Pay, demand and where to work, from BLS data with the year on every table.
low → high: location quotient
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By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Natural sciences managers (SOC 11-9121) employed 108,690 people in May 2025. The median pay is $167,220 a year ($80.39 an hour); the lowest-paid 10% earn under $79,710 and the highest-paid 10% more than $316,850. BLS projects its employment to change by +8.2% between 2025 and 2035 (about 9,200 openings a year including replacements). The typical way in: Bachelor's degree, with 5 years or more experience in a related occupation.
Highest median pay: Massachusetts ($267,290), Connecticut ($210,670), California ($210,230). Most jobs: California (14,950), Massachusetts (10,590), New Jersey (10,040).
| Measure ⇅ | Annual ⇅ | Hourly equivalent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $79,710 | $38.32 |
| 25th percentile | $119,430 | $57.42 |
| Median | $167,220 | $80.39 |
| Mean | $180,250 | $86.66 |
| 75th percentile | $221,540 | $106.51 |
| 90th percentile (experienced) | $316,850 | $152.33 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
Hourly equivalents divide by 2,080 hours. Pay above $239,200 is shown as "≥ $239,200" (BLS top code).
| Measure ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Jobs 2025 | 112,200 |
| Jobs 2035 (projected) | 121,500 |
| Change in jobs | 9,200 |
| Percent change | +8.2% |
| Openings a year (growth + replacements) | 9,200 |
| Self-employed share | n/a |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree |
| Work experience in a related occupation | 5 years or more |
| Typical on-the-job training | None |
Licences and certifications are set by states and employers; the education shown is the usual entry requirement, not a legal one.
| State ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ | Yearly rent as % of median pay ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 370 | 0.25 | $133,470 | $81,770 | $292,940 | -20% | 10% |
| Alaska | 710 | 3.14 | $130,590 | $79,040 | $177,430 | -22% | 13% |
| Arizona | 900 | 0.40 | $124,920 | $65,780 | $209,130 | -25% | 16% |
| Arkansas | 340 | 0.38 | $119,430 | $72,080 | $226,370 | -29% | 10% |
| California | 14,950 | 1.17 | $210,230 | $130,730 | $330,050 | +26% | 12% |
| Colorado | 1,640 | 0.82 | $152,730 | $89,900 | $289,970 | -9% | 14% |
| Connecticut | 1,190 | 1.00 | $210,670 | $136,750 | $315,560 | +26% | 9% |
| Delaware | 440 | 1.31 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| District of Columbia | 1,540 | 3.14 | $156,730 | $79,390 | $195,190 | -6% | 15% |
| Florida | 4,370 | 0.63 | $112,220 | $62,660 | $216,330 | -33% | 19% |
| Hawaii | 510 | 1.16 | $107,810 | $64,410 | $169,680 | -36% | 22% |
| Idaho | 610 | 1.01 | $124,800 | $80,790 | $204,550 | -25% | 13% |
| Illinois | 2,810 | 0.66 | $159,670 | $85,210 | $281,660 | -5% | 10% |
| Indiana | 1,670 | 0.74 | $108,250 | $56,530 | $203,340 | -35% | 12% |
| Iowa | 610 | 0.56 | $109,760 | $74,320 | $200,580 | -34% | 11% |
| Kansas | 240 | 0.24 | $153,820 | $110,660 | $224,310 | -8% | 8% |
| Kentucky | 400 | 0.29 | $126,440 | $55,180 | $197,760 | -24% | 9% |
| Maine | 430 | 0.97 | $141,360 | $81,950 | $220,730 | -15% | 10% |
| Maryland | 4,820 | 2.49 | $168,620 | $127,920 | $268,240 | +1% | 12% |
| Massachusetts | 10,590 | 4.16 | $267,290 | $153,490 | $329,820 | +60% | 8% |
| Michigan | 2,220 | 0.72 | $129,070 | $68,380 | $222,030 | -23% | 11% |
| Minnesota | 1,530 | 0.74 | $136,450 | $78,050 | $289,790 | -18% | 11% |
| Mississippi | 210 | 0.26 | $119,430 | $75,920 | $185,540 | -29% | 10% |
| Missouri | 1,230 | 0.60 | $129,410 | $65,650 | $229,950 | -23% | 10% |
| Montana | 370 | 1.05 | $119,430 | $91,560 | $281,640 | -29% | 12% |
| Nebraska | 550 | 0.76 | $120,620 | $65,140 | $189,000 | -28% | 11% |
| Nevada | 320 | 0.30 | $112,260 | $64,240 | $182,160 | -33% | 18% |
| New Hampshire | 240 | 0.50 | $134,010 | $92,600 | $220,150 | -20% | 14% |
| New Jersey | 10,040 | 3.35 | $207,030 | $136,840 | $317,420 | +24% | 10% |
| New Mexico | 400 | 0.65 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| New York | 5,690 | 0.84 | $134,680 | $65,440 | $291,780 | -19% | 15% |
| North Carolina | 6,010 | 1.74 | $173,870 | $101,810 | $305,970 | +4% | 9% |
| North Dakota | 140 | 0.45 | $131,370 | $98,490 | $216,630 | -21% | 9% |
| Ohio | 1,560 | 0.40 | $137,170 | $78,720 | $217,760 | -18% | 10% |
| Oklahoma | 310 | 0.26 | $112,260 | $62,400 | $193,770 | -33% | 11% |
| Oregon | 1,700 | 1.24 | $143,120 | $102,760 | $225,560 | -14% | 13% |
| Pennsylvania | 7,980 | 1.88 | $137,900 | $59,040 | $312,510 | -18% | 11% |
| Rhode Island | 200 | 0.58 | $130,480 | $64,210 | $268,500 | -22% | 13% |
| South Carolina | 780 | 0.48 | $131,140 | $71,790 | $225,160 | -22% | 12% |
| South Dakota | 180 | 0.55 | $128,140 | $94,520 | $213,210 | -23% | 9% |
| Tennessee | 880 | 0.38 | $124,530 | $66,280 | $223,370 | -26% | 12% |
| Texas | 7,470 | 0.76 | $129,960 | $74,200 | $213,280 | -22% | 14% |
| Vermont | 290 | 1.37 | $131,290 | $78,940 | $203,120 | -21% | 12% |
| Virginia | 1,470 | 0.51 | $150,570 | $84,080 | $212,620 | -10% | 13% |
| Washington | 2,490 | 1.00 | $182,480 | $117,590 | $324,740 | +9% | 12% |
| West Virginia | 160 | 0.32 | $138,010 | $100,140 | $185,220 | -17% | 8% |
| Wisconsin | 1,070 | 0.52 | $128,890 | $89,580 | $213,290 | -23% | 11% |
| Wyoming | 150 | 0.74 | $109,300 | $97,470 | $134,040 | -35% | 11% |
Location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in the state than in the nation. "n/a" means BLS suppressed the figure. Rent uses the state median gross rent (ACS).
