Natural Sciences Manager Salary
Natural Sciences Managers earn a median $167,220 a year nationally. Management Occupations
U.S. median
$167,220
$80.39 per hour
Range
$79,710 – $239,200+
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
108,690
across the U.S.
▲3.7%
Pay trend: The median for natural sciences managers in the U.S. rose from $161,180 (May 2024) to $167,220 (May 2025). That beat inflation (2.4%), a real raise of about 1.3%.
What natural sciences managers do
Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, statistics, and research and development in these fields.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- 5 years or more
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +8.2% (faster than average)
- Openings per year
- 9,200
Employment of natural sciences managers is projected to grow 8.2% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 9,200 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Natural Sciences Manager take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$125,561
per year · effective tax rate 24.9%
$10,463Monthly
$5,232Twice a month
$4,829Every 2 weeks
$60.37Hourly
- Federal income tax$28,867
- Social Security (6.2%)$10,368
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,425
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$125,561
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $79,710 | $38.32 | $64,906 |
| 25th percentile | $119,430 | $57.42 | $92,849 |
| Median (50th) | $167,220 | $80.39 | $125,561 |
| 75th percentile | $221,540 | $106.51 | $164,498 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $316,850+ | $152.33 | $225,733 |
Best cities for natural sciences managers (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston, MA | $239,200+ | $195,208 | $180,304 | 9,570 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $225,230 | $147,276 | $127,387 | 5,530 |
| 3 | San Diego, CA | $207,200 | $136,496 | $121,995 | 2,890 |
| 4 | Philadelphia, PA | $172,900 | $124,135 | $121,044 | 5,510 |
| 5 | Los Angeles, CA | $193,340 | $127,698 | $112,443 | 2,530 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $180,460 | $125,004 | $111,052 | 10,100 |
| 7 | Washington, DC | $169,060 | $115,417 | $106,000 | 5,890 |
| 8 | Houston, TX | $132,860 | $102,076 | $103,495 | 2,870 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- Boston, MA — $239,200+
- San Francisco, CA — $225,230
- San Diego, CA — $207,200
- Los Angeles, CA — $193,340
- New York, NY — $180,460
- Philadelphia, PA — $172,900
- Washington, DC — $169,060
- Houston, TX — $132,860
Natural Sciences Manager salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $239,200+ | — | $181,388 | $153,490 – $239,200+ | 10,590 |
| Connecticut | $210,670 | +17.6% | $146,295 | $136,750 – $239,200+ | 1,190 |
| California | $210,230 | +3.0% | $138,407 | $130,730 – $239,200+ | 14,950 |
| New Jersey | $207,030 | +2.3% | $143,107 | $136,840 – $239,200+ | 10,040 |
| Washington | $182,480 | +2.4% | $135,991 | $117,590 – $239,200+ | 2,490 |
| North Carolina | $173,870 | +3.8% | $123,677 | $101,810 – $239,200+ | 6,010 |
| Maryland | $168,620 | +3.7% | $118,594 | $127,920 – $239,200+ | 4,820 |
| Illinois | $159,670 | +0.6% | $112,642 | $85,210 – $239,200+ | 2,810 |
| District of Columbia | $156,730 | −4.8% | $108,037 | $79,390 – $195,190 | 1,540 |
| Kansas | $153,820 | −2.7% | $108,619 | $110,660 – $224,310 | 240 |
| Colorado | $152,730 | +6.7% | $109,645 | $89,900 – $239,200+ | 1,640 |
| Virginia | $150,570 | +8.2% | $106,337 | $84,080 – $212,620 | 1,470 |
| Oregon | $143,120 | +4.6% | $97,220 | $102,760 – $225,560 | 1,700 |
| Maine | $141,360 | +4.0% | $99,274 | $81,950 – $220,730 | 430 |
| West Virginia | $138,010 | +2.7% | $99,879 | $100,140 – $185,220 | 160 |
