Natural sciences managers
May 2005 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers
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.
Engineering and natural sciences managers held about 233,000 jobs in 2004. About 27 percent worked in professional, scientific, and technical services industries, primarily for firms providing architectural, engineering, and related services; computer systems design and related services; and scientific research and development services. Manufacturing industries employed 37 percent of engineering and natural sciences managers. Manufacturing industries with the largest employment include those producing computer and electronic equipment; transportation equipment, including aerospace products and parts; chemicals, including pharmaceuticals; and machinery manufacturing. Other large employers include government agencies and telecommunications and utilities companies.
Earnings for engineering and natural sciences managers vary by specialty and by level of responsibility. Median annual earnings of engineering managers were $97,630 in May 2004. The middle 50 percent earned between $78,820 and $121,090. Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of engineering managers in May 2004 are shown below:
| Semiconductor and other electronic component manufacturing | $116,400 |
| Navigational, measuring, electromedical, and control instruments manufacturing | 107,160 |
| Aerospace product and parts manufacturing | 103,570 |
| Federal government | 97,000 |
| Architectural, engineering, and related services | 96,020 |
Median annual earnings of natural sciences managers were $88,660 in May 2004. The middle 50 percent earned between $64,550 and $118,210. Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of natural sciences managers in May 2004 are shown below:
| Scientific research and development services | $106,530 |
| Federal government | 81,460 |
A survey of manufacturing firms, conducted by Abbot, Langer & Associates, found that engineering department managers and superintendents earned a median annual income of $89,232 in 2004, while research and development managers earned $90,377.
In addition, engineering and natural sciences managers, especially those at higher levels, often receive more benefits—such as expense accounts, stock option plans, and bonuses—than do nonmanagerial workers in their organizations.
(from the Occupational Outlook Handbook: Engineering and Natural Sciences Managers)
See more recent statistics for employed workers below.
May 2005 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers
National Occupational Employment and Earnings by Industry (NAICS sector and 3-digit industry group)
| Natural sciences managers | |||||
| Percentile earnings distribution | |||||
| 10th | 25th | 50th | 75th | 90th | |
| Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, and Hunting employment: 50 mean earnings: $108,460 (def) (IG) | $62,190 | $81,860 | $106,730 | $130,050 | >$145K |
| Support Activities for Agriculture and Forestry employment: 50 mean earnings: $108,460 | $62,190 | $81,860 | $106,730 | $130,050 | >$145K |
| Mining employment: 330 mean earnings: $115,470 (EC) (def) (IG) | $60,970 | $82,860 | $108,230 | $141,700 | >$145K |
| Oil and Gas Extraction employment: 290 mean earnings: $109,340 | $58,510 | $81,190 | $105,310 | $133,560 | >$145K |
| Utilities employment: 70 mean earnings: $102,390 (EC) (def) (IG) | $62,640 | $83,780 | $102,480 | $117,930 | $142,590 |
| Utilities employment: 70 mean earnings: $102,390 | $62,640 | $83,780 | $102,480 | $117,930 | $142,590 |
| Manufacturing employment: 6,050 mean earnings: $113,190 (EC) (def) (IG) | $62,790 | $81,410 | $105,860 | $138,120 | >$145K |
| Paper Manufacturing employment: 30 mean earnings: $98,560 | $61,530 | $75,890 | $94,540 | $118,960 | $141,160 |
| Chemical Manufacturing employment: 4,700 mean earnings: $113,290 | $62,740 | $80,940 | $105,810 | $138,750 | >$145K |
| Machinery Manufacturing employment: 30 mean earnings: $93,400 | $58,190 | $66,030 | $85,890 | $114,830 | $143,090 |
| Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing employment: 520 mean earnings: $115,040 | $64,950 | $84,160 | $106,850 | $138,000 | >$145K |
| Transportation Equipment Manufacturing employment: 30 mean earnings: $83,280 | $47,730 | $52,740 | $73,310 | $111,740 | $140,360 |
| Miscellaneous Manufacturing employment: 310 mean earnings: $117,000 | $70,660 | $85,630 | $106,960 | $141,600 | >$145K |
