Best Natural Sciences Manager programs in California, ranked by enrollment
Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, statistics, and research and development in these.
197 schools in California run programs that feed this job, graduating 68,455 people a year. The job pays a median of $210,230 in California across about 14,950 jobs (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Fields of study in California that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level. Numbers are graduates per year in this state.
100 programs in California that lead to this job
Ranked by graduates per year in California (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 California page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Biological and Physical Sciencesmain feeder CIP 30.0101In California → | 19,845 | 29.0% | 99 | $28,446 | $11,000 |
| 2 | CIP 26.0101In California → | 13,861 | 20.2% | 171 | $32,152 | $25,000 |
| 3 | CIP 27.0101In California → | 6,489 | 9.5% | 175 | $48,772 | $21,544 |
| 4 | CIP 40.0801In California → | 3,067 | 4.5% | 138 | $47,156 | $23,490 |
| 5 | CIP 40.0501In California → | 2,644 | 3.9% | 131 | $42,620 | $23,900 |
| 6 | CIP 30.2501In California → | 2,186 | 3.2% | 16 | $41,362 | $17,750 |
| 7 | CIP 26.0406In California → | 1,589 | 2.3% | 10 | $35,393 | $19,961 |
| 8 | CIP 27.0501In California → | 1,438 | 2.1% | 19 | $59,718 | $20,150 |
| 9 | CIP 26.0202In California → | 1,236 | 1.8% | 47 | $38,243 | $23,014 |
| 10 | CIP 30.1901In California → | 1,102 | 1.6% | 18 | $30,508 | $24,586 |
| 11 | CIP 26.9999In California → | 1,006 | 1.5% | 13 | $31,278 | $23,000 |
| 12 | CIP 27.0301In California → | 907 | 1.3% | 18 | $60,930 | $21,143 |
| 13 | CIP 30.2701In California → | 870 | 1.3% | 7 | $31,690 | $17,312 |
| 14 | CIP 26.1501In California → | 817 | 1.2% | 20 | $31,687 | $22,936 |
| 15 | CIP 27.0305In California → | 731 | 1.1% | 12 | $60,930 | $21,143 |
| 16 | CIP 30.0801In California → | 722 | 1.1% | 11 | $89,651 | $23,175 |
| 17 | CIP 40.0601In California → | 707 | 1.0% | 68 | $39,678 | $24,864 |
| 18 | CIP 30.7001In California → | 616 | 0.9% | 13 | — | — |
| 19 | CIP 26.0403In California → | 591 | 0.9% | 3 | $35,393 | $19,961 |
| 20 | CIP 26.1503In California → | 508 | 0.7% | 3 | $31,687 | $22,936 |
| 21 | CIP 14.3701In California → | 477 | 0.7% | 3 | $92,531 | $15,000 |
| 22 | CIP 26.0502In California → | 422 | 0.6% | 13 | $38,383 | $22,065 |
| 23 | Biotechnologymain feeder CIP 26.1201In California → | 398 | 0.6% | 16 | $49,023 | $21,309 |
| 24 | Physical Sciences, Generalmain feeder CIP 40.0101In California → | 397 | 0.6% | 18 | $27,007 | $9,000 |
| 25 | CIP 26.1302In California → | 353 | 0.5% | 8 | $29,460 | $23,480 |
| 26 | CIP 26.0205In California → | 305 | 0.4% | 4 | $38,243 | $23,014 |
