Free computer scientist job description templates by setting and level, plus salary data, FLSA exempt guidance, and how the role differs from a developer.
6 templates by setting and level, with salary, FLSA, and role guidance. Download as DOCX.
Before you post a computer scientist role, it is worth knowing that most companies writing this title do not actually need it. A computer scientist is a research professional, the person who designs new algorithms and computing methods and proves them out, usually with a master's or PhD. The companies that hire for it are mostly government, national labs, universities, and large technology R&D teams. If you want someone to build and ship software, you are describing a developer.
At FirstHR, we build templates that are honest about who a role is for. The six below cover genuine computer scientist roles by setting and level, each with the FLSA and salary guidance built in, and the page is candid about when you should hire a developer instead. Fill in the brackets and post, and the guide to writing a job description covers the fundamentals.
TL;DR
Six free templates: Standard, Industry R&D, Research/Academic, Government/Defense, Junior, and Senior/Principal. Key fact most templates skip: a computer scientist is a research role (SOC 15-1221) needing a master's or PhD, hired mostly by government, labs, and big-tech R&D. If you want product software built, you likely need a software developer instead. Pay anchor: $140,910 median (BLS, May 2024); the role is almost always FLSA-exempt.
What Does a Computer Scientist Do?
A computer scientist designs innovative uses for new and existing computing technology: researching computing problems, developing new algorithms, methods, and systems, running experiments to test them, and turning findings into theory or applied work. The role maps to computer and information research scientists (SOC 15-1221) in federal data.
For the employer writing the posting, two facts shape the hire: this is a research function distinct from building production software, and it usually requires a master's or PhD. The six templates split by setting and level so the document matches the real role.
Computer Scientist vs Software Developer vs Programmer
These titles are often confused, and the difference matters for hiring. A computer scientist researches computing itself; a software developer builds and ships software; a programmer writes and maintains code. The clearest split is research versus building.
Primary focus
Computer scientist: Research and new methods
Software developer: Building production software
Programmer: Writing and maintaining code
Typical education
Computer scientist: Master's or PhD
Software developer: Bachelor's (or equivalent)
Programmer: Bachelor's or bootcamp
Median pay (BLS May 2024)
Computer scientist: $140,910
Software developer: $133,080
Programmer: $98,670
Who hires
Computer scientist: Government, labs, big tech R&D
Software developer: Companies of every size
Programmer: Companies of every size
Right for a small business?
Computer scientist: Rarely
Software developer: Usually yes
Programmer: Often
For most companies, especially smaller ones, the role you actually want is a developer. If you need data work specifically, the related data analyst job description may fit better than either.
Computer Scientist Duties and Responsibilities
Computer scientist duties cluster into research and theory, design and experimentation, communication and transfer, and collaboration and impact. The emphasis shifts by setting, more publishing in academia, more technology transfer in industry, but these areas hold across the role.
Research and theory
Research fundamental and applied problems
Develop new theory, methods, and models
Stay current with the state of the field
Design and experimentation
Design algorithms and software systems
Run experiments and analyze results
Prototype and validate new approaches
Communication and transfer
Publish or document findings
Partner with engineers to apply research
Present to technical and other audiences
Collaboration and impact
Collaborate across disciplines
Mentor students or junior researchers
Inform the technical roadmap
A strong posting grounds these in your specifics: your research area, your setting, your tools, and your reporting line. For a structured way to scope any role before posting, the guide to defining job responsibilities walks through the process.
Which Template Should You Use?
Pick the template by setting and level. Three are setting-based, industry R&D, academic, and government, and the standard, junior, and senior versions cover general and seniority needs. Use this guide to choose.
Standard Computer Scientist
General research role
The universal version: research computing problems, design methods and systems, run experiments, and apply findings.
Industry R&D
Research into product
For a company R&D team: research and prototype new approaches, then partner with engineering to ship them.
Research / Academic
Original research, publishing
For a lab or institute: original research, peer-reviewed publishing, and grant-funded programs. PhD-level.
Government / Defense
Mission-critical computing
For an agency, national lab, or defense program: mission research and development within standards and, often, clearance.
Junior / Associate
Early-career support
For an early-career hire: implement and test methods, run experiments, and contribute under senior guidance.
Senior / Principal
Sets research direction
For a research leader: set the technical agenda, drive high-impact work, mentor scientists, and shape strategy.
