Computer and Information Research Scientists Salary
Computer and Information Research Scientists in Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA make a median of $139,210 a year, or about $66.93 an hour. The range runs from $83K at the entry level to $256K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 106.67), so that salary is closer to $130,505 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,255/month, or 27.4% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $139K get you in Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom’s Regional Price Parity (106.67). 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 Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom
Computer and information research scientists pay in Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom tracks closely to the national median, $139K locally vs. $140K nationwide, a 1% difference. Rent runs $2,255/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost-of-living overall is 7% above the national average (BEA RPP 106.67), so groceries and services cost more too. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for computer and information research scientists in metros near Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $218K | $198K |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $122K | $109K |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $171K | $148K |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $156K | $137K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA
Entry-level computer and information research scientists (10th percentile) start around $83K. Mid-career wages sit at $139K. Top earners bring in $256K or more, a $173K 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 with published data
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 Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a computer and information research scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom?
Yes — at the median salary of $139K, rent takes 27.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,255/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for computer and information research scientists in Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new computer and information research scientists typically earn — is $83K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,007/month. At HUD’s $2,255/month FMR, rent would take 45% 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 Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $139K locally vs. $140K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom compare to the national average for computer and information research scientists?
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom pays $139K median vs. the U.S. average of $140K — that’s -1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 106.67), the purchasing-power equivalent is $131K — below the national median.
How much do computer and information research scientists make in Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA?
The median is $139,210 a year, that works out to about $67 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $83,450, and experienced computer and information research scientists can clear $256,140. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $139K enough to live in Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,068/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,255/month, which eats 27.9% 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 Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom?
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom has a Regional Price Parity of 106.67 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median computer and information research scientists salary is worth about $130,505 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.