| 27 | CIP 27.0199In California → | 254 | 0.4% | 6 | $48,772 | $21,544 |
| 28 | CIP 26.0499In California → | 229 | 0.3% | 3 | $35,393 | $19,961 |
| 29 | CIP 30.3201In California → | 211 | 0.3% | 7 | $27,337 | $22,400 |
| 30 | CIP 26.1599In California → | 186 | 0.3% | 3 | $31,687 | $22,936 |
| 31 | CIP 27.0304In California → | 186 | 0.3% | 6 | $60,930 | $21,143 |
| 32 | CIP 26.0701In California → | 171 | 0.2% | 4 | $28,266 | $24,393 |
| 33 | CIP 26.1102In California → | 167 | 0.2% | 7 | $72,338 | $18,500 |
| 34 | CIP 26.1310In California → | 162 | 0.2% | 4 | $29,460 | $23,480 |
| 35 | CIP 26.0599In California → | 158 | 0.2% | 3 | $38,383 | $22,065 |
| 36 | CIP 30.3001In California → | 152 | 0.2% | 6 | $50,745 | $27,000 |
| 37 | CIP 40.0599In California → | 149 | 0.2% | 5 | $42,620 | $23,900 |
| 38 | CIP 26.1199In California → | 148 | 0.2% | 6 | $72,338 | $18,500 |
| 39 | CIP 27.0399In California → | 145 | 0.2% | 3 | $60,930 | $21,143 |
| 40 | CIP 27.0303In California → | 143 | 0.2% | 5 | $60,930 | $21,143 |
| 41 | CIP 30.3301In California → | 142 | 0.2% | 10 | $37,223 | $20,968 |
| 42 | CIP 40.0202In California → | 141 | 0.2% | 4 | $39,728 | $24,678 |
| 43 | CIP 40.0899In California → | 140 | 0.2% | 9 | $47,156 | $23,490 |
| 44 | Natural Sciencesmain feeder CIP 30.1801In California → | 134 | 0.2% | 7 | $29,587 | $21,610 |
| 45 | CIP 26.1399In California → | 133 | 0.2% | 6 | $29,460 | $23,480 |
| 46 | CIP 27.0599In California → | 112 | 0.2% | 4 | $59,718 | $20,150 |
| 47 | CIP 40.0607In California → | 108 | 0.2% | 7 | $39,678 | $24,864 |
| 48 | CIP 26.0299In California → | 106 | 0.2% | 6 | $38,243 | $23,014 |
| 49 | CIP 26.0301In California → | 105 | 0.2% | 5 | $33,009 | $21,975 |
| 50 | CIP 14.1201In California → | 102 | 0.1% | 9 | $57,457 | $24,706 |
| 51 | Science, Technology and Societymain feeder CIP 30.1501In California → | 98 | 0.1% | 6 | $44,736 | $18,593 |
| 52 | CIP 26.0210In California → | 91 | 0.1% | 4 | $38,243 | $23,014 |
| 53 | CIP 51.1401In California → | 87 | 0.1% | 5 | $223,926 | $16,250 |
| 54 | CIP 40.0699In California → | 86 | 0.1% | 11 | $39,678 | $24,864 |
| 55 | CIP 26.0204In California → | 73 | 0.1% | 5 | $38,243 | $23,014 |
| 56 | CIP 26.1301In California → | 72 | 0.1% | 4 | $29,460 | $23,480 |
| 57 | CIP 40.0201In California → | 71 | 0.1% | 16 | $39,728 | $24,678 |
| 58 | CIP 27.0503In California → | 69 | 0.1% | 2 | $59,718 | $20,150 |
| 59 | CIP 26.1001In California → | 67 | 0.1% | 2 | $39,202 | $18,000 |
| 60 | CIP 26.1104In California → | 62 | 0.1% | 2 | $72,338 | $18,500 |
| 61 | CIP 26.0203In California → | 58 | 0.1% | 11 | $38,243 | $23,014 |
| 62 | CIP 26.0508In California → | 56 | 0.1% | 3 | $38,383 | $22,065 |
| 63 | CIP 51.2006In California → | 56 | 0.1% | 2 | $48,728 | $23,761 |