| Pennsylvania | $137,900 | +0.9% | $101,287 | $59,040 – $239,200+ | 7,980 |
| Ohio | $137,170 | +0.9% | $102,032 | $78,720 – $217,760 | 1,560 |
| Minnesota | $136,450 | +3.8% | $96,651 | $78,050 – $239,200+ | 1,530 |
| New York | $134,680 | +2.7% | $96,414 | $65,440 – $239,200+ | 5,690 |
| New Hampshire | $134,010 | −1.6% | $102,862 | $92,600 – $220,150 | 240 |
| Alabama | $133,470 | +4.9% | $96,084 | $81,770 – $239,200+ | 370 |
| North Dakota | $131,370 | −1.6% | $99,755 | $98,490 – $216,630 | 140 |
| Vermont | $131,290 | — | $94,798 | $78,940 – $203,120 | 290 |
| South Carolina | $131,140 | −8.4% | $94,189 | $71,790 – $225,160 | 780 |
| Alaska | $130,590 | +1.6% | $100,524 | $79,040 – $177,430 | 710 |
| Rhode Island | $130,480 | −7.7% | $95,853 | $64,210 – $239,200+ | 200 |
| Texas | $129,960 | −0.1% | $100,094 | $74,200 – $213,280 | 7,470 |
| Missouri | $129,410 | −10.0% | $94,573 | $65,650 – $229,950 | 1,230 |
| Michigan | $129,070 | −4.5% | $94,251 | $68,380 – $222,030 | 2,220 |
| Wisconsin | $128,890 | +3.1% | $93,912 | $89,580 – $213,290 | 1,070 |
| South Dakota | $128,140 | +6.5% | $98,850 | $94,520 – $213,210 | 180 |
| Kentucky | $126,440 | −4.1% | $93,380 | $55,180 – $197,760 | 400 |
| Arizona | $124,920 | −1.1% | $93,735 | $65,780 – $209,130 | 900 |
| Idaho | $124,800 | +3.4% | $91,061 | $80,790 – $204,550 | 610 |
| Tennessee | $124,530 | −11.3% | $96,382 | $66,280 – $223,370 | 880 |
| Nebraska | $120,620 | +6.1% | $89,078 | $65,140 – $189,000 | 550 |
| Arkansas | $119,430 | −11.2% | $88,404 | $72,080 – $226,370 | 340 |
| Mississippi | $119,430 | +5.0% | $88,804 | $75,920 – $185,540 | 210 |
| Montana | $119,430 | +2.0% | $87,462 | $91,560 – $239,200+ | 370 |
| Utah | $119,430 | +1.9% | $88,441 | $63,500 – $218,340 | — |
| Louisiana | $115,950 | — | $87,309 | $81,890 – $212,130 | — |
| Nevada | $112,260 | +8.5% | $87,805 | $64,240 – $182,160 | 320 |
| Oklahoma | $112,260 | +11.2% | $83,299 | $62,400 – $193,770 | 310 |
| Florida | $112,220 | +11.5% | $87,777 | $62,660 – $216,330 | 4,370 |
| Iowa | $109,760 | +6.7% | $82,527 | $74,320 – $200,580 | 610 |
| Wyoming | $109,300 | −0.3% | $85,723 | $97,470 – $134,040 | 150 |
| Indiana | $108,250 | +22.2% | $81,820 | $56,530 – $203,340 | 1,670 |
| Hawaii | $107,810 | +1.2% | $78,011 | $64,410 – $169,680 | 510 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Architectural and Engineering Manager | $171,270 | Bachelor's degree | +5.5% |
| Managers, All Other | $141,900 | Bachelor's degree | +4.9% |
| Medical and Health Services Manager | $123,860 | Bachelor's degree | +24.2% |
| Construction Manager | $114,990 | Bachelor's degree | +9.1% |
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | $105,870 | Master's degree | -0.3% |
| Education Administrators, Postsecondary | $104,590 | Master's degree | +1.8% |
| Postmaster and Mail Superintendent | $96,660 | High school diploma or equivalent | -0.3% |
| Education Administrators, All Other | $95,200 | Bachelor's degree | +1.6% |
| Emergency Management Director | $93,330 | Bachelor's degree | +3.9% |
| Gambling Manager | $93,220 | High school diploma or equivalent | +3.6% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a natural sciences manager make?
The national median salary for natural sciences managers is $167,220 a year ($80.39 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $79,710 and the top 10% earn over $239,200+. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays natural sciences managers the most?
Massachusetts has the highest median pay at $239,200+. After taxes and local prices, Boston, MA offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many natural sciences managers are there in the U.S.?
About 108,690 people work as natural sciences managers nationwide.