Natural sciences managers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $79,710 | $38.32 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $167,220 | $80.39 |
| Mean (average) | $180,250 | $86.66 |
| 90th percentile | $316,850 | $152.33 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Natural sciences managers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 51 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $133,470 | $81,770 | $292,940 | 370 | 0.25 |
| Alaska | $130,590 | $79,040 | $177,430 | 710 | 3.14 |
| Arizona | $124,920 | $65,780 | $209,130 | 900 | 0.4 |
| Arkansas | $119,430 | $72,080 | $226,370 | 340 | 0.38 |
| California | $210,230 | $130,730 | $330,050 | 14,950 | 1.17 |
| Colorado | $152,730 | $89,900 | $289,970 | 1,640 | 0.82 |
| Connecticut | $210,670 | $136,750 | $315,560 | 1,190 | 1 |
| Delaware | Data unavailable | 440 | 1.31 | ||
| District of Columbia | $156,730 | $79,390 | $195,190 | 1,540 | 3.14 |
| Florida | $112,220 | $62,660 | $216,330 | 4,370 | 0.63 |
| Hawaii | $107,810 | $64,410 | $169,680 | 510 | 1.16 |
| Idaho | $124,800 | $80,790 | $204,550 | 610 | 1.01 |
| Illinois | $159,670 | $85,210 | $281,660 | 2,810 | 0.66 |
| Indiana | $108,250 | $56,530 | $203,340 | 1,670 | 0.74 |
| Iowa | $109,760 | $74,320 | $200,580 | 610 | 0.56 |
| Kansas | $153,820 | $110,660 | $224,310 | 240 | 0.24 |
| Kentucky | $126,440 | $55,180 | $197,760 | 400 | 0.29 |
| Louisiana | $115,950 | $81,890 | $212,130 | ||
| Maine | $141,360 | $81,950 | $220,730 | 430 | 0.97 |
| Maryland | $168,620 | $127,920 | $268,240 | 4,820 | 2.49 |
| Massachusetts | $267,290 | $153,490 | $329,820 | 10,590 | 4.16 |
| Michigan | $129,070 | $68,380 | $222,030 | 2,220 | 0.72 |
| Minnesota | $136,450 | $78,050 | $289,790 | 1,530 | 0.74 |
| Mississippi | $119,430 | $75,920 | $185,540 | 210 | 0.26 |
| Missouri | $129,410 | $65,650 | $229,950 | 1,230 | 0.6 |
| Montana | $119,430 | $91,560 | $281,640 | 370 | 1.05 |
| Nebraska | $120,620 | $65,140 | $189,000 | 550 | 0.76 |
| Nevada | $112,260 | $64,240 | $182,160 | 320 | 0.3 |
| New Hampshire | $134,010 | $92,600 | $220,150 | 240 | 0.5 |
| New Jersey | $207,030 | $136,840 | $317,420 | 10,040 | 3.35 |
| New Mexico | Data unavailable | 400 | 0.65 | ||
| New York | $134,680 | $65,440 | $291,780 | 5,690 | 0.84 |
| North Carolina | $173,870 | $101,810 | $305,970 | 6,010 | 1.74 |
| North Dakota | $131,370 | $98,490 | $216,630 | 140 | 0.45 |
| Ohio | $137,170 | $78,720 | $217,760 | 1,560 | 0.4 |
| Oklahoma | $112,260 | $62,400 | $193,770 | 310 | 0.26 |
| Oregon | $143,120 | $102,760 | $225,560 | 1,700 | 1.24 |
| Pennsylvania | $137,900 | $59,040 | $312,510 | 7,980 | 1.88 |
| Puerto Rico | $119,430 | $64,320 | $175,760 | 90 | 0.13 |
| Rhode Island | $130,480 | $64,210 | $268,500 | 200 | 0.58 |
| South Carolina | $131,140 | $71,790 | $225,160 | 780 | 0.48 |
| South Dakota | $128,140 | $94,520 | $213,210 | 180 | 0.55 |
| Tennessee | $124,530 | $66,280 | $223,370 | 880 | 0.38 |
| Texas | $129,960 | $74,200 | $213,280 | 7,470 | 0.76 |
| Utah | $119,430 | $63,500 | $218,340 | ||
| Vermont | $131,290 | $78,940 | $203,120 | 290 | 1.37 |
| Virginia | $150,570 | $84,080 | $212,620 | 1,470 | 0.51 |
| Washington | $182,480 | $117,590 | $324,740 | 2,490 | 1 |
| West Virginia | $138,010 | $100,140 | $185,220 | 160 | 0.32 |
| Wisconsin | $128,890 | $89,580 | $213,290 | 1,070 | 0.52 |
| Wyoming | $109,300 | $97,470 | $134,040 | 150 | 0.74 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for natural sciences managers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 9,200. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for natural sciences managers
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- Related work experience
- 5 years or more
- On-the-job training
- None
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Engineering Physics/Applied Physics CIP 14.1201
- Operations Research CIP 14.3701
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General CIP 26.0101
