Best Natural Sciences Manager programs in Alabama, ranked by enrollment
Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, statistics, and research and development in these.
24 schools in Alabama run programs that feed this job, graduating 2,571 people a year. The job pays a median of $133,470 in Alabama across about 370 jobs (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Fields of study in Alabama that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level. Numbers are graduates per year in this state.
41 programs in Alabama that lead to this job
Ranked by graduates per year in Alabama (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are national College Scorecard figures reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. Each program also links to its own Alabama page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CIP 26.0101In Alabama → | 1,162 | 45.2% | 24 | $32,152 | $25,000 |
| 2 | CIP 27.0101In Alabama → | 258 | 10.0% | 24 | $48,772 | $21,544 |
| 3 | CIP 40.0501In Alabama → | 245 | 9.5% | 18 | $42,620 | $23,900 |
| 4 | CIP 26.1501In Alabama → | 140 | 5.4% | 4 | $31,687 | $22,936 |
| 5 | CIP 40.0801In Alabama → | 123 | 4.8% | 10 | $47,156 | $23,490 |
| 6 | Biotechnologymain feeder CIP 26.1201In Alabama → | 81 | 3.2% | 3 | $49,023 | $21,309 |
| 7 | CIP 30.1901In Alabama → | 73 | 2.8% | 2 | $30,508 | $24,586 |
| 8 | CIP 52.0216In Alabama → | 52 | 2.0% | 2 | $43,506 | $25,000 |
| 9 | CIP 40.9999In Alabama → | 49 | 1.9% | 1 | $47,513 | $24,000 |
| 10 | CIP 26.1302In Alabama → | 37 | 1.4% | 4 | $29,460 | $23,480 |
| 11 | CIP 40.0601In Alabama → | 36 | 1.4% | 3 | $39,678 | $24,864 |
| 12 | CIP 27.0301In Alabama → | 35 | 1.4% | 7 | $60,930 | $21,143 |
| 13 | CIP 26.0503In Alabama → | 33 | 1.3% | 1 | $38,383 | $22,065 |
| 14 | CIP 30.4401In Alabama → | 30 | 1.2% | 2 | — | — |
| 15 | CIP 26.0502In Alabama → | 22 | 0.9% | 3 | $38,383 | $22,065 |
| 16 | CIP 30.3201In Alabama → | 19 | 0.7% | 1 | $27,337 | $22,400 |
| 17 | CIP 30.3301In Alabama → | 18 | 0.7% | 3 | $37,223 | $20,968 |
| 18 | CIP 26.0910In Alabama → | 17 | 0.7% | 1 | $31,146 | $23,384 |
| 19 | CIP 26.0507In Alabama → | 15 | 0.6% | 1 | $38,383 | $22,065 |
| 20 | CIP 27.0601In Alabama → | 15 | 0.6% | 2 | — | — |
| 21 | CIP 26.9999In Alabama → | 12 | 0.5% | 2 | $31,278 | $23,000 |
| 22 | CIP 40.0404In Alabama → | 12 | 0.5% | 1 | $41,430 | $25,500 |
| 23 | CIP 26.0202In Alabama → | 11 | 0.4% | 4 | $38,243 | $23,014 |
| 24 | CIP 27.0503In Alabama → | 10 | 0.4% | 1 | $59,718 | $20,150 |
| 25 | CIP 26.1503In Alabama → | 8 | 0.3% | 1 | $31,687 | $22,936 |
| 26 | CIP 26.1104In Alabama → | 7 | 0.3% | 1 | $72,338 | $18,500 |
| 27 | CIP 30.3801In Alabama → | 7 | 0.3% | 1 | — | — |
| 28 | CIP 26.0299In Alabama → | 6 | 0.2% | 1 | $38,243 | $23,014 |
| 29 | CIP 30.7001In Alabama → | 6 | 0.2% | 3 | — | — |
| 30 | CIP 26.0401In Alabama → | 5 | 0.2% | 1 | $35,393 | $19,961 |
| 31 | CIP 27.0599In Alabama → | 5 | 0.2% | 1 | $59,718 | $20,150 |
| 32 | CIP 26.0205In Alabama → | 4 | 0.2% | 1 | $38,243 | $23,014 |
| 33 | CIP 27.0501In Alabama → | 4 | 0.2% | 1 | $59,718 | $20,150 |
| 34 | CIP 40.0510In Alabama → | 4 | 0.2% | 1 | $42,620 | $23,900 |
| 35 | CIP 40.0401In Alabama → | 3 | 0.1% | 1 | $41,430 | $25,500 |
| 36 | Biological and Physical Sciencesmain feeder CIP 30.0101In Alabama → | 2 | 0.1% | 1 | $28,446 | $11,000 |
| 37 | Science, Technology and Societymain feeder CIP 30.1501In Alabama → | 1 | 0.0% | 1 | $44,736 | $18,593 |
| 38 | CIP 14.1201In Alabama → | 1 | 0.0% | 1 | $57,457 | $24,706 |
| 39 | CIP 26.1102In Alabama → | 1 | 0.0% | 1 | $72,338 | $18,500 |
| 40 | CIP 40.0699In Alabama → | 1 | 0.0% | 1 | $39,678 | $24,864 |
| 41 | CIP 40.0899In Alabama → | 1 | 0.0% | 1 | $47,156 | $23,490 |
Top 24 schools in Alabama
Ranked by graduates per year into this job. Graduate earnings are reported for 14 of the 24 schools in this state.
