Lead Research Computing Specialist Salary.
Across 81 U.S. cities.
$135,000
national median salary
$105,000 to $176,000. Last updated August 2026.
Orbyt prices 7 titles at this same figure, including Lead UI Designer, Lead Content Designer, and Lead Communications Manager. Orbyt does not hold title-level wage data that would separate them.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $116,580 for Computer Occupations, All Other (SOC 15-1299) across the United States, based on 435,370 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$55,940
25th percentile
$79,370
Median
$116,580
75th percentile
$157,500
90th percentile
$188,470
Workers surveyed
435,370
What BLS published in each release
May 2024 release
$108,970
May 2025 release
$116,580
These are two separate published estimates, not a time series. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not encourage the use of OEWS data for time-series analysis. Differences between releases reflect changes in occupational classification, survey methodology, and the three-year pooled sample as well as any change in pay, so the two figures should not be read as a rate of wage growth.
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Computer Occupations, All Other (SOC 15-1299) rather than Lead Research Computing Specialistspecifically. The national range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 15-1299Highest Paying
$181,000
San Jose, CA
Best Purchasing Power
$141,000
Manchester, NH
Lowest Paying
$102,000
Jackson, MS
The salary figures on this page are computed estimates, not observed wages. Each one is a national role baseline scaled by a Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parity cost-of-living multiplier (2025 index) and rounded to the nearest $1,000. No published wage percentile is consulted and no wage survey response enters the calculation, so an Orbyt estimate must not be cited as a Bureau of Labor Statistics figure or as measured pay. The published wage data Orbyt holds is Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, and Department of Labor H-1B Labor Condition Application filings, which record a filed minimum visa base wage rather than market pay. Where BLS publishes a wage for the occupation a role maps to, it is shown on that role's page as a separate benchmark, labelled with its occupation code, metro area and the number of employed workers it covers. Last updated August 2026. This role maps to BLS occupation code 15-1299. Full methodology.
Orbyt estimates the average Lead Research Computing Specialist salary in the United States at $135,000 in 2026, within a range of $105,000 to $176,000. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page. This figure is not specific to this title: Orbyt prices 7 titles at the same estimate. San Jose is the highest of the 81 cities at $181,000, while Manchester offers the best purchasing power after cost-of-living adjustments. Lead Research Computing Specialist compensation is driven by publication record, domain specialization, and whether the work involves production model training or applied research.
Lead Research Computing Specialist salary by city.
Skills that increase Lead Research Computing Specialist pay.
The skills below command measurable salary premiums for Lead Research Computing Specialists based on job posting data. Learning the top skill here could add $18,900 to your annual compensation.
≈ +$18,900 per year
≈ +$17,550 per year
≈ +$16,200 per year
≈ +$14,850 per year
≈ +$14,850 per year
≈ +$13,500 per year
≈ +$13,500 per year
≈ +$12,150 per year
What you should know.
Lead Research Computing Specialist compensation is driven by publication record, domain specialization, and whether the work involves production model training or applied research. Base salary carries most of the total compensation, with bonuses adding roughly 8% in a typical year. Within tech-sector Lead Research Computing Specialists specifically, employer tier (FAANG and frontier-AI labs vs mid-stage startups vs traditional enterprise) drives 68%+ variance across the compensation band.
Lead Research Computing Specialists progress Research Engineer → Senior → Staff → Principal → Distinguished over 8 to 15 years. Frontier-AI labs compress this ladder — a strong PhD can land at L5/Senior directly. The VP Research track diverges around year 10 for those who choose to lead labs. For Lead Research Computing Specialists specifically, the seniority anchor typically means 7 to 12 years of experience with demonstrated independent scope.
Total compensation for Lead Research Computing Specialists runs roughly $146K at median when factoring base + typical bonus (~8% of base). Base salary carries most of the compensation; benefits (healthcare, 401(k) match, PTO) add an estimated 15–25% in imputed value on top. At tech companies specifically, equity and sign-on are often the largest delta between offers — two roles with matching base can differ by $100K+ at total when equity is included.
Total compensation breakdown.
Salary by company size
Remote salary adjustment
Remote Lead Research Computing Specialists typically earn $115,000 (15% less than on-site). This reflects location-adjusted pay policies at companies using geographic salary bands. Some companies pay flat national rates regardless of location.
Are you a Lead Research Computing Specialist?
Share your real compensation anonymously. Help build the most accurate salary dataset for this role. Your data is never individually exposed.
Common questions about Lead Research Computing Specialist pay.
Related tools