Computer and Information Research Scientists Salary
Computer and Information Research Scientists in Champaign-Urbana, IL make a median of $94,700 a year, or about $45.53 an hour. The range runs from $52K at the entry level to $145K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.7), which stretches that salary to about $102,157 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,122/month, or 18.7% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $95K get you in Champaign-Urbana?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Champaign-Urbana’s Regional Price Parity (92.7). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About computer and information research scientists
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What this looks like in Champaign-Urbana
Pay for computer and information research scientists in Champaign-Urbana runs about 33% below the U.S. median of $140K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,122/month, 19.1% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.7 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Champaign-Urbana can be a reasonable trade-off for computer and information research scientistss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for computer and information research scientists in metros near Champaign-Urbana, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $136K | $131K |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood | $87K | $91K |
| Kansas City | $105K | $113K |
| St. Louis | $143K | $150K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Champaign-Urbana, IL
Entry-level computer and information research scientists (10th percentile) start around $52K. Mid-career wages sit at $95K. Top earners bring in $145K or more, a $93K spread from bottom to top.
Computer and Information Research Scientists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Computer and Information Research Scientists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | $206K | +47% | 730 |
| Washington | $202K | +44% | 2,050 |
| New York | $182K | +30% | 1,950 |
| Massachusetts | $171K | +22% | 1,760 |
| New Mexico | $166K | +18% | 490 |
| California | $159K | +13% | 8,440 |
| Virginia | $157K | +12% | 3,590 |
| Maryland | $145K | +4% | 2,870 |
| District of Columbia | $144K | +3% | 330 |
| New Jersey | $141K | +0% | 1,580 |
| Illinois | $137K | -3% | 630 |
| New Hampshire | $136K | -3% | 90 |
| Minnesota | $136K | -3% | 30 |
| Ohio | $136K | -3% | 280 |
| Hawaii | $134K | -4% | 70 |
| Nevada | $134K | -4% | 80 |
| Colorado | $133K | -5% | 400 |
| Connecticut | $132K | -6% | N/A |
| Pennsylvania | $130K | -7% | 330 |
| Arizona | $130K | -8% | 360 |
| North Carolina | $128K | -9% | 600 |
| Missouri | $128K | -9% | 230 |
| South Carolina | $127K | -9% | 430 |
| Rhode Island | $121K | -13% | 500 |
| Texas | $121K | -14% | 1,960 |
| Florida | $120K | -15% | 1,070 |
| Alabama | $118K | -16% | 570 |
| Louisiana | $115K | -18% | 140 |
| Mississippi | $109K | -22% | 300 |
| Tennessee | $109K | -22% | N/A |
| Utah | $95K | -33% | 1,250 |
| Oklahoma | $93K | -34% | 590 |
| Georgia | $92K | -34% | 810 |
| Indiana | $85K | -39% | 720 |
| Michigan | $83K | -41% | 530 |
Showing 1–10 of 35 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track computer and information research scientists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Champaign-Urbana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a computer and information research scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Champaign-Urbana?
Yes — at the median salary of $95K, rent takes 19.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,122/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for computer and information research scientists in Champaign-Urbana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new computer and information research scientists typically earn — is $52K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,126/month. At HUD’s $1,122/month FMR, rent would take 36% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is computer and information research scientist a high-paying job in Champaign-Urbana?
Local pay runs 33% below the national median — $95K here vs. $140K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Champaign-Urbana compare to the national average for computer and information research scientists?
Champaign-Urbana pays $95K median vs. the U.S. average of $140K — that’s -33%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.7), the purchasing-power equivalent is $102K — below the national median.
How much do computer and information research scientists make in Champaign-Urbana, IL?
The median is $94,700 a year, that works out to about $46 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $52,100, and experienced computer and information research scientists can clear $144,840. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $95K enough to live in Champaign-Urbana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,860/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,122/month, which eats 19.1% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a computer and information research scientists salary go in Champaign-Urbana?
Champaign-Urbana has a Regional Price Parity of 92.7 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median computer and information research scientists salary is worth about $102,157 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do computer and information research scientists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.