Soil and Plant Scientists
Median wage · national
$78,850
Range: $62K – $104K
Employed
16K
Openings/yr
1K
Typically: bachelor's degree
HUMANITIES
Natural Sciences Managers
With a national median of $167,220 and +8.2% projected job growth through 2035, Natural Sciences Managers offers both strong financial return and stable long-term demand.
About Natural Sciences Managers
This page sets out what the federal data says about working as a natural sciences managers: what the job pays, how fast it is growing, and what it takes to get in. Most people arrive through a degree in Biology and what it leads to, though it is not the only route.
Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, statistics, and research and development in these fields.
- Median Wage
- $167,220
- Employed Nationally
- 109K
- Openings / Year
- 9,200
- Entry Education
- Bachelor's degree
- Job Zone
- Zone 5: Extensive Preparation
Also known as:
Agricultural Research Director
Agriculture Research Director
Analytical Services Manager
Chemical Engineer Supervisor
Chemical Plant Technical Director
How Much Do Natural Sciences Managers Make?
Most natural sciences managers take home around $167,220 a year, well above what most college graduates make. Half earn somewhere between $119,430 and $221,540, so where you land depends a lot on employer, specialty and city. Worth weighing against how long the training takes. Source: BLS.
A wage on its own says nothing about whether the degree behind it pays for itself, which is a question of lifetime earnings set against the total cost of getting there.
$167,220
National Median (Annual)
Well above average for college graduates.
$119K–$222K
Middle 50% Range
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
Earnings Range
$119,430
Entry-level
$167,220
Median
$221,540
Experienced
What Do Natural Sciences Managers Do?
This is what the job actually looks like on a Tuesday: 5 core activities and 5 skills the work depends on. Read it before the salary, because pay matters less than whether you would want to spend your days doing this. Source: O*NET.
What You'll Do
- 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.
Core Skills Employers Look For
Science
Reading Comprehension
Active Listening
Reading Comprehension
Active Listening
Who Thrives Here
I
Investigative
This career demands analytical thinking: researching problems, interpreting data, and applying logical reasoning to find practical solutions.
I
Investigative
This career demands analytical thinking: researching problems, interpreting data, and applying logical reasoning to find practical solutions.
I
Investigative
This career demands analytical thinking: researching problems, interpreting data, and applying logical reasoning to find practical solutions.
Where Do Natural Sciences Managers Work?
What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.
Work Setting
Mixed
Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.
Physical Demands
Light
Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.
Stress Level
Moderate
Moderate pressure. Regular deadlines exist but are generally manageable with experience.
What Is the Job Outlook for Natural Sciences Managers?
Through 2035 the BLS expects this field to change by +8.2%, meaning it is growing faster than most occupations, so jobs should be easier to find over time. Around 9,200 roles open up each year, which is the number that matters most if you are starting out. Source: BLS.
Growth rates are only meaningful next to other occupations, and the full list of careers with their projected growth puts this one in context.
↗ +8.2%
10-Year Growth (2025–2035)
Faster than average.
9,200
Annual Openings
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
109K
Currently Employed
Total US employment as of BLS May 2025.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025.
Where the Jobs Are
The five states below employ the most Natural Sciences Managers professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $167,220 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.
| # | State | Jobs | Median Wage | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 14,950 | $210,230 | +25.7% |
| 2 | Massachusetts | 10,590 | $267,290 | +59.8% |
| 3 | New Jersey | 10,040 | $207,030 | +23.8% |
| 4 | Pennsylvania | 7,980 | $137,900 | -17.5% |
| 5 | Texas | 7,470 | $129,960 | -22.3% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
How to Get Here
To get hired here you will usually need a bachelor's degree. The 10 programs below are the most common routes in, ordered by how many people actually graduate from each one.
The next most common path is a Mathematics program and the colleges offering it, which suits a different kind of applicant.
Typical Entry Education
Bachelor's degree
Job Zone
Zone 5: Extensive Preparation
Extensive education (usually a master's or doctoral degree) plus years of field experience is required to qualify for most positions.
Degree Programs That Lead Here
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Biology | 103,883 | $57,214 | 1,774 |
| 2 | Mathematics | 27,179 | $69,562 | 1,491 |
| 3 | Biochemistry & Biophysics | 14,354 | $65,466 | 763 |
| 4 | Neurobiology | 12,903 | $62,451 | 368 |
| 5 | Applied Mathematics | 11,635 | $91,532 | 417 |
| 6 | Physiology | 10,453 | $62,172 | 265 |
| 7 | Statistics | 9,944 | $92,425 | 281 |
| 8 | Ecology | 9,123 | $48,842 | 352 |
| 9 | Cell Biology | 6,274 | $66,697 | 196 |
| 10 | Microbiology | 4,815 | $62,582 | 201 |
Top Colleges for Aspiring Natural Sciences Managers
Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.
| # | College | UCD Score | Net Price | Salary 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States Naval Academy Annapolis, MD | 97 | — | — |
| 2 | United States Coast Guard Academy New London, CT | 96 | — | — |
| 3 | United States Air Force Academy USAF Academy, CO | 96 | — | — |
| 4 | United States Military Academy West Point, NY | 96 | — | — |
| 5 | Princeton University Princeton, NJ | 94 | $6,128 | $110,066 |
| 6 | CUNY Bernard M Baruch College New York, NY | 93 | $3,033 | $75,971 |
Plan Your Path
Once you've sized up Natural Sciences Managers, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.
