District of Columbia·Management Occupations·SOC 11-9121

Best Natural Sciences Manager programs in District of Columbia, ranked by enrollment

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, statistics, and research and development in these.

9 schools in District of Columbia run programs that feed this job, graduating 1,832 people a year. The job pays a median of $156,730 in District of Columbia across about 1,540 jobs (BLS OEWS May 2025).

Also calledResearch CoordinatorClinical Trial ManagerWater Resources PlannerClinical Program ManagerNatural Sciences ManagerClinical Research CoordinatorEnvironmental Program ManagerChemical Process Exploration Manager
Graduates / yr
1,832
in District of Columbia
Median pay · District of Columbia
$156,730
BLS OEWS May 2025
Jobs in state
1,540
people employed
Schools
9
with a feeder program
Avg graduation rate
66%
across those schools
Median net price
$27,724
per year, IPEDS

Fields of study in District of Columbia that lead to this job

Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level. Numbers are graduates per year in this state.

Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.01
Biology
458graduates / yr
8 schools · 1 specialization · 25.0% of pipeline
Grad earnings $32,152
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
CIP 30.70
Data Science
266graduates / yr
4 schools · 2 specializations · 14.5% of pipeline
Grad earnings
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
CIP 30.30
Computational Science
128graduates / yr
1 schools · 1 specialization · 7.0% of pipeline
Grad earnings $50,745
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.15
Neurobiology and Neurosciences
121graduates / yr
4 schools · 2 specializations · 6.6% of pipeline
Grad earnings $31,687
Physical Sciences
CIP 40.05
Chemistry
97graduates / yr
7 schools · 2 specializations · 5.3% of pipeline
Grad earnings $42,620
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.02
Biochemistry
96graduates / yr
4 schools · 5 specializations · 5.2% of pipeline
Grad earnings $38,243
Mathematics And Statistics
CIP 27.01
Mathematics
88graduates / yr
7 schools · 1 specialization · 4.8% of pipeline
Grad earnings $48,772
Mathematics And Statistics
CIP 27.05
Statistics
85graduates / yr
2 schools · 3 specializations · 4.7% of pipeline
Grad earnings $59,718
Physical Sciences
CIP 40.08
Physics
83graduates / yr
5 schools · 2 specializations · 4.5% of pipeline
Grad earnings $47,156
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.12
Biotechnology
64graduates / yr
3 schools · 1 specialization · 3.5% of pipeline
Grad earnings $49,023
Mathematics And Statistics
CIP 27.03
Applied Mathematics
59graduates / yr
2 schools · 2 specializations · 3.2% of pipeline
Grad earnings $60,930
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
CIP 30.33
Sustainability Studies
54graduates / yr
2 schools · 1 specialization · 2.9% of pipeline
Grad earnings $37,223
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.05
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology
53graduates / yr
2 schools · 4 specializations · 2.9% of pipeline
Grad earnings $38,383
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
CIP 30.01
Biological and Physical Sciences
45graduates / yr
1 schools · 1 specialization · 2.5% of pipeline
Grad earnings $28,446
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.11
Biomathematics
28graduates / yr
2 schools · 1 specialization · 1.5% of pipeline
Grad earnings $72,338
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
CIP 30.19
Nutrition Sciences
25graduates / yr
3 schools · 1 specialization · 1.4% of pipeline
Grad earnings $30,508
Health Professions And Related Programs
CIP 51.14
Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies
21graduates / yr
2 schools · 1 specialization · 1.1% of pipeline
Grad earnings $223,926
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.13
Ecology
17graduates / yr
1 schools · 1 specialization · 0.9% of pipeline
Grad earnings $29,460
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.10
Pharmacology and Toxicology
14graduates / yr
1 schools · 1 specialization · 0.8% of pipeline
Grad earnings $39,202
Mathematics And Statistics
CIP 27.99
Mathematics and Statistics
11graduates / yr
1 schools · 1 specialization · 0.6% of pipeline
Grad earnings $59,063
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
CIP 30.44
Geography and Environmental Studies
5graduates / yr
1 schools · 1 specialization · 0.3% of pipeline
Grad earnings
Physical Sciences
CIP 40.02
Astronomy and Astrophysics
3graduates / yr
1 schools · 1 specialization · 0.2% of pipeline
Grad earnings $39,728
Physical Sciences
CIP 40.04
Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology
3graduates / yr
1 schools · 1 specialization · 0.2% of pipeline
Grad earnings $41,430
Physical Sciences
CIP 40.06
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
3graduates / yr
1 schools · 1 specialization · 0.2% of pipeline
Grad earnings $39,678
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
CIP 30.15
Science
2graduates / yr
1 schools · 1 specialization · 0.1% of pipeline
Grad earnings $44,736
Physical Sciences
CIP 40.99
Physical Sciences
2graduates / yr
1 schools · 1 specialization · 0.1% of pipeline
Grad earnings $47,513
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.08
Genetics
1graduates / yr
1 schools · 1 specialization · 0.1% of pipeline
Grad earnings $31,800

41 programs in District of Columbia that lead to this job

Ranked by graduates per year in District of Columbia (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 District of Columbia page.