| 64 | CIP 26.1311In California → | 48 | 0.1% | 3 | $29,460 | $23,480 |
| 65 | CIP 40.0401In California → | 48 | 0.1% | 4 | $41,430 | $25,500 |
| 66 | CIP 30.4401In California → | 42 | 0.1% | 3 | — | — |
| 67 | CIP 26.0401In California → | 40 | 0.1% | 3 | $35,393 | $19,961 |
| 68 | CIP 26.0702In California → | 40 | 0.1% | 2 | $28,266 | $24,393 |
| 69 | CIP 40.0603In California → | 38 | 0.1% | 7 | $39,678 | $24,864 |
| 70 | CIP 26.1504In California → | 29 | 0.0% | 2 | $31,687 | $22,936 |
| 71 | CIP 26.0910In California → | 28 | 0.0% | 3 | $31,146 | $23,384 |
| 72 | CIP 26.0507In California → | 22 | 0.0% | 3 | $38,383 | $22,065 |
| 73 | CIP 26.1303In California → | 21 | 0.0% | 5 | $29,460 | $23,480 |
| 74 | CIP 40.0809In California → | 20 | 0.0% | 1 | $47,156 | $23,490 |
| 75 | CIP 52.0210In California → | 20 | 0.0% | 1 | $43,506 | $25,000 |
| 76 | CIP 40.0605In California → | 18 | 0.0% | 3 | $39,678 | $24,864 |
| 77 | CIP 40.0299In California → | 14 | 0.0% | 1 | $39,728 | $24,678 |
| 78 | CIP 40.9999In California → | 13 | 0.0% | 2 | $47,513 | $24,000 |
| 79 | CIP 26.0305In California → | 11 | 0.0% | 2 | $33,009 | $21,975 |
| 80 | CIP 40.0499In California → | 10 | 0.0% | 1 | $41,430 | $25,500 |
| 81 | CIP 40.0203In California → | 9 | 0.0% | 3 | $39,728 | $24,678 |
| 82 | CIP 40.0602In California → | 9 | 0.0% | 2 | $39,678 | $24,864 |
| 83 | CIP 40.1101In California → | 9 | 0.0% | 2 | — | — |
| 84 | CIP 40.0510In California → | 6 | 0.0% | 1 | $42,620 | $23,900 |
| 85 | CIP 40.0507In California → | 5 | 0.0% | 1 | $42,620 | $23,900 |
| 86 | CIP 40.0810In California → | 5 | 0.0% | 1 | $47,156 | $23,490 |
| 87 | CIP 26.0707In California → | 4 | 0.0% | 1 | $28,266 | $24,393 |
| 88 | CIP 27.9999In California → | 4 | 0.0% | 1 | $59,063 | $21,500 |
| 89 | CIP 40.0404In California → | 4 | 0.0% | 1 | $41,430 | $25,500 |
| 90 | CIP 40.0508In California → | 4 | 0.0% | 1 | $42,620 | $23,900 |
| 91 | CIP 26.0503In California → | 3 | 0.0% | 1 | $38,383 | $22,065 |
| 92 | CIP 27.0105In California → | 3 | 0.0% | 1 | $48,772 | $21,544 |
| 93 | CIP 27.0601In California → | 3 | 0.0% | 2 | — | — |
| 94 | CIP 30.4101In California → | 3 | 0.0% | 1 | — | — |
| 95 | CIP 40.0802In California → | 3 | 0.0% | 1 | $47,156 | $23,490 |
| 96 | CIP 26.0802In California → | 1 | 0.0% | 1 | $31,800 | $21,424 |
| 97 | CIP 26.1004In California → | 1 | 0.0% | 1 | $39,202 | $18,000 |
| 98 | CIP 26.1401In California → | 1 | 0.0% | 1 | — | — |
| 99 | CIP 27.0306In California → | 1 | 0.0% | 1 | $60,930 | $21,143 |
| 100 | CIP 40.0604In California → | 1 | 0.0% | 1 | $39,678 | $24,864 |
Top 25 schools in California
Ranked by graduates per year into this job. Graduate earnings are reported for 63 of the 197 schools in this state.
