Natural Sciences Managers Salary
In Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, natural sciences managers earn $169,060 at the median, or about $81.28 an hour. The range runs from $124K at the entry level to $232K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 108.88), so that salary is closer to $155,272 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,246/month, or 22.5% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $169K get you in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Washington-Arlington-Alexandria’s Regional Price Parity (108.88). 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria
Natural sciences managers pay in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria tracks closely to the national median, $169K locally vs. $167K nationwide, a 1% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $2,246/month, 23.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost-of-living overall is 9% above the national average (BEA RPP 108.88), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for natural sciences managers in metros near Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson | $157K | $150K |
| Richmond | $127K | $129K |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $128K | $131K |
| Charlottesville | $125K | $126K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Entry-level natural sciences managers (10th percentile) start around $124K. Mid-career wages sit at $169K. Top earners bring in $232K or more, a $108K 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a natural sciences manager afford a 2BR apartment alone in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Yes — at the median salary of $169K, rent takes 23.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,246/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for natural sciences managers in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new natural sciences managers typically earn — is $124K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $7,435/month. At HUD’s $2,246/month FMR, rent would take 30% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is natural sciences manager a high-paying job in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $169K locally vs. $167K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Washington-Arlington-Alexandria compare to the national average for natural sciences managers?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria pays $169K median vs. the U.S. average of $167K — that’s +1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 108.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $155K — below the national median.
How much do natural sciences managers make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The median is $169,060 a year, that works out to about $81 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $123,920, and experienced natural sciences managers can clear $232,340. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $169K enough to live in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,565/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,246/month, which eats 23.5% 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria has a Regional Price Parity of 108.88 (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 $155,272 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.