Headline risk
2%
Very Low RiskNatural sciences managers
United States AI Work Index tracks this occupation on the shared structural baseline and then layers on local demand resilience, wages, and confidence.
Why This Score
Share of job tasks that overlap with current AI capabilities
Median annual wage
Projected employment change over 10 years
Typical preparation needed for this occupation
Occupation profile
Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, statistics, and research and development in these fields.
Task evidence
100% weighted task match · 5% effective coverage
Scores combine AI task overlap, human advantages, and local demand. How it works
United States Now
Median Wage
USD 161,180
Employment 2024
104.3K
Projected Change (2024–34)
3.7%
Openings (2024–34)
8.5K
Wage distribution
Demand outlook
Employment of natural sciences managers is projected to grow 4 percent from 2024 to 2034, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
Role Profile
Tasks
- 1. Perform hydrologic, hydraulic, or water quality modeling. AI use: 0%
- 2. Oversee subject enrollment to ensure that informed consent is properly obtained and documented. AI use: 0%
- 3. Design or coordinate successive phases of problem analysis, solution proposals, or testing. AI use: 0%
- 4. Analyze storm water systems to identify opportunities for water resource improvements. AI use: 0%
- 5. Review project activities and prepare and review research, testing, or operational reports. AI use: 94%
- 6. Monitor study activities to ensure compliance with protocols and with all relevant local, federal, and state regulatory and institutional polices. AI use: 0%
Technologies
Requirements
Work context
Worker profile
Median age 44.6 · 1.4M employed
Under 25: 3% · 25–54: 72% · 55+: 25%
Related
Source coverage
11/11 source families · O*NET 30.2 / OEWS 2024 / ORS 2025 / OOH 2025-08-28 / Projections 2024-34 / CPS 2025 / Anthropic task penetration
Mapping quality
major_group_fallback · employment series present
Narrative & sources
Natural sciences managers plan, supervise, or coordinate research and other activities in fields such as life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, and statistics.
Natural sciences managers work primarily in an office setting or in laboratories. Most work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week.
Natural sciences managers typically need at least a bachelor’s degree in a natural science or related field. Most work as scientists before becoming managers.
The median annual wage for natural sciences managers was $161,180 in May 2024.
Employment of natural sciences managers is projected to grow 4 percent from 2024 to 2034, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
Published limitations
This page shows the local country layer, not realised individual job outcomes. The global structural baseline is shared across countries; only the local demand and wage layer changes here.
Built from O*NET occupation descriptions, task statements, technology skills, work context, Job Zones, Anthropic task penetration, BLS OEWS wages, BLS projection tables, BLS ORS requirements, BLS OOH narrative content, BLS skills data, and BLS CPS occupation age tables.