| # | School | Graduates / yr | Top feeder program | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Grad rate | Net price | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, AL Public · 11 feeder programs | 541 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $29,848 | 73% | — | 77% |
| 2 | University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, AL Public · 17 feeder programs | 482 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $28,127 | 64% | — | 88% |
| 3 | Auburn University Auburn, AL Public · 17 feeder programs | 355 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $22,132 | 82% | — | 46% |
| 4 | University of Alabama in Huntsville Huntsville, AL Public · 9 feeder programs | 222 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $36,775 | 64% | — | 69% |
| 5 | University of South Alabama Mobile, AL Public · 11 feeder programs | 151 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $25,950 | 53% | — | 71% |
| 6 | Jacksonville State University Jacksonville, AL Public · 3 feeder programs | 100 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $33,236 | 55% | — | 78% |
| 7 | Troy University Troy, AL Public · 7 feeder programs | 90 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $30,057 | 50% | — | 96% |
| 8 | University of North Alabama Florence, AL Public · 6 feeder programs | 87 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $30,593 | 55% | — | 87% |
| 9 | Alabama A & M University Normal, AL Public · 4 feeder programs | 81 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $29,098 | 24% | — | 58% |
| 10 | Alabama State University Montgomery, AL Public · 5 feeder programs | 81 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $30,174 | 30% | — | 98% |
| 11 | Athens State University Athens, AL Public · 4 feeder programs | 50 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $36,907 | — | — | — |
| 12 | Tuskegee University Tuskegee, AL Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs | 49 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $14,102 | 55% | $33,313 | 49% |
| 13 | Auburn University at Montgomery Montgomery, AL Public · 3 feeder programs | 45 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $31,385 | 33% | — | 92% |
| 14 | Miles College Fairfield, AL Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 44 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | — | 16% | $16,735 | — |
| 15 | Samford University Birmingham, AL Private not-for-profit · 7 feeder programs | 44 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | — | 77% | $28,160 | 82% |
| 16 | Oakwood University Huntsville, AL Private not-for-profit · 5 feeder programs | 32 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | — | 45% | $23,870 | 45% |
| 17 | Spring Hill College Mobile, AL Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs | 29 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | — | 52% | $14,119 | 77% |
| 18 | Huntingdon College Montgomery, AL Private not-for-profit · 6 feeder programs | 21 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | — | 48% | $21,604 | 69% |
| 19 | University of Montevallo Montevallo, AL Public · 3 feeder programs | 20 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | — | 54% | — | 54% |
| 20 | University of West Alabama Livingston, AL Public · 4 feeder programs | 17 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $30,019 | 35% | — | 43% |
| 21 | Stillman College Tuscaloosa, AL Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 14 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | — | 25% | $13,151 | 62% |
| 22 | Talladega College Talladega, AL Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 7 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | — | 31% | $15,807 | 85% |
| 23 | University of Mobile Mobile, AL Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 5 | Mathematics, General | — | 57% | $19,817 | 78% |
| 24 | Faulkner University Montgomery, AL Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 4 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | — | 37% | $25,801 | 73% |
All 24 schools in Alabama
Every school in Alabama with a program that feeds this job, ordered by graduates per year. Earnings are shown for the ranked schools above; open a school profile for the rest.
