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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.
Other titles employers use
Analytical Services Manager · Chemical Engineer Supervisor · Chemical Process Exploration Manager · Environmental Program Manager · Lab Manager (Laboratory Manager) · Natural Sciences Manager · Research Administrator · Research and Development Director (R and D Director)
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- 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.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to analytical, persuading and organizing work.
- Analytical
- Investigating questions, testing ideas, and solving problems
- Persuading
- Leading, selling, starting projects, or making a case
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Science
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Writing
Subjects to know
- Biology
- English Language
- Administration and Management
- Computers and Electronics
- Administrative
Useful strengths
- Written Comprehension
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Written Expression
- Deductive Reasoning
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 2.5 | Largely your own space |
| On your feet | 2.4 | Mostly seated |
| Talking face to face | 4.8 | Continuous — the job is conversations |
| Working with your hands | 2.7 | Little of the day |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a bachelor's degree. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- A doctorate or professional degree 40%
- A four-year degree 35%
- A master's degree 18%
- A two-year degree 7%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Analytical or scientific software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Document management software
- Graphics or photo imaging software
- Spreadsheet software
- Geographic information system
- Office suite software
- Electronic mail software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 15,500
- Job openings each year
- 1,160
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 10.7%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 15,500 | 1,160 | 10.7% |
| New Jersey | 8,400 | 610 | 5.8% |
| Texas | 7,100 | 570 | 21.2% |
| Pennsylvania | 6,950 | 500 | 4.2% |
| Maryland | 5,250 | 390 | 8.0% |
| North Carolina | 5,200 | 410 | 16.1% |
| Massachusetts | 3,390 | 240 | 5.0% |
| New York | 3,280 | 40 | 12.7% |
| Washington | 3,050 | 320 | 27.1% |
| Illinois | 2,260 | 160 | 4.6% |
| District of Columbia | 1,880 | 130 | — |
| Colorado | 1,710 | 130 | 13.2% |
| Virginia | 1,490 | 110 | 5.7% |
| Michigan | 1,470 | 110 | 5.0% |
| Minnesota | 1,470 | 110 | 7.3% |
| Oregon | 1,450 | 110 | 10.7% |
| Indiana | 1,330 | 100 | 4.7% |
| Wisconsin | 1,240 | 100 | 15.9% |
| Utah | 1,230 | 100 | 26.8% |
| Missouri | 1,210 | 90 | 11.0% |
| Georgia | 1,100 | 80 | 6.8% |
| Ohio | 1,080 | 80 | 2.9% |
| Connecticut | 910 | 70 | 8.3% |
| Tennessee | 790 | 60 | 17.9% |
| Iowa | 680 | 50 | 9.7% |
| Arizona | 610 | 50 | 7.0% |
| South Carolina | 420 | 30 | 10.5% |
| New Mexico | 400 | 30 | 5.3% |
| Idaho | 370 | 30 | 5.7% |
| Nebraska | 370 | 30 | 8.8% |
| Delaware | 360 | 30 | −2.7% |
| Louisiana | 350 | 30 | 2.9% |
| Montana | 340 | 30 | 9.7% |
| Arkansas | 330 | 20 | 6.5% |
| Maine | 320 | 20 | −3.0% |
| Kentucky | 280 | 20 | 3.7% |
| Oklahoma | 270 | 20 | 3.8% |
| Nevada | 240 | 20 | 9.1% |
| Kansas | 230 | 20 | 9.5% |
| New Hampshire | 230 | 20 | 9.5% |
| Alabama | 210 | 10 | — |
| Alaska | 200 | 20 | 5.3% |
| Mississippi | 200 | 20 | — |
| Vermont | 190 | 10 | 11.8% |
| South Dakota | 180 | 10 | 5.9% |
| Wyoming | 150 | 10 | — |
| West Virginia | 130 | 10 | −7.1% |
| North Dakota | 110 | 10 | 10.0% |
| Puerto Rico | 80 | 10 | — |
| Rhode Island | 80 | 10 | 14.3% |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
Southern New Hampshire University
- Degrees each year
- 6,177
- Admit rate
- 96%
- Annual cost after aid
- $37,000
University of California-San Diego
- Degrees each year
- 3,531
- Admit rate
- 25%
- Annual cost after aid
- $10,000
University of California-Los Angeles
- Degrees each year
- 3,293
- Admit rate
- 9%
- Annual cost after aid
- $10,000
University of California-Berkeley
- Degrees each year
- 2,900
- Admit rate
- 12%
- Annual cost after aid
- $10,000
University of Washington-Seattle Campus
- Degrees each year
- 2,347
- Admit rate
- 43%
- Annual cost after aid
- $8,000
University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Degrees each year
- 2,770
- Admit rate
- 43%
- Annual cost after aid
- $8,000
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
- Degrees each year
- 2,422
- Admit rate
- 18%
- Annual cost after aid
- $5,000
University of Colorado Boulder
- Degrees each year
- 2,743
- Admit rate
- 83%
- Annual cost after aid
- $19,000