Also called: Head of Discovery, Natural Sciences Manager
Leads teams of scientists and decides which research projects get money and time.
Spends the day in meetings: reviewing data from three different teams, presenting progress to company executives, and interviewing a new scientist. Makes the tough call to stop a project that isn't working.
BLS May 2024 natural sciences managers (90th pct capped by BLS reporting). Median from BLS; 10th/90th percentiles estimated.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Doctorate (PhD), about 15 years after high school. PhD plus 8-15 years of research experience.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school, On-the-job training. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry.
Growing faster than average (about 5% over 10 years). BLS 2024-34.
Low risk for 10 years. AI briefs leaders on data, but choosing which projects live or die, managing scientists and investors stays human.
Classes: AP Biology, Chemistry, Debate or speech, Economics.
Official data: O*NET occupation 11-9121.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.