- Biochemistry CIP 26.0202
- Biophysics CIP 26.0203
- Molecular Biology CIP 26.0204
- Molecular Biochemistry CIP 26.0205
- Molecular Biophysics CIP 26.0206
- Structural Biology CIP 26.0207
- Photobiology CIP 26.0208
- Radiation Biology/Radiobiology CIP 26.0209
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology CIP 26.0210
- Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Other CIP 26.0299
- Botany/Plant Biology CIP 26.0301
- Plant Pathology/Phytopathology CIP 26.0305
- Plant Physiology CIP 26.0307
- Botany/Plant Biology, Other CIP 26.0399
- Cell/Cellular Biology and Histology CIP 26.0401
- Anatomy CIP 26.0403
- Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology CIP 26.0406
- Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences, Other CIP 26.0499
- Microbiology, General CIP 26.0502
- Medical Microbiology and Bacteriology CIP 26.0503
- Virology CIP 26.0504
- Parasitology CIP 26.0505
- Immunology CIP 26.0507
- Microbiology and Immunology CIP 26.0508
- Microbiological Sciences and Immunology, Other CIP 26.0599
- Zoology/Animal Biology CIP 26.0701
- Entomology CIP 26.0702
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Hire, supervise, or evaluate engineers, technicians, researchers, or other staff.
- Design or coordinate successive phases of problem analysis, solution proposals, or testing.
- Plan or direct research, development, or production activities.
- Review project activities and prepare and review research, testing, or operational reports.
- Confer with scientists, engineers, regulators, or others to plan or review projects or to provide technical assistance.
- Develop client relationships and communicate with clients to explain proposals, present research findings, establish specifications, or discuss project status.
- Determine scientific or technical goals within broad outlines provided by top management and make detailed plans to accomplish these goals.
- Prepare project proposals.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (in demand)
- Adobe Acrobat (hot technology)
- Adobe Photoshop (hot technology)
- ESRI ArcGIS software (hot technology)
- IBM SPSS Statistics (hot technology)
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft Project (hot technology)
- Microsoft SharePoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Visio (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Oracle Database (hot technology)
- R (hot technology)
- SAP software (hot technology)
Transferable skills for career changers: Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Management of Personnel Resources, Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Persuasion.
Common job titles: Analytical Services Manager, Chemical Engineer Supervisor, Chemical Process Exploration Manager, Environmental Program Manager, Lab Manager (Laboratory Manager), Natural Sciences Manager, Research Administrator, Research and Development Director (R and D Director), Research Manager, Water Team Leader.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do natural sciences managers make?
The national median annual wage for natural sciences managers was $167,220 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $79,710 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $316,850. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do natural sciences managers need?
BLS lists bachelor's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with 5 years or more of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is natural sciences managers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of natural sciences managers to change +8.2% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 9,200 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay natural sciences managers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Massachusetts ($267,290), Connecticut ($210,670), California ($210,230). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.