SalariesWhat the occupation covers
Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, statistics, and research and development in these fields. Excludes “Computer and Information Systems Managers” (11-3021) and “Architecture and Engineering Managers” (11-9041).
Official definition from the Standard Occupational Classification, code 11-9121.
The pay range
Pay differs a lot inside one occupation, with experience, employer and place. The table shows where the lines fall.
| Share of workers | A year | A month* | A week* | An hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn less than | $79,710 | $6,642 | $1,533 | $38.32 |
| Lowest 25% earn less than | $119,430 | $9,952 | $2,297 | $57.42 |
| Median (half earn less, half more) | $167,220 | $13,935 | $3,216 | $80.39 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $221,540 | $18,462 | $4,260 | $106.51 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $316,850 | $26,404 | $6,093 | $152.33 |
* Month and week are the yearly figure divided by 12 and by 52, worked out here for convenience. BLS publishes the yearly and hourly figures.
How it compares
The median for all occupations in the United States was $50,980 a year. The median for Natural Sciences Managers is $167,220, which is 228% higher. Among the 37 occupations of the field Management, it ranks number 4 by median pay. With 108,690 jobs, it makes up about 7.0 of every 10,000 jobs in the country.
Natural Sciences Managers pay by state
The highest median pay was in Massachusetts ($267,290), Connecticut ($210,670) and California ($210,230). The lowest was in Hawaii ($107,810), Indiana ($108,250) and Wyoming ($109,300). The most jobs were in California (14,950), Massachusetts (10,590) and New Jersey (10,040). The occupation is most concentrated in Massachusetts, where its share of all jobs is 4.2 times the national share.
No state matches.
| State | Jobs | Median a year | Average a year | Median an hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | 10,590 | $267,290 | $257,010 | $128.51 |
| Connecticut | 1,190 | $210,670 | $217,800 | $101.28 |
| California | 14,950 | $210,230 | $223,850 | $101.07 |
| New Jersey | 10,040 | $207,030 | $217,190 | $99.54 |
| Washington | 2,490 | $182,480 | $200,200 | $87.73 |
| North Carolina | 6,010 | $173,870 | $186,890 | $83.59 |
| Maryland | 4,820 | $168,620 | $180,280 | $81.07 |
| Illinois | 2,810 | $159,670 | $167,700 | $76.77 |
| District of Columbia | 1,540 | $156,730 | $153,450 | $75.35 |
| Kansas | 240 | $153,820 | $161,130 | $73.95 |
| Colorado | 1,640 | $152,730 | $172,180 | $73.43 |
| Virginia | 1,470 | $150,570 | $150,440 | $72.39 |
| Oregon | 1,700 | $143,120 | $165,300 | $68.81 |
| Maine | 430 | $141,360 | $156,560 | $67.96 |
| West Virginia | 160 | $138,010 | $143,790 | $66.35 |
| Pennsylvania | 7,980 | $137,900 | $161,580 | $66.30 |
| Ohio | 1,560 | $137,170 | $148,730 | $65.95 |
| Minnesota | 1,530 | $136,450 | $158,980 | $65.60 |
| New York | 5,690 | $134,680 | $153,570 | $64.75 |
| New Hampshire | 240 | $134,010 | $150,330 | $64.43 |
| Alabama | 370 | $133,470 | $149,190 | $64.17 |
| North Dakota | 140 | $131,370 | $143,370 | $63.16 |
| Vermont | 290 | $131,290 | $136,720 | $63.12 |
| South Carolina | 780 | $131,140 | $143,720 | $63.05 |
| Alaska | 710 | $130,590 | $131,800 | $62.79 |
| Rhode Island | 200 | $130,480 | $141,270 | $62.73 |
| Texas | 7,470 | $129,960 | $136,780 | $62.48 |
| Missouri | 1,230 | $129,410 | $139,190 | $62.21 |
| Michigan | 2,220 | $129,070 | $141,380 | $62.06 |
| Wisconsin | 1,070 | $128,890 | $144,440 | $61.97 |
| South Dakota | 180 | $128,140 | $137,210 | $61.61 |
| Kentucky | 400 | $126,440 | $132,550 | $60.79 |
| Arizona | 900 | $124,920 | $132,900 | $60.06 |
| Idaho | 610 | $124,800 | $138,690 | $60.00 |
| Tennessee | 880 | $124,530 | $147,790 | $59.87 |
| Nebraska | 550 | $120,620 | $122,280 | $57.99 |
| Arkansas | 340 | $119,430 | $137,590 | $57.42 |
| Mississippi | 210 | $119,430 | $126,990 | $57.42 |
| Montana | 370 | $119,430 | $141,130 | $57.42 |
| Utah | not published | $119,430 | $132,290 | $57.42 |
| Puerto Rico | 90 | $119,430 | $120,370 | $57.42 |
| Louisiana | not published | $115,950 | $125,760 | $55.75 |
| Nevada | 320 | $112,260 | $118,090 | $53.97 |
| Oklahoma | 310 | $112,260 | $121,420 | $53.97 |
| Florida | 4,370 | $112,220 | $136,770 | $53.95 |
| Iowa | 610 | $109,760 | $125,750 | $52.77 |
| Wyoming | 150 | $109,300 | $113,810 | $52.55 |
| Indiana | 1,670 | $108,250 | $119,950 | $52.04 |
| Hawaii | 510 | $107,810 | $111,710 | $51.83 |
| Delaware | 440 | not published | not published | not published |
| New Mexico | 400 | not published | not published | not published |
Sorted by median pay, highest first. "Not published" means BLS did not release that figure for the state, usually because too few employers were surveyed. "$239,200 or more" is the highest value BLS reports in the state tables.
Similar occupations by pay
- Chief Executives$213,990 a year
- Computer and Information Systems Managers$175,140 a year
- Architectural and Engineering Managers$171,270 a year
- Marketing Managers$166,790 a year
- Financial Managers$166,570 a year
- Human Resources Managers$149,280 a year
Common questions
How much do Natural Sciences Managers earn in the United States?
The median pay was $167,220 a year in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $79,710 and the highest-paid 10% more than $316,850.
How many people work as Natural Sciences Managers?
About 108,690 jobs in the United States in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Checked in November 2026. Figures are for employees, before tax, and leave out overtime pay and benefits. They are official statistics, not advice or a pay offer; see bls.gov/oes for the original tables.