Natural Sciences Managers Salary
In Lexington-Fayette, KY, natural sciences managers earn $161,450 at the median, or about $77.62 an hour. The range runs from $52K at the entry level to $193K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.89), which stretches that salary to about $173,808 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,272/month, or 13% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $161K get you in Lexington-Fayette?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Lexington-Fayette’s Regional Price Parity (92.89). 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 Lexington-Fayette
Natural sciences managers pay in Lexington-Fayette tracks closely to the national median, $161K locally vs. $167K nationwide, a 3% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,272/month, 13.3% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for natural sciences managers in metros near Lexington-Fayette, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County | $120K | $129K |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $167K | $161K |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood | $92K | $96K |
| St. Louis | $159K | $167K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Lexington-Fayette, KY
Entry-level natural sciences managers (10th percentile) start around $52K. Mid-career wages sit at $161K. Top earners bring in $193K or more, a $141K 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 Lexington-Fayette numbers change.
Related careers in Management
Frequently asked questions
Can a natural sciences manager afford a 2BR apartment alone in Lexington-Fayette?
Yes — at the median salary of $161K, rent takes 13.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,272/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for natural sciences managers in Lexington-Fayette?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new natural sciences managers typically earn — is $52K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,137/month. At HUD’s $1,272/month FMR, rent would take 41% 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 Lexington-Fayette?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $161K locally vs. $167K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Lexington-Fayette compare to the national average for natural sciences managers?
Lexington-Fayette pays $161K median vs. the U.S. average of $167K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $174K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do natural sciences managers make in Lexington-Fayette, KY?
The median is $161,450 a year, that works out to about $78 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $52,280, and experienced natural sciences managers can clear $193,270. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $161K enough to live in Lexington-Fayette?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,554/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,272/month, which eats 13.3% 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 Lexington-Fayette?
Lexington-Fayette has a Regional Price Parity of 92.89 (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 $173,808 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.