The 60 highest-paying metropolitan areas among those with at least 300 jobs in this occupation.
| Metropolitan area ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 9,570 | $291,000 | $164,570 | $330,050 | 5.06 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 1,160 | $263,810 | $157,910 | $333,270 | 1.46 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 5,530 | $225,230 | $158,270 | $338,660 | 3.33 |
| Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | 300 | $217,480 | $160,300 | $312,080 | 3.36 |
| Worcester, MA | 490 | $212,600 | $129,220 | $312,790 | 1.98 |
| New Haven, CT | 350 | $210,670 | $146,390 | $334,450 | 1.75 |
| Boulder, CO | 310 | $210,340 | $128,020 | $316,640 | 2.31 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 2,890 | $207,200 | $132,560 | $319,260 | 2.69 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 1,730 | $203,150 | $131,550 | $336,640 | 1.19 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 2,530 | $193,340 | $101,170 | $306,970 | 0.58 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 2,050 | $183,540 | $117,370 | $317,740 | 8.52 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | 2,150 | $182,230 | $147,120 | $309,780 | 12.78 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 10,100 | $180,460 | $79,110 | $313,810 | 1.52 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | 1,640 | $173,510 | $103,090 | $300,550 | 3.17 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 460 | $173,160 | $81,430 | $318,830 | 0.48 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 5,510 | $172,900 | $59,040 | $322,380 | 2.72 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 680 | $170,010 | $124,590 | $289,030 | 0.90 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 5,890 | $169,060 | $123,920 | $232,340 | 2.69 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 2,270 | $167,040 | $87,010 | $293,270 | 0.72 |
| Wilmington, NC | 330 | $166,910 | $103,410 | $294,620 | 2.48 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 1,040 | $165,200 | $118,300 | $237,750 | 1.23 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 520 | $164,300 | $88,880 | $250,000 | 0.68 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 650 | $158,820 | $81,460 | $275,340 | 0.69 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 830 | $156,730 | $91,730 | $228,030 | 0.88 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 1,210 | $143,290 | $86,230 | $274,000 | 0.88 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 920 | $141,080 | $83,310 | $263,840 | 0.81 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | 410 | $139,830 | $99,290 | $216,440 | 1.30 |
| Columbus, OH | 300 | $138,110 | $84,030 | $217,760 | 0.39 |
| Madison, WI | 530 | $136,990 | $99,250 | $204,030 | 1.86 |
| Anchorage, AK | 380 | $134,010 | $96,750 | $183,840 | 3.06 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 2,870 | $132,860 | $77,030 | $215,470 | 1.25 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 700 | $131,900 | $81,160 | $223,180 | 0.78 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 570 | $130,160 | $67,750 | $215,110 | 0.34 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 1,590 | $130,010 | $78,050 | $209,260 | 0.56 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 570 | $130,010 | $64,380 | $234,200 | 0.56 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 640 | $129,140 | $59,480 | $229,780 | 0.48 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 1,230 | $119,700 | $65,660 | $225,530 | 0.63 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 510 | $117,620 | $72,180 | $195,930 | 0.64 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | 340 | $111,940 | $64,410 | $169,680 | 1.09 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | 370 | $109,280 | $68,380 | $141,380 | 2.46 |
| Jacksonville, FL | 330 | $108,890 | $57,880 | $246,100 | 0.62 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 460 | $99,660 | $60,030 | $203,000 | 0.46 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 1,110 | $92,260 | $54,810 | $174,940 | 1.43 |
| Tallahassee, FL | 360 | $79,460 | $60,860 | $137,440 | 2.76 |
The median is $167,220 a year ($80.39 an hour); the lowest-paid tenth earn under $79,710 and the highest-paid tenth over $316,850 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
108,690 in May 2025, and BLS projects +8.2% growth to 2035.
The typical entry education is: Bachelor's degree (BLS).
Massachusetts, with a median of $267,290 (among states with published figures).