| # | School | Graduates / yr | Top feeder program | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Grad rate | Net price | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California - San Diego La Jolla, CA Public · 38 feeder programs | 4,642 | Cognitive Science, General | $39,839 | 86% | — | 27% |
| 2 | University of California - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA Public · 35 feeder programs | 3,405 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $28,242 | 93% | — | 9% |
| 3 | University of California - Berkeley Berkeley, CA Public · 31 feeder programs | 3,014 | Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology | $43,270 | 93% | — | 11% |
| 4 | University of California - Davis Davis, CA Public · 38 feeder programs | 2,568 | Neurobiology and Anatomy | $29,765 | 86% | — | 42% |
| 5 | University of California - Irvine Irvine, CA Public · 32 feeder programs | 2,183 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $25,388 | 87% | — | 29% |
| 6 | University of California - Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA Public · 22 feeder programs | 1,766 | Statistics, General | $55,110 | 83% | — | 33% |
| 7 | University of California - Riverside Riverside, CA Public · 21 feeder programs | 1,476 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $26,863 | 76% | — | 76% |
| 8 | University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA Private not-for-profit · 41 feeder programs | 1,406 | Human Biology | $23,405 | 92% | $26,873 | 10% |
| 9 | Santa Monica College Santa Monica, CA Public · 2 feeder programs | 1,365 | Biological and Physical Sciences | — | 36% | — | — |
| 10 | University of California - Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, CA Public · 23 feeder programs | 1,239 | Cognitive Science, General | $35,384 | 75% | — | 66% |
| 11 | Pasadena City College Pasadena, CA Public · 5 feeder programs | 1,235 | Biological and Physical Sciences | — | 48% | — | — |
| 12 | Los Angeles Pierce College Woodland Hills, CA Public · 4 feeder programs | 1,092 | Biological and Physical Sciences | — | 46% | — | — |
| 13 | Stanford University Stanford, CA Private not-for-profit · 24 feeder programs | 1,036 | Human Biology | $50,179 | 92% | $12,032 | 4% |
| 14 | Mt San Jacinto Community College District San Jacinto, CA Public · 5 feeder programs | 829 | Biological and Physical Sciences | $26,228 | 36% | — | — |
| 15 | Los Angeles Valley College Valley Glen, CA Public · 6 feeder programs | 826 | Biological and Physical Sciences | — | 32% | — | — |
| 16 | California State University - Long Beach Long Beach, CA Public · 15 feeder programs | 796 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $35,053 | 69% | — | 46% |
| 17 | Ventura College Ventura, CA Public · 5 feeder programs | 793 | Biological and Physical Sciences | — | 38% | — | — |
| 18 | Los Angeles Harbor College Wilmington, CA Public · 5 feeder programs | 715 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | — | 36% | — | — |
| 19 | Solano Community College Fairfield, CA Public · 6 feeder programs | 710 | Biological and Physical Sciences | — | 36% | — | — |
| 20 | San Jose State University San Jose, CA Public · 16 feeder programs | 704 | Data Science, General | — | 69% | — | 85% |
| 21 | San Diego State University San Diego, CA Public · 18 feeder programs | 690 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $33,597 | 76% | — | 36% |
| 22 | El Camino Community College District Torrance, CA Public · 8 feeder programs | 625 | Biological and Physical Sciences | — | 42% | — | — |
| 23 | Riverside City College Riverside, CA Public · 6 feeder programs | 617 | Biological and Physical Sciences | $33,201 | 37% | — | — |
| 24 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, CA Public · 11 feeder programs | 595 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $35,638 | 86% | — | 31% |
| 25 | Allan Hancock College Santa Maria, CA Public · 5 feeder programs | 583 | Biological and Physical Sciences | — | 26% | — | — |
All 197 schools in California
Every school in California 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of California - San Diego | La Jolla | Public | 4,642 | 38 |
| University of California - Los Angeles | Los Angeles | Public | 3,405 | 35 |
| University of California - Berkeley | Berkeley | Public | 3,014 | 31 |
| University of California - Davis | Davis | Public | 2,568 | 38 |
| University of California - Irvine | Irvine | Public | 2,183 | 32 |
| University of California - Santa Barbara | Santa Barbara | Public | 1,766 | 22 |
| University of California - Riverside | Riverside | Public | 1,476 | 21 |
| University of Southern California | Los Angeles | Private not-for-profit | 1,406 | 41 |
| Santa Monica College | Santa Monica | Public | 1,365 | 2 |
| University of California - Santa Cruz | Santa Cruz | Public | 1,239 | 23 |
| Pasadena City College | Pasadena | Public | 1,235 | 5 |
| Los Angeles Pierce College | Woodland Hills | Public | 1,092 | 4 |
| Stanford University | Stanford | Private not-for-profit | 1,036 | 24 |
| Mt San Jacinto Community College District | San Jacinto | Public | 829 | 5 |
| Los Angeles Valley College | Valley Glen | Public | 826 | 6 |
What natural sciences managers earn in California
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
U.S. median $167,220. California pays above the national figure.
1.00× means the state has its expected share of these jobs.
Metro areas in California
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 California
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 California.
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 Biological and Physical Sciences, which awarded 19,845 degrees in California in 2024-25, 29.0% 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 100 programs to this occupation. The largest are Biological and Physical Sciences, Biology, Mathematics, Physics, plus 42 more. Together they graduate about 68,455 people a year in California.
How much do natural sciences managers earn in California?+
The median is $210,230 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). That is 25.7% above 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 California?+
197 institutions in California reported graduates from at least one of the 100 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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