Career comparison
Engineering Manager vs. Natural Sciences Manager
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Engineering managers earn more at the median ($171,270 vs. $167,220), while engineering managers usually get to work faster (5+ years of engineering experience of training). Engineering managers lead teams of engineers who design products, systems and structures. 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
| Engineering Manager | Natural Sciences Manager | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $171,270 ($82.34/hr) | $167,220 ($80.39/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $120,810 – $262,760 | $79,710 – $316,850 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +5.5% (faster than average) | +8.2% (much faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 14,900 | 9,200 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Training time | 5+ years of engineering experience | 5+ years of scientific experience |
| Key credential | PE license | Ph.D. |
| Work setting | Engineering managers work in offices, labs and plants.. | Managers work in labs and offices for companies, universities and government.. |
What each job does
Engineering Manager
- Lead engineering teams
- Set project goals
- Manage budgets
- Review designs
- Hire and coach engineers
Natural Sciences Manager
- Set research priorities
- Manage lab staff
- Manage budgets
- Oversee testing
- Ensure lab safety
How they’re similar
Both careers involve high-pay, working with people, high responsibility, and in-demand. Both are part of the science, engineering & lab field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose engineering manager if…
- I’m an engineer who likes leading
- I like strategy
- I can coach people
Choose natural sciences manager if…
- I’m a scientist who likes leading
- I like strategy
- I can manage budgets
Still torn? Take the Engineering Manager fit quiz and the Natural Sciences Manager fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, engineering manager or natural sciences manager?
Engineering Managers earn more at the median: $171,270 versus $167,220 for natural sciences managers, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Engineering Managers typically train faster (5+ years of engineering experience) 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 +5.5% for engineering managers.