Degree programs that lead to this occupation, ranked by graduates per year
#ProgramGraduates / yrShare of pipelineSchoolsGrad earnings (1 yr)Median debt
1458
25.0%
8$32,152$25,000
2251
13.7%
4
3128
7.0%
1$50,745$27,000
4102
5.6%
4$31,687$22,936
595
5.2%
7$42,620$23,900
688
4.8%
7$48,772$21,544
777
4.2%
5$47,156$23,490
8
Biotechnologymain feeder
64
3.5%
3$49,023$21,309
954
2.9%
2$37,223$20,968
1051
2.8%
1$60,930$21,143
1145
2.5%
1$28,446$11,000
1238
2.1%
2$59,718$20,150
1333
1.8%
2$38,383$22,065
1429
1.6%
4$38,243$23,014
1528
1.5%
2$72,338$18,500
1626
1.4%
1$38,243$23,014
1725
1.4%
3$30,508$24,586
1824
1.3%
1$59,718$20,150
1923
1.3%
1$59,718$20,150
2021
1.1%
2$223,926$16,250
2120
1.1%
1$38,243$23,014
2219
1.0%
1$31,687$22,936
2317
0.9%
1$29,460$23,480
2416
0.9%
2$38,383$22,065
2515
0.8%
1$38,243$23,014
2615
0.8%
1
2714
0.8%
1$39,202$18,000
2811
0.6%
1$59,063$21,500
298
0.4%
2$60,930$21,143
306
0.3%
2$38,243$23,014
316
0.3%
1$47,156$23,490
325
0.3%
1
333
0.2%
1$39,728$24,678
343
0.2%
1$41,430$25,500
353
0.2%
1$39,678$24,864
362
0.1%
1$44,736$18,593
372
0.1%
2$38,383$22,065
382
0.1%
1$38,383$22,065
392
0.1%
1$42,620$23,900
402
0.1%
1$47,513$24,000
411
0.1%
1$31,800$21,424

Top 9 schools in District of Columbia

Ranked by graduates per year into this job. Graduate earnings are reported for 1 of the 9 schools in this state.

Schools ranked by graduates per year into this occupation
#SchoolGraduates / yrTop feeder programGrad earnings (1 yr)Grad rateNet priceAcceptance
1Georgetown University
Washington, DC Private not-for-profit · 22 feeder programs
637Computational Science95%$22,24213%
2George Washington University
Washington, DC Private not-for-profit · 23 feeder programs
534Data Science, General84%$29,78947%
3Howard University
Washington, DC Private not-for-profit · 8 feeder programs
315Biology/Biological Sciences, General$28,69670%$48,19441%
4American University
Washington, DC Private not-for-profit · 14 feeder programs
256Data Science, General75%$30,22562%
5The Catholic University of America
Washington, DC Private not-for-profit · 7 feeder programs
46Physics, General79%$27,72483%
6University of the District of Columbia
Washington, DC Public · 4 feeder programs
17Biology/Biological Sciences, General33%
7Gallaudet University
Washington, DC Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs
12Biology/Biological Sciences, General47%$14,38258%
8Trinity Washington University
Washington, DC Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs
12Biology/Biological Sciences, General49%$14,841100%
9NewU University
Washington, DC Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs
3Data Science, General

All 9 schools in District of Columbia

Every school in District of Columbia 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.

All schools in District of Columbia that feed this occupation
SchoolCityControlGraduates / yrFeeder programs
Georgetown UniversityWashingtonPrivate not-for-profit63722
George Washington UniversityWashingtonPrivate not-for-profit53423
Howard UniversityWashingtonPrivate not-for-profit3158
American UniversityWashingtonPrivate not-for-profit25614
The Catholic University of AmericaWashingtonPrivate not-for-profit467
University of the District of ColumbiaWashingtonPublic174
Gallaudet UniversityWashingtonPrivate not-for-profit123
Trinity Washington UniversityWashingtonPrivate not-for-profit123
NewU UniversityWashingtonPrivate not-for-profit32

What natural sciences managers earn in District of Columbia

What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.

Median annual in District of Columbia
$156,730
Mean annual
$153,450
Jobs in state
1,540
What the range looks like
10th pct$79,390Median$156,73090th pct$195,190
Versus the national median
-6.3%

U.S. median $167,220. District of Columbia pays below the national figure.

Job concentration
3.14×

Concentrated here: District of Columbia employs more of this job per worker than the U.S. average.

Metro areas in District of Columbia

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
$169,060median
5,890 jobs

Job outlook

Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.

Projected growth 2024–34
+3.7%
About as fast as average
Openings per year
8,500
new jobs plus replacements
Employment change
3,900
104,300 → 108,200
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree

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

Reading ComprehensionActive ListeningWritingSpeakingCritical ThinkingMonitoring

The same job in other states

Where else this occupation employs the most people, and what it pays there.

Related careers in District of Columbia

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 District of Columbia.

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 458 degrees in District of Columbia in 2024-25, 25.0% 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 41 programs to this occupation. The largest are Biology, Data Science, Computational Science, Neurobiology and Neurosciences, plus 23 more. Together they graduate about 1,832 people a year in District of Columbia.

How much do natural sciences managers earn in District of Columbia?+

The median is $156,730 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). That is 6.3% 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 District of Columbia?+

9 institutions in District of Columbia 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 2025

    Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.

  • BLS Employment Projections

    2024–34

    Projected 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 cohorts

    Median graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.

  • Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes

    latest available

    Graduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.

  • NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk

    CIP 2020 / SOC 2018

    Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.

  • O*NET Database 30.3

    30.3

    Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.

    Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA

All Clema data sources and release dates →

Explore every U.S. college in one conversation

Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.

Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card