Natural Sciences Managers Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for natural sciences managers in the U.S. is $167,220 ($80.39 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $167,220
- Mean annual wage
- $180,250
- Median hourly wage
- $80.39
- Employment
- 108,690
108,690 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $79,710 | $38.32 |
| 25th percentile | $119,430 | $57.42 |
| Median (50th) | $167,220 | $80.39 |
| 75th percentile | $221,540 | $106.51 |
| 90th percentile | $316,850 | $152.33 |
Highest-paying states for natural sciences managers
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Lowest-paying states
- Hawaii: $107,810 median annual wage
- Indiana: $108,250 median annual wage
- Wyoming: $109,300 median annual wage
- Iowa: $109,760 median annual wage
- Florida: $112,220 median annual wage
About this occupation
Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, statistics, and research and development in these fields.
Typical tasks
- Develop client relationships and communicate with clients to explain proposals, present research findings, establish specifications, or discuss project status.
- Prepare and administer budgets, approve and review expenditures, and prepare financial reports.
- Conduct own research in field of expertise.
- Review project activities and prepare and review research, testing, or operational reports.
- Determine scientific or technical goals within broad outlines provided by top management and make detailed plans to accomplish these goals.
- Provide for stewardship of plant or animal resources or habitats, studying land use, monitoring animal populations, or providing shelter, resources, or medical treatment for animals.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: Bachelor's degree
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school diploma | 0.3% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.8% |
| Some college, no degree | 4.0% |
| Associate's degree | 2.9% |
| Bachelor's degree | 37.5% |
| Master's degree | 31.5% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 20.9% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
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About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.