| Wholesale Trade employment: 880 mean earnings: $124,490 (EC) (def) (IG) | $72,710 | $90,100 | $120,420 | >$145K | >$145K |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods employment: 120 mean earnings: $117,730 | $72,500 | $86,890 | $110,600 | $140,900 | >$145K |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods employment: 740 mean earnings: $125,380 | $72,910 | $90,450 | $121,920 | >$145K | >$145K |
| Transportation and Warehousing employment: 160 mean earnings: $80,880 (EC) (def) (IG) | $58,260 | $63,090 | $70,970 | $102,280 | $116,440 |
| Postal Service employment: 80 mean earnings: $63,660 | $55,620 | $59,160 | $63,570 | $67,990 | $70,640 |
| Information employment: 180 mean earnings: $112,970 (EC) (def) (IG) | $64,930 | $80,480 | $108,490 | $136,340 | >$145K |
| Publishing Industries (except Internet) employment: 110 mean earnings: $109,510 | $63,430 | $75,630 | $103,240 | $131,390 | >$145K |
| Internet Service Providers, Web Search Portals, and Data Processing Service employment: 40 mean earnings: $124,670 | $79,170 | $106,570 | $126,530 | $141,500 | >$145K |
| Finance and Insurance employment: 90 mean earnings: $123,890 (EC) (def) (IG) | $72,830 | $89,320 | $119,410 | >$145K | >$145K |
| Insurance Carriers and Related Activities employment: 80 mean earnings: $130,040 | $78,050 | $96,690 | $125,680 | >$145K | >$145K |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing employment: 30 mean earnings: $87,770 (EC) (def) (IG) | $53,030 | $67,030 | $85,630 | $102,380 | $126,280 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employment: 12,910 mean earnings: $115,140 (EC) (def) (IG) | $58,700 | $79,280 | $107,470 | $142,950 | >$145K |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employment: 12,910 mean earnings: $115,140 | $58,700 | $79,280 | $107,470 | $142,950 | >$145K |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises employment: 780 mean earnings: $123,190 (EC) (def) (IG) | $74,310 | $92,440 | $115,910 | $145,140 | >$145K |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises employment: 780 mean earnings: $123,190 | $74,310 | $92,440 | $115,910 | $145,140 | >$145K |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services employment: 240 mean earnings: $99,240 (EC) (def) (IG) | $62,230 | $76,370 | $91,620 | $112,550 | >$145K |
| Administrative and Support Services employment: n.a. mean earnings: $103,250 | $66,980 | $78,790 | $95,120 | $114,580 | >$145K |
| Waste Management and Remediation Services employment: 70 mean earnings: $88,640 | $51,590 | $66,730 | $84,420 | $103,430 | $131,320 |
| Educational Services employment: 1,310 mean earnings: $89,480 (EC) (def) (IG) | $48,150 | $60,400 | $80,800 | $110,120 | $144,800 |
| Educational Services employment: 1,310 mean earnings: $89,480 | $48,150 | $60,400 | $80,800 | $110,120 | $144,800 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance employment: 530 mean earnings: $91,060 (EC) (def) (IG) | $47,330 | $63,170 | $83,120 | $111,270 | $145,210 |
| Ambulatory Health Care Services employment: 270 mean earnings: $97,400 | $52,630 | $67,760 | $89,380 | $119,860 | >$145K |
| Hospitals employment: 250 mean earnings: $84,540 | $42,590 | $58,630 | $77,670 | $98,290 | $138,790 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation employment: 320 mean earnings: $80,190 (EC) (def) (IG) | $40,000 | $48,900 | $71,610 | $102,150 | $135,940 |
| Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions employment: 300 mean earnings: $80,260 | $39,840 | $48,280 | $70,990 | $103,530 | $136,750 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) employment: 230 mean earnings: $76,620 (EC) (def) (IG) | $38,210 | $47,080 | $74,250 | $97,080 | $125,270 |
| Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations employment: 230 mean earnings: $76,660 | $38,200 | $47,260 | $74,180 | $96,870 | $125,650 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) employment: 16,220 mean earnings: $79,890 (def) (IG) | $44,050 | $58,300 | $78,310 | $102,480 | $122,380 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) employment: 16,220 mean earnings: $79,890 | $44,050 | $58,300 | $78,310 | $102,480 | $122,380 |
source: Occupational Employment Statistics Program; about these estimates
The (EC) links lead to data from the Economic Census from the Census Bureau.
The (def) links lead to 2002 NAICS industry definitions from the Census Bureau.
The (IG) links lead to Industry at a Glance industry profiles from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.