Career comparison
Chemist vs. Natural Sciences Manager
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Natural sciences managers earn more at the median ($167,220 vs. $91,240), while chemists usually get to work faster (4+ years of training). Chemists study substances and create new materials, medicines and products. Natural sciences managers lead scientists and labs doing research and testing.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Chemist | Natural Sciences Manager | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $91,240 ($43.87/hr) | $167,220 ($80.39/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $58,460 – $160,830 | $79,710 – $316,850 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +6.4% (faster than average) | +8.2% (much faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 5,900 | 9,200 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Training time | 4+ years | 5+ years of scientific experience |
| Key credential | ACS-certified degree | Ph.D. |
| Work setting | Chemists work in labs and offices in industry, government and universities.. | Managers work in labs and offices for companies, universities and government.. |
What each job does
Chemist
- Design and run experiments
- Analyze substances with instruments
- Develop new products and processes
- Interpret data
- Write reports and procedures
Natural Sciences Manager
- Set research priorities
- Manage lab staff
- Manage budgets
- Oversee testing
- Ensure lab safety
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working with information, high-pay, and in-demand. Both are part of the science, engineering & lab field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose chemist if…
- I love chemistry
- I enjoy experiments
- I like solving puzzles
Choose natural sciences manager if…
- I’m a scientist who likes leading
- I like strategy
- I can manage budgets
Still torn? Take the Chemist fit quiz and the Natural Sciences Manager fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, chemist or natural sciences manager?
Natural Sciences Managers earn more at the median: $167,220 versus $91,240 for chemists, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Chemists typically train faster (4+ years) than natural sciences managers (5+ years of scientific experience).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects natural sciences managers to grow +8.2% from 2025–35, compared with +6.4% for chemists.