College ROI Calculator
See if the degree that leads to Natural Sciences Managers pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
College Cost Calculator
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Compare Colleges
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
College Match Quiz
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
Natural Sciences Managers Pros & Cons
Strong earnings and growing demand make Natural Sciences Managers a compelling path. The 3 strengths and 2 trade-offs below are drawn from BLS wage data and employment projections.
PROS
- Very high median salary The national median of $167,220 places this career well above average for college graduates, with significant upside at the 75th percentile.
- Fast-growing field At +8.2% projected growth through 2035, this career grows faster than the national average of about +5%. A strong signal for long-term demand.
- High earning ceiling Top earners (75th percentile) reach $221,540 annually. Strong performers, specialists, and those in high-cost markets have significant upside beyond the median.
CONS
- Limited annual openings With only 9,200 openings per year relative to field size, competition for available positions is intense. Networking and experience matter more here than in higher-turnover fields.
- Extensive preparation before reaching full earning potential This is a Job Zone 5 occupation, extensive education (usually a master's or doctoral degree) plus years of field experience is required to qualify for most positions. Most workers in this field spend their first several years at entry-level pay well below the $167,220 median while building the experience employers require.
Natural Sciences Managers Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Natural Sciences Managers professionals earn?
Around $167,220 a year for the typical worker, well into the top quartile of US wages. The middle 50% of earners fall between $119,430 and $221,540. Treat the national figure as a starting point rather than a promise: employer size, industry and city all move it.
Is Natural Sciences Managers a good career?
Yes, for the right person, but the commitment is significant. The $167,220 median wage reflects years of training most workers invest, and the path to a first career-level role typically spans 8 to 12 or more years. Job growth of +8.2% through 2035 means demand is real. The harder question is whether the education investment at your specific program will pay off. School selection matters enormously at this preparation level.
How long does it take to work as Natural Sciences Managers?
Plan on 8 to 12 or more years of combined education and supervised training before qualifying for career-level roles. A bachelor's degree is the typical minimum credential. Degree programs like Biology are typical entry paths. Early-career pay during this ramp-up period will be meaningfully below the $167,220 national median. Factor that gap into any program ROI calculation.
What is the job outlook for Natural Sciences Managers?
Employment is projected to change by +8.2% through 2035, faster than average compared with other occupations. Around 9,200 roles open each year once you count people retiring and moving on, which matters more to someone starting out than the growth rate does. 109K people do this job nationwide today, so it is an established field rather than a niche one. Source: BLS May 2025.
Why do Natural Sciences Managers salaries vary so widely?
The $102,110 gap between the 25th ($119,430) and 75th ($221,540) percentile reflects how much employer type, industry, specialization, and geography affect pay. Entry-level roles and lower-demand markets cluster near the bottom; senior, specialized, or high-cost-metro positions push the top. In fields with this much spread, where you work and what you specialize in often matters more than years of experience.
What skills do Natural Sciences Managers professionals need?
Mainly Science, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Reading Comprehension, and Active Listening. Notice how many of those are habits rather than facts: they come from doing the work, not from a lecture. That is why programs with an internship or co-op requirement put you ahead of people who only studied the theory. Source: O*NET.
Related Findings
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10 Six-Figure Careers That Do Not Need a Bachelor's Degree
Air traffic controllers earn more than the typical bachelor's-degree career, with an associate degree. The occupations that pay six figures without four years of college.
- No bachelor degree
- High paying careers
- Associate degree
- Trades
- Median wage
-
Does a Master's Degree Pay Off? Barely, on Average
Group every career by the degree it requires and master's-level jobs pay a median of about $91,000, statistically tied with bachelor's-level work. The premium hides in a few fields.
- Master's degree
- Bachelor's degree
- Median wage
- Graduate school
- Career outcomes
-
Growing and Paying $80K Plus: The Careers That Do Both
Only 106 of 393 federal careers both pay a median above $80,000 and grow faster than the typical job. Here is the rare set that clears both bars.
- Career growth
- Median wage
- High-paying careers
- Job outlook
- Career change
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