Natural Sciences Managers Salary
In Michigan, natural sciences managers earn $129,070 at the median, or about $62.06 an hour. The range runs from $68K at the entry level to $222K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.89), which stretches that salary to about $137,469 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,272/month, or 16.2% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Michigan. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $129K actually covers in Michigan, month by month
About natural sciences managers
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What this looks like in Michigan
Pay for natural sciences managers in Michigan runs about 23% below the U.S. median of $167K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,272/month, 16.3% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Michigan can be a reasonable trade-off for natural sciences managers who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Michigan
Entry-level natural sciences managers (10th percentile) start around $68K. Mid-career wages sit at $129K. Top earners bring in $222K or more, a $154K spread from bottom to top.
Natural Sciences Managers salary by metro in Michigan
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midland | $212K | +64% | 60 |
| Bay City | $204K | +58% | 50 |
| Ann Arbor | $144K | +12% | 210 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood | $132K | +2% | 130 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn | $129K | +0% | 640 |
| Kalamazoo-Portage | $114K | -11% | 80 |
| Lansing-East Lansing | $109K | -15% | 370 |
| Flint | $96K | -26% | 30 |
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BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Michigan numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a natural sciences manager afford a 2BR apartment alone in Michigan?
Yes — at the median salary of $129K, rent takes 16.3% 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 Michigan?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new natural sciences managers typically earn — is $68K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,465/month. At HUD’s $1,272/month FMR, rent would take 28% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is natural sciences manager a high-paying job in Michigan?
Local pay runs 23% below the national median — $129K here vs. $167K nationally. Cost of living is 6% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Michigan compare to the national average for natural sciences managers?
Michigan pays $129K median vs. the U.S. average of $167K — that’s -23%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $137K — below the national median.
How much do natural sciences managers make in Michigan?
The median is $129,070 a year, that works out to about $62 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $68,380, and experienced natural sciences managers can clear $222,030. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $129K enough to live in Michigan?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,791/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,272/month, which eats 16.3% 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 Michigan?
Michigan has a Regional Price Parity of 93.89 (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 $137,469 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.