Career comparison
Microbiologist 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. $87,990), while microbiologists usually get to work faster (4+ years of training). Microbiologists study bacteria, viruses and microbes to protect health and make 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
| Microbiologist | Natural Sciences Manager | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $87,990 ($42.30/hr) | $167,220 ($80.39/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $54,670 – $150,000 | $79,710 – $316,850 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +6.2% (faster than average) | +8.2% (much faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 1,500 | 9,200 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Training time | 4+ years | 5+ years of scientific experience |
| Key credential | ASM Specialist Microbiologist | Ph.D. |
| Work setting | Microbiologists work in labs, sometimes with infectious agents under biosafety rules.. | Managers work in labs and offices for companies, universities and government.. |
What each job does
Microbiologist
- Culture and identify microorganisms
- Test products for contamination
- Design and run experiments
- Monitor clean rooms and environments
- Analyze data
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 microbiologist if…
- I love biology
- I’m careful and precise
- I want to protect health
Choose natural sciences manager if…
- I’m a scientist who likes leading
- I like strategy
- I can manage budgets
Still torn? Take the Microbiologist fit quiz and the Natural Sciences Manager fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, microbiologist or natural sciences manager?
Natural Sciences Managers earn more at the median: $167,220 versus $87,990 for microbiologists, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Microbiologists 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 +6.2% for microbiologists.