Match the Template to the Hire
General research role: Standard. Company R&D shipping into product: Industry R&D. Lab or university publishing research: Research/Academic. Agency, national lab, or defense: Government/Defense. Early-career hire: Junior. Research leader who sets direction: Senior/Principal. If the work is building software, use a developer posting instead.
Download all six as a single Word document or copy individual templates. Each follows the same structure: organization and role summary, key responsibilities, qualifications, the FLSA note, reporting line, and pay, with an EEO statement. Fill in the brackets and post.
Download All 6 Templates
Standard, industry R&D, academic, government, junior, and senior. All in one DOCX.
Template 1: Standard Computer Scientist
The universal version: research computing problems, design methods and systems, run experiments, and apply findings.
Standard Computer Scientist Job Description
COMPUTER SCIENTIST JOB DESCRIPTION
Company: __ ([City, State] / Remote)
Department: Research and Development / Engineering
Reports to: [Director of Research / Principal Scientist]
Employment type: Full-time, W-2 employee
FLSA status: Exempt (learned professional; confirm by duties and salary)
Salary range: $_ - $_
ABOUT [COMPANY NAME]
[One or two sentences: your company, your research focus, and the team
this role joins.]
POSITION SUMMARY
[Company Name] is hiring a Computer Scientist to design innovative uses
for new and existing computing technology. You will research computing
problems, develop new methods, algorithms, and software systems, run
experiments to validate them, and translate findings into applied work.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
•Research fundamental and applied computing problems
•Design new algorithms, methods, and software systems
•Run experiments and analyze results rigorously
•Prototype and validate novel computing approaches
•Publish findings or document results internally
•Collaborate with engineers to apply research
•Stay current with the state of the field
•Present work to technical and non-technical audiences
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
•[Master's or PhD in computer science or related field]
•Strong foundation in algorithms, math, and theory
•Research experience in [your domain]
•Proficiency in [relevant languages and tools]
•Clear technical writing and communication
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
•Publications or a research track record
•Domain expertise in [AI / systems / security / etc.]
COMPENSATION AND HOW TO APPLY
Salary range: $_ - $_ [+ benefits]
To apply, email __ with your resume.
[Company Name] is an equal opportunity employer.
Template 2: Industry R&D Computer Scientist
For a company R&D team: research and prototype new approaches, then partner with engineering to ship them.
Industry R&D Computer Scientist Job Description
COMPUTER SCIENTIST JOB DESCRIPTION (INDUSTRY R&D)
Company: __ ([City, State] / Remote)
Department: Research and Development
Reports to: [Head of R&D / Principal Scientist]
Employment type: Full-time, W-2 employee
FLSA status: Exempt (learned professional; confirm by duties and salary)
Salary range: $_ - $_
POSITION SUMMARY
[Company Name] is hiring a Computer Scientist for our R&D team to turn
hard computing problems into shipping technology. You will research and
prototype new approaches, then partner with engineering to move the best
ideas into the product.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
•Research applied computing problems tied to the product
•Design and prototype new algorithms and systems
•Validate approaches with experiments and benchmarks
•Partner with engineering on technology transfer
•Evaluate emerging methods for practical fit
•Document results and inform the technical roadmap
•Contribute to patents or publications where relevant
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
•[Master's or PhD in computer science, or equivalent research record]
•Strong applied-research and prototyping skills
•Proficiency in [relevant languages and tools]
•Experience bridging research and production
•Clear communication with cross-functional teams
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
•Track record shipping research into products
•Expertise in [your priority research area]
COMPENSATION AND HOW TO APPLY
Salary range: $_ - $_ [+ benefits]
To apply, email __ with your resume.
[Company Name] is an equal opportunity employer.
Still Using Spreadsheets for Onboarding?
Automate documents, training assignments, task management, and track onboarding progress in real time.
Most computer scientist roles weigh research ability, a strong foundation in algorithms and math, and depth in a specialization alongside a graduate degree. List what is truly required separately from what is preferred, and consider accepting an equivalent research record where it widens the pool without lowering the bar.
Type
What to look for
Core skills
Research method, algorithms, advanced math
Technical
Proficiency in relevant languages and tools
Specialization
Depth in AI, systems, security, or your domain
Education
Master's or PhD (bachelor's for some federal roles)
This classification question is straightforward for a research role, with one detail worth stating clearly.
