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.
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. The role reports a median annual salary of $161,180 in the US and is projected to grow 4% over the next decade (about as fast as average). Entry typically requires a Bachelor's degree, and shows moderate AI exposure (0.46 on a 0-1 scale) — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. The most in-demand skills for the role include Science, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Monitoring.
Pay in the UK
UK: median £55,519 a year for Research and development (R&D) managers (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)
Middle half of full-time jobs: £44,101 to £75,207 a year
UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 2161). ONS rates this estimate precise. 2025 provisional figures; ONS revises them a year later. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Open Government Licence)
Pay in India (occupation group)
Average monthly earnings of salaried employees in the occupation group “Managers” in India, from the Government of India's Periodic Labour Force Survey (January–December 2025). It covers everyone in this group, not only Natural sciences managers, and it is not US pay converted to rupees.
Source: MoSPI (Government of India), Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2025, Table 51 — average wage/salary earnings of regular wage/salaried employees, NCO-2015 division 1. Official India data gives one average per occupation group: there are no official India figures for single careers, experience levels or cities. Read the report
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Biology
- English Language
- Administration and Management
- Computers and Electronics
- Administrative
- Chemistry
- Mathematics
- Personnel and Human Resources
A day in the life
You start the day in the lab office reviewing test results that came in overnight and checking whether the team's experiments are on schedule. At the morning meeting you listen to researchers explain their progress and help them decide on the next phase of a study. Mid-morning you meet a regulator to discuss safety requirements for a new product under development. After lunch you speak with a client, presenting research findings and explaining what the results mean for their project. In the afternoon you review a draft proposal for new funding and give feedback on a staff member's report. You also interview a candidate for a technician role. Administrative work and budget reports can pull you away from the science you love. But guiding a team to a real breakthrough and seeing your research turn into something useful gives you lasting satisfaction.
Illustrative: one typical day, written from the O*NET task statements for this occupation. Real days vary by employer and seniority.
What you'd actually 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.
- Develop client relationships and communicate with clients to explain proposals, present research findings, establish specifications, or discuss project status.
Tools & technology you'd use
Frequently asked questions
What does Natural sciences managers do?
Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, statistics, and research and development in these fields.
What does a typical day look like in Natural sciences managers?
You start the day in the lab office reviewing test results that came in overnight and checking whether the team's experiments are on schedule. At the morning meeting you listen to researchers explain their progress and help them decide on the next phase of a study. Mid-morning you meet a regulator to discuss safety requirements for a new product under development. After lunch you speak with a client, presenting research findings and explaining what the results mean for their project.
How much does Natural sciences managers earn?
The median annual salary for Natural sciences managers in the US is $161,180.
What is the job outlook for Natural sciences managers?
The role is projected to grow 4% over the next decade (about as fast as average). Current US employment is approximately 104,300 workers.
How do I become natural sciences managers?
The typical entry education is a Bachelor's degree. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.
What skills does Natural sciences managers need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include Science, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Monitoring, Writing. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace Natural sciences managers?
Our AI-durability model gives Natural sciences managers a score of 0.46 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at moderate AI exposure — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. Learning to work with AI tools rather than against them is the path forward.
How hard is it to enter this field?
Natural sciences managers has moderate barrier to entry — moderately gated — a bachelor's degree or equivalent training is typically required.