Science
Natural Sciences Managers
Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, statistics, and research and development in these fields.
Median salary (BLS)
$167,220
10th–90th percentile (BLS)
$80k – $317k
Job outlook
+4% (faster than average)
AI exposure
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports one wage for this occupational group, which covers 3 related roles — so read the median as an approximate group figure, and the range as the truer picture for this specific title. BLS source.
Early-career check: graduates of the matching programs below typically earn $119,000 ten years after starting college — an early-career figure, vs. the all-experience BLS median above. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard.
Plan a path to Natural Sciences Managers
Education
Typical entry: Master's degree
Plan my path to this →Typical progression
Natural Sciences Managers Intern
Internship
$39,855
~4 mos to advance
Junior Natural Sciences Managers
Entry / Junior
$79,710
~2 yrs to advance
Natural Sciences Managers
Established
$167,220
~3 yrs to advance
Senior Natural Sciences Managers
Senior
$242,035
Internships are a common on-ramp here — they speed up landing that first role and improve your odds, which is why the Safe and High-ceiling plans build one in.
Key skills
A typical day
- •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.
Fields of study
Any field
Top colleges for Science
Explore all- Massachusetts Institute of Technology4% admit · $124,000 grad pay
- California Institute of Technology3% admit · $112,000 grad pay
- Harvard University4% admit · $119,000 grad pay
- Stanford University4% admit · $122,000 grad pay
- University of California, Berkeley11% admit · $97,000 grad pay
Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.