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Salary comparison

Natural Sciences Managers vs. Financial Managers: Who Earns More?

Natural Sciences Managers out-earn Financial Managers by $650 a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Natural Sciences Managers land at $167,220 and Financial Managers at $166,570. The education gap is real: natural sciences manager programs typically require bachelor's degree, while financial manager programs require bachelor's degree. Top-paying state for Natural Sciences Managers is Massachusetts ($267,290); for Financial Managers it's New York ($219,880).

Natural Sciences Managers
Financial Managers
Median salary
$167,220
$166,570
Hourly rate
$80.39/hr
$80.08/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$79,710
$94,310
Senior level (90th %)
$316,850
$323,270
Education required
Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
U.S. employment
108,690
841,710
Job growth (10-year)
3.7%
14.8%
Category
Management
Management
Top-paying state
Massachusetts
New York

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Natural Sciences Managers median pay.

State
Natural Sciences Managers
Financial Managers
Massachusetts
$267,290
$206,760
Connecticut
$210,670
$174,830
California
$210,230
$180,770
New Jersey
$207,030
$199,110
Washington
$182,480
$174,840
North Carolina
$173,870
$166,780
Illinois
$159,670
$165,880
District of Columbia
$156,730
$188,880
Colorado
$152,730
$182,690
Virginia
$150,570
$185,220
Minnesota
$136,450
$163,410
New York
$134,680
$219,880
Rhode Island
$130,480
$166,940
Texas
$129,960
$164,860
South Dakota
$128,140
$159,700

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Natural Sciences Managers or Financial Managers?

Natural Sciences Managers earn more nationally. The median is $167,220 for Natural Sciences Managers versus $166,570 for Financial Managers, a difference of $650. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Natural Sciences Managers or Financial Managers?

Financial Managers has the better 10-year outlook at 14.8% projected growth, compared to 3.7% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Natural Sciences Managers or Financial Managers?

Natural Sciences Managers typically requires bachelor's degree. Financial Managers requires bachelor's degree. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Natural Sciences Managers get paid the most?

Massachusetts is the top-paying state for Natural Sciences Managers at $267,290/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Natural Sciences Managers vs. Financial Managers pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Massachusetts, Natural Sciences Managers earn $267,290 vs. $206,760 for Financial Managers. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Natural Sciences Managers salary breakdownView →Full Financial Managers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Natural Sciences Managers by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Financial Managers by take-home payExplore →How to become a natural sciences managersGuide →How to become a financial managersGuide →