.02 | $118,590 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division | (8) | (8) | (8) | $56.53 | $117,580 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | 340 | 0.61 | 3.18 | $55.06 | $114,520 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northeastern Virginia nonmetropolitan area | 610 | 12.84 | 67.23 | $50.57 | $105,190 |
| St. Mary's County, Maryland nonmetropolitan area | 220 | 5.05 | 26.46 | $52.25 | $108,680 |
| Southeast Arizona nonmetropolitan area | 80 | 1.36 | 7.15 | $47.14 | $98,040 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northeastern Virginia nonmetropolitan area | 610 | 12.84 | 67.23 | $50.57 | $105,190 |
| St. Mary's County, Maryland nonmetropolitan area | 220 | 5.05 | 26.46 | $52.25 | $108,680 |
| Southeast Arizona nonmetropolitan area | 80 | 1.36 | 7.15 | $47.14 | $98,040 |
Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Mary's County, Maryland nonmetropolitan area | 220 | 5.05 | 26.46 | $52.25 | $108,680 |
| Northeastern Virginia nonmetropolitan area | 610 | 12.84 | 67.23 | $50.57 | $105,190 |
| Southeast Arizona nonmetropolitan area | 80 | 1.36 | 7.15 | $47.14 | $98,040 |
These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.
The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate--50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.
(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.
(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly mean wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.
(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.
(8) Estimate not released.
(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.
Other OES estimates and related information:
May 2012 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2012 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2012 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2012 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
Last Modified Date: March 29, 2013
