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Salary comparison

Natural Sciences Managers vs. General and Operations Managers: Who Earns More?

Natural Sciences Managerss out-earn General and Operations Managerss by $61K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Natural Sciences Managerss land at $167,220 and General and Operations Managerss at $105,770. The education gap is real: natural sciences manager programs typically require bachelor's degree, while general and operations manager programs require bachelor's degree. Top-paying state for Natural Sciences Managerss is Massachusetts ($267,290); for General and Operations Managerss it's New Jersey ($173,690).

Natural Sciences Managers
General and Operations Managers
Median salary
$167,220
$105,770
Hourly rate
$80.39/hr
$50.85/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$79,710
$50,090
Senior level (90th %)
$316,850
$253,390
Education required
Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
U.S. employment
108,690
3,503,020
Job growth (10-year)
N/A
4.4%
Category
Management
Management
Top-paying state
Massachusetts
New Jersey

Pay by state

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

State
Natural Sciences Managers
General and Operations Managers
Massachusetts
$267,290
$127,220
Connecticut
$210,670
$137,220
California
$210,230
$124,390
New Jersey
$207,030
$173,690
Washington
$182,480
$133,750
Maryland
$168,620
$117,930
District of Columbia
$156,730
$168,000
Colorado
$152,730
$131,840
Virginia
$150,570
$122,080
New York
$134,680
$130,860
New Hampshire
$134,010
$124,680
Alaska
$130,590
$116,630
Rhode Island
$130,480
$117,380
Wisconsin
$128,890
$118,730
South Dakota
$128,140
$137,400

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

Common questions

Who earns more, Natural Sciences Managerss or General and Operations Managerss?

Natural Sciences Managerss earn more nationally. The median is $167,220 for Natural Sciences Managerss versus $105,770 for General and Operations Managerss, a difference of $61K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Natural Sciences Managers or General and Operations Managers?

BLS Employment Projections data is not available for one or both occupations. Check the individual career pages for current outlook figures.

Which requires more education, Natural Sciences Managers or General and Operations Managers?

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

Where do Natural Sciences Managerss get paid the most?

Massachusetts is the top-paying state for Natural Sciences Managerss 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. General and Operations Managers pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Massachusetts, Natural Sciences Managerss earn $267,290 vs. $127,220 for General and Operations Managerss. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Natural Sciences Managers salary breakdownView →Full General and Operations Managers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Natural Sciences Managerss by take-home payExplore →Best cities for General and Operations Managerss by take-home payExplore →How to become a natural sciences managersGuide →How to become a general and operations managersGuide →