Natural Sciences Managers Salary
In California, natural sciences managers earn $210,230 at the median, or about $101.07 an hour. The range runs from $131K at the entry level to $330K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 106.14), so that salary is closer to $198,069 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,471/month, or 20.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across California. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $210K get you in California?
About natural sciences managers
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What this looks like in California
California sits well above the national pay line for natural sciences managers, local pay runs about 26% higher than the U.S. median of $167K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $2,471/month, 21.1% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 106.14), so groceries and services cost more too. Combined with manageable housing costs, California offers a genuinely strong financial position for natural sciences managerss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, California
Entry-level natural sciences managers (10th percentile) start around $131K. Mid-career wages sit at $210K. Top earners bring in $330K or more, a $199K spread from bottom to top.
Natural Sciences Managers salary by metro in California
17 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $264K | +25% | 1,160 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $225K | +7% | 5,530 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $207K | -1% | 2,890 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $202K | -4% | 80 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $193K | -8% | 2,530 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $179K | -15% | 40 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $177K | -16% | 180 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $175K | -17% | 110 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $175K | -17% | 30 |
| Salinas | $171K | -19% | 40 |
| Vallejo | $171K | -19% | 60 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $170K | -19% | 680 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $169K | -19% | 260 |
| Modesto | $160K | -24% | 50 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $159K | -24% | 80 |
| Fresno | $157K | -25% | 90 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $156K | -26% | 60 |
Showing 1–10 of 17 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when California numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a natural sciences manager afford a 2BR apartment alone in California?
Yes — at the median salary of $210K, rent takes 21.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,471/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for natural sciences managers in California?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new natural sciences managers typically earn — is $131K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $7,844/month. At HUD’s $2,471/month FMR, rent would take 32% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is natural sciences manager a high-paying job in California?
Local pay is 26% above the national median — $210K here vs. $167K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 6% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does California compare to the national average for natural sciences managers?
California pays $210K median vs. the U.S. average of $167K — that’s +26%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 106.14), the purchasing-power equivalent is $198K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do natural sciences managers make in California?
The median is $210,230 a year, that works out to about $101 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $130,730, and experienced natural sciences managers can clear $330,050. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $210K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $11,732/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,471/month, which eats 21.1% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a natural sciences managers salary go in California?
California has a Regional Price Parity of 106.14 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median natural sciences managers salary is worth about $198,069 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do natural sciences managers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.