Almost Always Exempt, but Confirm by Duties and Salary
A computer scientist is generally exempt under the FLSA learned professional exemption: paid on a salary basis of at least $684 per week ($35,568 per year), with a primary duty requiring advanced knowledge in a field of science or learning, typically from prolonged specialized instruction. A research role needing a graduate degree fits squarely. A separate computer-employee exemption can also apply to certain computing roles and permits an hourly basis of at least $27.63 per hour. Job titles never determine exempt status on their own. Review DOL Fact Sheet 17D and classify by the actual duties and salary.
In nearly all cases this role is exempt. For the underlying rules, the exempt vs non-exempt guide and the Fair Labor Standards Act guide explain the tests. This is general information, not legal advice; confirm with an employment attorney, since some states set a higher salary floor than the federal level.
Computer Scientist Pay
Pay varies widely by setting, with software-publisher and big-tech R&D roles at the high end and academic or government roles lower.
Computer Scientist Pay (BLS May 2024)
Computer and information research scientists (SOC 15-1221) had a median annual wage of $140,910 in May 2024, with the lowest 10 percent under $80,670 and the highest 10 percent over $232,120. The field is small and growing fast: about 40,300 jobs, projected to grow 20 percent through 2034 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
For comparison, software developers had a median of about $133,080 in the same period across a far larger field of roughly 1.9 million jobs, which is part of why most companies are better served hiring a developer. Set your range using current market data for your setting, region, and the seniority level rather than aggregator averages, which mix titles and methods.
A Note on the Data
Aggregator sites publish different computer-scientist averages because they blend job titles, like research scientists with applied engineers, and use different methods. The figures here come from the BLS occupation for computer and information research scientists (SOC 15-1221). Use the BLS median and percentile bands as your anchor and adjust for setting, region, and level, rather than relying on aggregator averages.
Who Actually Hires a Computer Scientist?
This is the most important section if you run a small or mid-size business. The computer scientist title belongs to a specific, mostly large-organization world, and confusing it with a software role leads to a posting no realistic candidate will answer. Here is what to know, including the honest alternative for most teams.
If you run a small business and need someone to build software, you probably want a developer, not a computer scientist
This is the most useful thing to know before you post this role. A computer scientist researches computing itself, designing new algorithms, methods, and systems and validating them through experiments, usually with a master's or PhD. That is a research function, and the people who hire for it are mostly the federal government, national labs and defense programs, university research groups, and the R&D arms of large technology companies. A small business that wants someone to build, ship, and maintain an application is describing a software developer or software engineer, a much larger and more available occupation that typically needs a bachelor's degree. The pay is similar at the median, about $140,910 for computer scientists versus about $133,080 for software developers in May 2024, but the work and the talent pool are very different, and there are roughly 1.9 million software developer jobs against about 40,300 computer-scientist jobs. So if your goal is product software, write a software developer or software engineer posting; reserve computer scientist for genuine research roles.
A computer scientist is almost always exempt, but the title alone never decides it
A computer scientist is generally exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act, usually under the learned professional exemption and sometimes the computer-employee exemption, but exempt status comes from the actual duties and salary, never the title. The learned professional exemption applies when the employee is paid on a salary basis of at least $684 per week ($35,568 per year) and the primary duty is work requiring advanced knowledge in a field of science or learning, typically acquired through prolonged specialized instruction, which fits a research role requiring a graduate degree. There is also a computer-employee exemption that can apply to certain computing roles and allows an hourly basis of at least $27.63 per hour. Because a research scientist's work is advanced and judgment-driven, the role is almost always exempt. Still, the Department of Labor is explicit that job titles do not determine exempt status, so classify by the real primary duties and the salary, and check your state, since some set a higher salary threshold than the federal floor.
Whoever you hire, technical or research, still needs a clean start on day one
Whether you end up hiring a research computer scientist or, more likely for a smaller team, a software developer, the onboarding fundamentals are the same and worth getting right, since a strong technical hire lost to a chaotic first week is an expensive miss and poor onboarding is a documented driver of early turnover. Before day one: send the offer letter with the correct exempt classification and salary, collect the signed offer, complete Form I-9 and tax forms, and have them sign confidentiality and intellectual-property agreements, which matter especially for research and product work. Then set them up to contribute: system and code or lab access, the tools and documentation they need, and an introduction to the team they will work with. FirstHR supports this people-process side: e-signature for the offer letter and IP and confidentiality agreements, document management to store signed agreements and records, onboarding workflows and an AI onboarding wizard that can turn a job description into an onboarding plan, training modules for tools and orientation, and an HRIS with an org chart and employee database. FirstHR does not run payroll, administer benefits, or provide legal advice, so pair it with your payroll provider and an attorney as needed. Applicant tracking is coming soon to FirstHR.