| School | City | Control | Graduates / yr | Feeder programs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The University of Alabama | Tuscaloosa | Public | 541 | 11 |
| University of Alabama at Birmingham | Birmingham | Public | 482 | 17 |
| Auburn University | Auburn | Public | 355 | 17 |
| University of Alabama in Huntsville | Huntsville | Public | 222 | 9 |
| University of South Alabama | Mobile | Public | 151 | 11 |
| Jacksonville State University | Jacksonville | Public | 100 | 3 |
| Troy University | Troy | Public | 90 | 7 |
| University of North Alabama | Florence | Public | 87 | 6 |
| Alabama A & M University | Normal | Public | 81 | 4 |
| Alabama State University | Montgomery | Public | 81 | 5 |
| Athens State University | Athens | Public | 50 | 4 |
| Tuskegee University | Tuskegee | Private not-for-profit | 49 | 4 |
| Auburn University at Montgomery | Montgomery | Public | 45 | 3 |
| Miles College | Fairfield | Private not-for-profit | 44 | 3 |
| Samford University | Birmingham | Private not-for-profit | 44 | 7 |
What natural sciences managers earn in Alabama
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
U.S. median $167,220. Alabama pays below the national figure.
1.00× means the state has its expected share of these jobs.
Metro areas in Alabama
Job outlook
Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.
Growth and openings are national. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish employment projections at state level, so these figures describe the occupation across the whole U.S., not this state alone.
How to get in
The full skills, tools, and day-to-day breakdown lives on the national Natural Sciences Managers page.
How to become a Natural Sciences Manager
Job zone 5 of 5 · SVP 8.0 and above- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience needed
- 5 years or more
Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Top skills
The same job in other states
Where else this occupation employs the most people, and what it pays there.
Related careers in Alabama
Every major mapped to this job
The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.
All 25 majors mapped to Natural Sciences Managers24 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
- 14.1201Engineering Physics/Applied Physics
- 14.3701Operations Research
- 26.0101Biology/Biological Sciences, General
- 26.0202Biochemistry
- 26.0203Biophysics
- 26.0204Molecular Biology
- 26.0205Molecular Biochemistry
- 26.0206Molecular Biophysics
- 26.0207Structural Biology
- 26.0208Photobiology(no graduates reported)
- 26.0209Radiation Biology/Radiobiology
- 26.0210Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- 26.0299Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Other
- 26.0301Botany/Plant Biology
- 26.0305Plant Pathology/Phytopathology
- 26.0307Plant Physiology
- 26.0399Botany/Plant Biology, Other
- 26.0401Cell/Cellular Biology and Histology
- 26.0403Anatomy
- 26.0406Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology
- 26.0499Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences, Other
- 26.0502Microbiology, General
- 26.0503Medical Microbiology and Bacteriology
- 26.0504Virology
- 26.0505Parasitology
Common questions
Answers for people weighing natural sciences managers programs in Alabama.
What degree do you need to become a Natural Sciences Manager?+
Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education BLS reports for this occupation. The most common program people actually graduate from is Biology/Biological Sciences, General, which awarded 1,162 degrees in Alabama in 2024-25, 45.2% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.
Which college majors lead to becoming a Natural Sciences Manager?+
The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 41 programs to this occupation. The largest are Biology, Mathematics, Chemistry, Neurobiology and Neurosciences, plus 25 more. Together they graduate about 2,571 people a year in Alabama.
How much do natural sciences managers earn in Alabama?+
The median is $133,470 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). That is 20.2% below the U.S. median of $167,220. This is pay for people already working in the occupation, not the same thing as graduate earnings one year after finishing a degree.
Is demand for natural sciences managers growing?+
BLS projects a +3.7% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, about as fast as average, with roughly 8,500 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.
How many schools offer programs for this career in Alabama?+
24 institutions in Alabama reported graduates from at least one of the 41 programs that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.
What other job titles do natural sciences managers work under?+
Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Research Coordinator, Clinical Trial Manager, Water Resources Planner, Clinical Program Manager, Natural Sciences Manager, Clinical Research Coordinator among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 11-9121.
About the data on this page
Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024–25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).
BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics
May 2025Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.
BLS Employment Projections
2024–34Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.
IPEDS Completions
2024-25 (provisional)Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.
College Scorecard, Field of Study
2020-21 cohortsMedian graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.
Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes
latest availableGraduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.
NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk
CIP 2020 / SOC 2018Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.
O*NET Database 30.3
30.3Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.
Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA
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