Natural Sciences Manager salary in the U.S.
Natural Sciences Managers in the U.S. earn a median of $167,220 a year ($80.39 an hour), based on BLS data for 108,690 workers.
Pay ranges from $79,710 for the lowest-paid 10% to $316,850 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $180,250, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for natural sciences managers in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $79,710 | $38.32 |
| 25th percentile | $119,430 | $57.42 |
| Median | $167,220 | $80.39 |
| 75th percentile | $221,540 | $106.51 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $316,850 | $152.33 |
| Average (mean) | $180,250 | $86.66 |
Half of natural sciences managers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $13,935 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $6,967.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,431.54 |
| Weekly | $3,215.77 |
| Hourly | $80.39 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Natural Sciences Manager salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $267,290 | 10,590 |
| Connecticut | $210,670 | 1,190 |
| California | $210,230 | 14,950 |
| New Jersey | $207,030 | 10,040 |
| Washington | $182,480 | 2,490 |
| North Carolina | $173,870 | 6,010 |
| Maryland | $168,620 | 4,820 |
| Illinois | $159,670 | 2,810 |
| District of Columbia | $156,730 | 1,540 |
| Kansas | $153,820 | 240 |
| Colorado | $152,730 | 1,640 |
| Virginia | $150,570 | 1,470 |
| Oregon | $143,120 | 1,700 |
| Maine | $141,360 | 430 |
| West Virginia | $138,010 | 160 |
| Pennsylvania | $137,900 | 7,980 |
| Ohio | $137,170 | 1,560 |
| Minnesota | $136,450 | 1,530 |
| New York | $134,680 | 5,690 |
| New Hampshire | $134,010 | 240 |
| Alabama | $133,470 | 370 |
| North Dakota | $131,370 | 140 |
| Vermont | $131,290 | 290 |
| South Carolina | $131,140 | 780 |
| Alaska | $130,590 | 710 |
| Rhode Island | $130,480 | 200 |
| Texas | $129,960 | 7,470 |
| Missouri | $129,410 | 1,230 |
| Michigan | $129,070 | 2,220 |
| Wisconsin | $128,890 | 1,070 |
| South Dakota | $128,140 | 180 |
| Kentucky | $126,440 | 400 |
| Arizona | $124,920 | 900 |
| Idaho | $124,800 | 610 |
| Tennessee | $124,530 | 880 |
| Nebraska | $120,620 | 550 |
| Arkansas | $119,430 | 340 |
| Mississippi | $119,430 | 210 |
| Montana | $119,430 | 370 |
| Utah | $119,430 | n/a |
| Puerto Rico | $119,430 | 90 |
| Louisiana | $115,950 | n/a |
| Nevada | $112,260 | 320 |
| Oklahoma | $112,260 | 310 |
| Florida | $112,220 | 4,370 |
| Iowa | $109,760 | 610 |
| Wyoming | $109,300 | 150 |
| Indiana | $108,250 | 1,670 |
| Hawaii | $107,810 | 510 |
Best-paying metro areas for natural sciences managers
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $291,000 | 9,570 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $263,810 | 1,160 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $225,230 | 5,530 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $220,120 | 100 |
| Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $217,480 | 300 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $215,860 | 110 |
| Worcester, MA | $212,600 | 490 |
| Midland, MI | $212,130 | 60 |
| New Haven, CT | $210,670 | 350 |
| Boulder, CO | $210,340 | 310 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $207,200 | 2,890 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $204,250 | 220 |
| Bay City, MI | $204,120 | 50 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $203,150 | 1,730 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $202,380 | 80 |
Metro areas with the most natural sciences managers
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 10,100 | $180,460 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 9,570 | $291,000 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 5,890 | $169,060 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 5,530 | $225,230 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 5,510 | $172,900 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 2,890 | $207,200 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 2,870 | $132,860 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 2,530 | $193,340 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 2,270 | $167,040 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | 2,150 | $182,230 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 2,050 | $183,540 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 1,730 | $203,150 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | 1,640 | $173,510 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 1,590 | $130,010 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 1,230 | $119,700 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Managers, All Other | $141,900 | $68.22 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $123,860 | $59.55 |
| Construction Manager | $114,990 | $55.28 |
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | $105,870 | — |
| Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers | $69,990 | $33.65 |
| Food Service Manager | $69,390 | $33.36 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $171,270 | $82.34 |
| Social and Community Service Managers | $80,390 | $38.65 |
| Education Administrators, Postsecondary | $104,590 | $50.29 |
| Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare | $59,300 | $28.51 |
| Education Administrators, All Other | $95,200 | $45.77 |
| Lodging Manager | $69,250 | $33.29 |
| Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling | $79,520 | $38.23 |
| Funeral Home Manager | $78,790 | $37.88 |
More: Management Occupations
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 11-9121. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a natural sciences manager make in the U.S.?
The median salary for natural sciences managers in the U.S. is $167,220 a year, or $80.39 an hour. Pay ranges from $79,710 for the lowest-paid 10% to $316,850 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid natural sciences managers make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of natural sciences managers in the U.S. earn at least $316,850 a year. The top 25% earn $221,540 or more.
What is the starting pay for natural sciences managers in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $79,710 a year, and a quarter of natural sciences managers earn $119,430 or less.
How many natural sciences managers work in the U.S.?
About 108,690 natural sciences managers are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.