Natural Sciences Managers Salary
In Virginia, natural sciences managers earn $150,570 at the median, or about $72.39 an hour. The range runs from $84K at the entry level to $213K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.79), which stretches that salary to about $158,846 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,646/month, or 18% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Virginia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $151K actually covers in Virginia, month by month
About natural sciences managers
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What this looks like in Virginia
Natural sciences managers pay in Virginia tracks closely to the national median, $151K locally vs. $167K nationwide, a 10% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,646/month, 18.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.79 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Virginia
Entry-level natural sciences managers (10th percentile) start around $84K. Mid-career wages sit at $151K. Top earners bring in $213K or more, a $129K spread from bottom to top.
Natural Sciences Managers salary by metro in Virginia
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $128K | -15% | 180 |
| Richmond | $127K | -16% | 290 |
| Charlottesville | $125K | -17% | 80 |
| Roanoke | $109K | -27% | 50 |
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Track natural sciences managers salary changes
BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Virginia 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 Virginia?
Yes — at the median salary of $151K, rent takes 18.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,646/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for natural sciences managers in Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new natural sciences managers typically earn — is $84K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,268/month. At HUD’s $1,646/month FMR, rent would take 31% 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 Virginia?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $151K locally vs. $167K nationally, a 10% difference.
How does Virginia compare to the national average for natural sciences managers?
Virginia pays $151K median vs. the U.S. average of $167K — that’s -10%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.79), the purchasing-power equivalent is $159K — below the national median.
How much do natural sciences managers make in Virginia?
The median is $150,570 a year, that works out to about $72 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $84,080, and experienced natural sciences managers can clear $212,620. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $151K enough to live in Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,794/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,646/month, which eats 18.7% 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 Virginia?
Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 94.79 (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 $158,846 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.