After You Hire: Onboarding a Technical Hire
Whether you hire a research computer scientist or, more likely for a smaller team, a software developer, the onboarding fundamentals are the same. Send the offer letter with the correct exempt classification and salary, collect the signed offer, complete Form I-9 and tax forms as part of the new hire paperwork, and have them sign confidentiality and intellectual-property agreements, which matter especially for research and product work.
Then set them up to contribute: system, code, or lab access, the tools and documentation they need, and an introduction to the team, with signed onboarding documents kept in one place. The offer letter template covers the terms, and the onboarding checklist gives you a repeatable process.
FirstHR supports the people side of this hire: e-signature for the offer letter and IP and confidentiality agreements, document management to store signed agreements and records, onboarding workflows and an AI onboarding wizard that can turn a job description into an onboarding plan, training modules for tools and orientation, and an HRIS with an org chart and employee database that scales as the team grows. FirstHR does not run payroll, administer benefits, or provide legal advice, so pair it with your payroll provider and an attorney as needed. Applicant tracking is coming soon to FirstHR.
Key Takeaways
A computer scientist is a research role (SOC 15-1221): researching computing problems and designing new algorithms, methods, and systems.
It usually requires a master's or PhD and is hired mostly by government, national labs, universities, and big-tech R&D, rarely by small businesses.
If you want product software built, you almost certainly need a software developer or engineer, not a computer scientist.
The role is almost always exempt under the FLSA learned professional exemption, but classify by the actual duties and salary.
Pay anchor: $140,910 median (BLS, May 2024), in a small field of about 40,300 jobs growing 20 percent through 2034.
Software developers had a similar median (about $133,080) across roughly 1.9 million jobs, which is the realistic hire for most teams.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a computer scientist do?
A computer scientist designs innovative uses for new and existing computing technology. The core work is research: studying fundamental and applied computing problems, developing new algorithms, methods, and software systems, running experiments to test them, and translating findings into theory or applied technology. Many also publish in peer-reviewed venues, collaborate across disciplines, and partner with engineers to move research into products. In federal data the role maps to computer and information research scientists (SOC 15-1221), which the Bureau of Labor Statistics describes as creating innovative uses for computing technology. It is a research function distinct from building production software day to day. The role spans settings, from industry R&D teams, to academic and government labs, to defense programs, and levels, from a junior associate to a principal who sets research direction. Most positions require a master's or PhD, though some federal jobs accept a bachelor's. The templates on this page split by setting and level so the description matches the exact role, and the page is candid that a small business wanting product software usually needs a developer instead.
What is the difference between a computer scientist and a software developer?
A computer scientist researches computing itself, designing new algorithms, methods, and systems and validating them through experiments, usually with a master's or PhD. A software developer builds, ships, and maintains software that solves practical problems, typically with a bachelor's degree. The simplest way to tell them apart: a computer scientist asks what new computing approaches are possible and proves them out, while a developer takes known approaches and turns them into working products. The pay is similar at the median, about $140,910 for computer scientists versus about $133,080 for software developers in May 2024, but the work and the talent pools differ sharply, and there are roughly 1.9 million software developer jobs against about 40,300 computer-scientist jobs. For hiring, this distinction matters a lot. If you want someone to build your application, you are describing a software developer or software engineer, not a computer scientist. Reserve the computer scientist title for genuine research roles, which are concentrated in government, national labs, universities, and the R&D arms of large technology companies.
Does a computer scientist need a master's or PhD?
Usually yes. The Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that computer and information research scientists typically need at least a master's degree in computer science or a related field, and many research roles, especially in academia and labs, require a PhD. The exception is the federal government, where a bachelor's degree may be sufficient for some positions. This is one of the clearest signals that the role is a research function rather than a general software job: the advanced degree reflects the depth of theory, math, and research method the work requires. If a posting you are writing does not truly need that depth, that is a strong sign you are actually hiring a software developer or engineer, who typically needs only a bachelor's and is far more available. For a genuine research role, state the degree requirement clearly, and consider whether you will also accept an equivalent research record in place of a specific degree, which can widen a narrow candidate pool without lowering the bar on actual research ability.
