Natural Sciences Managers Salary
In Knoxville, TN, natural sciences managers earn $141,130 at the median, or about $67.85 an hour. The range runs from $77K at the entry level to $366K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.57), which stretches that salary to about $152,458 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,471/month, or 16.2% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $141K get you in Knoxville?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Knoxville’s Regional Price Parity (92.57). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About natural sciences managers
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What this looks like in Knoxville
Pay for natural sciences managers in Knoxville runs about 16% below the U.S. median of $167K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,471/month, 16.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.57 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Knoxville can be a reasonable trade-off for natural sciences managerss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for natural sciences managers in metros near Knoxville, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $113K | $118K |
| Memphis | $155K | $169K |
| Durham-Chapel Hill | $184K | $188K |
| Raleigh-Cary | $174K | $177K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Knoxville, TN
Entry-level natural sciences managers (10th percentile) start around $77K. Mid-career wages sit at $141K. Top earners bring in $366K or more, a $289K spread from bottom to top.
Natural Sciences Managers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Natural Sciences Managers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $267K | +60% | 10,590 |
| Connecticut | $211K | +26% | 1,190 |
| California | $210K | +26% | 14,950 |
| New Jersey | $207K | +24% | 10,040 |
| Washington | $182K | +9% | 2,490 |
| North Carolina | $174K | +4% | 6,010 |
| Maryland | $169K | +1% | 4,820 |
| Illinois | $160K | -5% | 2,810 |
| District of Columbia | $157K | -6% | 1,540 |
| Kansas | $154K | -8% | 240 |
| Colorado | $153K | -9% | 1,640 |
| Virginia | $151K | -10% | 1,470 |
| Oregon | $143K | -14% | 1,700 |
| Maine | $141K | -15% | 430 |
| West Virginia | $138K | -17% | 160 |
| Pennsylvania | $138K | -18% | 7,980 |
| Ohio | $137K | -18% | 1,560 |
| Minnesota | $136K | -18% | 1,530 |
| New York | $135K | -19% | 5,690 |
| New Hampshire | $134K | -20% | 240 |
| Alabama | $133K | -20% | 370 |
| North Dakota | $131K | -21% | 140 |
| Vermont | $131K | -21% | 290 |
| South Carolina | $131K | -22% | 780 |
| Alaska | $131K | -22% | 710 |
| Rhode Island | $130K | -22% | 200 |
| Texas | $130K | -22% | 7,470 |
| Missouri | $129K | -23% | 1,230 |
| Michigan | $129K | -23% | 2,220 |
| Wisconsin | $129K | -23% | 1,070 |
| South Dakota | $128K | -23% | 180 |
| Kentucky | $126K | -24% | 400 |
| Arizona | $125K | -25% | 900 |
| Idaho | $125K | -25% | 610 |
| Tennessee | $125K | -26% | 880 |
| Nebraska | $121K | -28% | 550 |
| Mississippi | $119K | -29% | 210 |
| Montana | $119K | -29% | 370 |
| Utah | $119K | -29% | N/A |
| Arkansas | $119K | -29% | 340 |
| Louisiana | $116K | -31% | N/A |
| Oklahoma | $112K | -33% | 310 |
| Nevada | $112K | -33% | 320 |
| Florida | $112K | -33% | 4,370 |
| Iowa | $110K | -34% | 610 |
| Wyoming | $109K | -35% | 150 |
| Indiana | $108K | -35% | 1,670 |
| Hawaii | $108K | -36% | 510 |
Showing 1–10 of 48 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track natural sciences managers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Knoxville numbers change.
Related careers in Management
Frequently asked questions
Can a natural sciences manager afford a 2BR apartment alone in Knoxville?
Yes — at the median salary of $141K, rent takes 16.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,471/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for natural sciences managers in Knoxville?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new natural sciences managers typically earn — is $77K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,644/month. At HUD’s $1,471/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 Knoxville?
Local pay runs 16% below the national median — $141K here vs. $167K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Knoxville compare to the national average for natural sciences managers?
Knoxville pays $141K median vs. the U.S. average of $167K — that’s -16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.57), the purchasing-power equivalent is $152K — below the national median.
How much do natural sciences managers make in Knoxville, TN?
The median is $141,130 a year, that works out to about $68 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $77,400, and experienced natural sciences managers can clear $366,370. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $141K enough to live in Knoxville?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,935/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,471/month, which eats 16.5% 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 Knoxville?
Knoxville has a Regional Price Parity of 92.57 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median natural sciences managers salary is worth about $152,458 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.