Natural Sciences Managers vs Purchasing Managers: $167K vs $148K Median Pay

Natural Sciences Managers vs Purchasing Managers: what changes?

Consider Natural Sciences Managers if you want to plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, statistics, and research and development in these fields. Consider Purchasing Managers if you would rather plan, direct, or coordinate the activities of buyers, purchasing officers, and related workers involved in purchasing materials, products, and services. Both list bachelor's degree; compare training and prior experience separately. Prior experience in a related occupation is typically needed for Natural Sciences Managers (5 years or more) and Purchasing Managers (5 years or more).

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Natural Sciences Managers and Purchasing Managers. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences

Natural Sciences Managers

National median pay (2025): $167,220
Route into the job: Bachelor's degree; Prior related experience: 5 years or more
Prior related experience: Prior related experience: 5 years or more.
Training and licensing: BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate: Hire, supervise, or evaluate engineers, technicians, researchers, or other staff.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 9,200

Know before you choose

BLS lists 5 years or more of related experience. This is normally reached through feeder roles, not directly from school.

See the full Natural Sciences Managers brief

Purchasing Managers

National median pay (2025): $148,080
Route into the job: Bachelor's degree; Prior related experience: 5 years or more
Prior related experience: Prior related experience: 5 years or more.
Training and licensing: BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate: Develop and implement purchasing and contract management instructions, policies, and procedures.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 6,400

Know before you choose

BLS lists 5 years or more of related experience. This is normally reached through feeder roles, not directly from school.

See the full Purchasing Managers brief

How the national numbers differ

Natural Sciences Managers has the edge on projected growth

Natural Sciences Managers is at 8.2% projected growth, compared with 4% projected growth for Purchasing Managers.

Typical preparation differs.

Natural Sciences Managers: Bachelor's degree; Prior related experience: 5 years or more Purchasing Managers: Bachelor's degree; Prior related experience: 5 years or more Preparation categories do not establish admission difficulty, calendar time, tuition, time without earnings, or licensing difficulty.

Natural Sciences Managers has the edge on annual openings

Natural Sciences Managers is at 9,200 annual openings, compared with 6,400 annual openings for Purchasing Managers.

Natural Sciences Managers has the edge on median pay

Natural Sciences Managers is at $167,220, compared with $148,080 for Purchasing Managers.

71.3/ 100

Natural Sciences Managers

65.2/ 100

Purchasing Managers

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence

Natural Sciences Managers vs Purchasing Managers

Dimension	Natural Sciences Managers	Purchasing Managers
Median pay (2025)	$167,220	$148,080
Pay percentile	96.4 percentile	94.8 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)	8.2%	4%
Annual openings (2025–2035)	9,200	6,400
2025 employment	112,200	88,300
How you qualify	Bachelor's degree; Prior related experience: 5 years or more	Bachelor's degree; Prior related experience: 5 years or more
O*NET preparation group	Job Zone 5	Job Zone 4
Related work experience	Prior related experience: 5 years or more.	Prior related experience: 5 years or more.
On-the-job training	BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.	BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.

The table reports national benchmarks and reviewed work descriptions. It does not rate personal suitability, job security, or physical safety.

Read Natural Sciences Managers brief Read Purchasing Managers brief

Natural Sciences Managers vs Purchasing Managers: what changes?

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Natural Sciences Managers

Purchasing Managers

How the national numbers differ

Natural Sciences Managers has the edge on projected growth

Typical preparation differs.

Natural Sciences Managers has the edge on annual openings

Natural Sciences Managers has the edge on median pay

Natural Sciences Managers vs Purchasing Managers

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