# 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/natural-sciences-managers
- SOC code: 11-9121.00
- Career family: Management
- Median annual pay: $167,220 (10th percentile $79,710, 90th percentile $316,850)
- Projected growth: Much faster than average, +8.2%
- Openings a year: 9,200
- Typical entry education: Bachelor's degree
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code IEC)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 29 |
| Investigative (I) | 81 |
| Artistic (A) | 24 |
| Social (S) | 35 |
| Enterprising (E) | 77 |
| Conventional (C) | 54 |

## What you'd do

- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 90/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 90/100)
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work (importance 89/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 89/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 89/100)
- Getting Information (importance 89/100)
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships (importance 87/100)
- Analyzing Data or Information (importance 87/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 86/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 85/100)

## Skills

Science, Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Monitoring, Reading Comprehension, Complex Problem Solving, Speaking, Writing, Judgment and Decision Making, Management of Personnel Resources

## Knowledge

Biology, English Language, Administration and Management, Computers and Electronics, Administrative, Chemistry, Mathematics, Personnel and Human Resources, Customer and Personal Service, Production and Processing

## Also called

Agricultural Research Director, Agriculture Research Director, Analytical Services Manager, Chemical Engineer Supervisor, Chemical Plant Technical Director, Chemical Process Exploration Manager, Clinical Project Manager, Clinical Trials Manager, Environmental Program Manager, Environmental Research Project Manager

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Business Administration, Management and Operations](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5202) (CIP 5202, 2,372 colleges)
- [Biology, General](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/2601) (CIP 2601, 1,703 colleges)
- [Mathematics](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/2701) (CIP 2701, 1,483 colleges)
- [History](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5401) (CIP 5401, 1,464 colleges)
- [Chemistry](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4005) (CIP 4005, 1,371 colleges)
- [Physics](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4008) (CIP 4008, 956 colleges)
- [Philosophy](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3801) (CIP 3801, 911 colleges)
- [Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/2602) (CIP 2602, 756 colleges)
- [Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4006) (CIP 4006, 593 colleges)
- [Applied Mathematics](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/2703) (CIP 2703, 426 colleges)
- [Biological and Physical Sciences](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3001) (CIP 3001, 379 colleges)
- [Neurobiology and Neurosciences](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/2615) (CIP 2615, 363 colleges)
- [Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/2613) (CIP 2613, 353 colleges)
- [Data Science](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3070) (CIP 3070, 323 colleges)
- [Statistics](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/2705) (CIP 2705, 290 colleges)
- [Sustainability Studies](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3033) (CIP 3033, 279 colleges)
- [Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/2609) (CIP 2609, 269 colleges)
- [Biotechnology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/2612) (CIP 2612, 234 colleges)
- [Physical Sciences, General](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4001) (CIP 4001, 224 colleges)
- [Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/2611) (CIP 2611, 200 colleges)
- [Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/2604) (CIP 2604, 182 colleges)
- [Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5120) (CIP 5120, 175 colleges)
- [Microbiological Sciences and Immunology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/2605) (CIP 2605, 169 colleges)
- [Nutrition Sciences](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3019) (CIP 3019, 167 colleges)
- [Astronomy and Astrophysics](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4002) (CIP 4002, 164 colleges)
- [Natural Sciences](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3018) (CIP 3018, 153 colleges)
- [Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/2699) (CIP 2699, 152 colleges)
- [Engineering Physics](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1412) (CIP 1412, 145 colleges)
- [Zoology/Animal Biology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/2607) (CIP 2607, 125 colleges)
- [Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4004) (CIP 4004, 114 colleges)
- [Mathematics and Computer Science](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3008) (CIP 3008, 113 colleges)
- [Computational Science](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3030) (CIP 3030, 109 colleges)
- [Pharmacology and Toxicology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/2610) (CIP 2610, 109 colleges)
- [Genetics](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/2608) (CIP 2608, 91 colleges)
- [Cognitive Science](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3025) (CIP 3025, 84 colleges)
- [Botany/Plant Biology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/2603) (CIP 2603, 80 colleges)
- [Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5114) (CIP 5114, 79 colleges)
- [Science, Technology and Society](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3015) (CIP 3015, 74 colleges)
- [Materials Sciences](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4010) (CIP 4010, 69 colleges)
- [Geography and Environmental Studies](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3044) (CIP 3044, 67 colleges)
- [Mathematics and Statistics, Other](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/2799) (CIP 2799, 59 colleges)
- [Physical Sciences, Other](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4099) (CIP 4099, 56 colleges)
- [Operations Research](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1437) (CIP 1437, 44 colleges)
- [Human Biology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3027) (CIP 3027, 42 colleges)
- Marine Sciences (CIP 3032, 40 colleges)
- Applied Statistics (CIP 2706, 39 colleges)
- [Biopsychology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3010) (CIP 3010, 28 colleges)
- Environmental Geosciences (CIP 3041, 17 colleges)
- Climate Science (CIP 3035, 13 colleges)
- Mathematical Economics (CIP 3049, 13 colleges)
- Molecular Medicine (CIP 2614, 10 colleges)
- Earth Systems Science (CIP 3038, 9 colleges)
- Anthrozoology (CIP 3034, 5 colleges)
- Physics and Astronomy (CIP 4011, 5 colleges)
- Geobiology (CIP 3043, 1 college)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Duke University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/duke-university-837) | Mathematics | $130,467 | $297,029 | $13,875 |
| [Harvard University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/harvard-university-1157) | Statistics | not reported | $230,876 | not reported |
| [Massachusetts Institute of Technology MIT](https://www.collegesref.com/college/massachusetts-institute-of-technology-mit-1615) | Mathematics | $141,075 | $174,951 | not reported |
| [University of Chicago](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-chicago-2895) | Mathematics | not reported | $172,826 | $12,000 |
| [Dartmouth College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/dartmouth-college-769) | Mathematics | $93,979 | $168,580 | $12,500 |
| [Columbia University in the City of New York](https://www.collegesref.com/college/columbia-university-in-the-city-of-new-york-656) | Operations Research | $125,285 | $167,572 | not reported |
| [Carnegie Mellon University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/carnegie-mellon-university-406) | Cognitive Science | not reported | $162,106 | not reported |
| [Brown University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/brown-university-314) | Applied Mathematics | $135,449 | $157,822 | $8,125 |

## Related careers

- [Project Management Specialists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/project-management-specialists): $102,320 median pay
- [Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/bioengineers-and-biomedical-engineers): $109,370 median pay
- [Data Scientists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/data-scientists): $120,230 median pay
- [Biological Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/biological-technicians): $57,510 median pay
- [Molecular and Cellular Biologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/molecular-and-cellular-biologists): $98,920 median pay
- [Biologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/biologists): $98,920 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.