Is a computer scientist exempt or non-exempt under the FLSA?
A computer scientist is almost always exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act, usually under the learned professional exemption and sometimes the computer-employee exemption, but exempt status comes from the actual duties and salary, never the title. The learned professional exemption applies when the employee is paid on a salary basis of at least $684 per week ($35,568 per year) and the primary duty is work requiring advanced knowledge in a field of science or learning, typically acquired through prolonged specialized instruction. A research role requiring a graduate degree fits that standard squarely. There is also a computer-employee exemption that can apply to certain computing roles and permits an hourly basis of at least $27.63 per hour. Because the work is advanced and judgment-driven, the role is exempt in nearly all cases. Even so, the Department of Labor is explicit that job titles do not determine exempt status, so classify by the real primary duties and the salary, and check your state, since some set a higher salary threshold than the federal floor.
How much does a computer scientist make?
Computer and information research scientists (SOC 15-1221) had a median annual wage of $140,910 in May 2024 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with the lowest 10 percent under $80,670 and the highest 10 percent over $232,120. Pay varies widely by setting: software publishers and large technology R&D pay at the high end, while academic and some government roles pay less. The field is small and growing fast, about 40,300 jobs in 2024, with employment projected to grow 20 percent from 2024 to 2034, much faster than average, and roughly 3,200 openings a year. For comparison, software developers (SOC 15-1252) had a median of about $133,080 in the same period across a far larger field of roughly 1.9 million jobs. Aggregator sites publish different averages because they mix job titles and use different methods, so anchor your range to the BLS median and percentile bands and adjust for your setting, region, and the seniority level rather than relying on aggregator averages.
Who actually hires computer scientists?
Computer scientists are concentrated in a handful of settings, very few of which are small businesses. According to BLS data, the largest employers are the federal government, research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences, computer systems design and related services, colleges and universities, and software publishers. In practice that means national labs, defense and intelligence programs, university research groups, and the R&D arms of large technology companies. These employers hire for genuine research: developing new computing theory, methods, and systems. A company of 5 to 50 people almost never needs this. If a small or mid-size business thinks it needs a computer scientist, it usually needs a software developer or software engineer to build and maintain its product, or a data scientist or analyst for data work. The honest guidance is to match the title to the work: use computer scientist only for a real research role, and use developer or engineer titles for product and software work, which is what most companies are actually hiring for.
What should a computer scientist job description include?
A strong computer scientist job description includes a short organization and role summary, the core research responsibilities, the education and qualification requirements, the reporting line, and the employment and pay details. For responsibilities, focus on the real work: researching computing problems, designing algorithms and systems, running experiments, publishing or documenting findings, and collaborating with engineers or researchers, scaled to the setting and level. State the education requirement clearly, since most roles need a master's or PhD, and decide whether an equivalent research record is acceptable. Classify the role thoughtfully under the FLSA, since it is almost always exempt under the learned professional exemption. Above all, be honest about whether you actually need this role: if the work is building and shipping software, write a software developer or engineer posting instead. The templates on this page give you a role-matched, fill-in-the-blank starting point for industry R&D, academic, government, junior, and senior research roles, with the FLSA and salary guidance built in.
What happens after I hire a computer scientist or developer?
Whether you hire a research computer scientist or, more likely for a smaller team, a software developer, the onboarding fundamentals are the same and worth getting right, since a strong technical hire lost to a chaotic first week is an expensive miss and poor onboarding drives early turnover. Before day one: send the offer letter with the correct exempt classification and salary, collect the signed offer, complete Form I-9 and tax forms, and have them sign confidentiality and intellectual-property agreements, which matter especially for research and product work. Then set them up to contribute: system, code, or lab access, the tools and documentation they need, and an introduction to the team. A repeatable onboarding process makes each technical hire productive faster. FirstHR supports the people side of this: e-signature for the offer letter and IP and confidentiality agreements, document management to store signed agreements and records, onboarding workflows and an AI onboarding wizard that can turn a job description into an onboarding plan, training modules for tools and orientation, and an HRIS with an org chart and employee database. FirstHR does not run payroll, administer benefits, or provide legal advice, so pair it with your payroll provider and an attorney as needed. Applicant tracking is coming soon to FirstHR.
