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Average Natural Sciences Manager Salary in United Kingdom for 2026

A natural sciences manager in United Kingdom earns about 146,700 GBP a year. That's 110% above the national average of 69,700 GBP.

Pay ranges widely from country to country and from role to role. The lowest reported salaries in United Kingdom sit around 65,900 GBP a year, while the very top stretches to 229,600 GBP. Everything on this page is in British pound (GBP, symbol £), which lets you compare numbers like-for-like without worrying about exchange rates.

The numbers here are pulled together from official government wage data, large independent salary surveys, and aggregated worker-reported pay. Most reported salaries include the benefits that are common in United Kingdom, such as housing or transport allowances, which is worth keeping in mind if you're comparing against a country where those are usually paid on top.

To turn a gross salary in United Kingdom into a take-home figure, use our United Kingdom salary after tax calculator, which works the latest tax brackets and contributions through the math for you.

How much does a natural sciences manager make in United Kingdom?

Average salary
146,700 GBP
12,225 GBP per month
Lowest reported
65,900 GBP
5,491 GBP per month
Highest reported
229,600 GBP
19,133 GBP per month

A typical natural sciences manager working in United Kingdom brings home around 12,225 GBP a month before tax. Entry-level pay starts near 65,900 GBP, and the top of the ladder reaches roughly 229,600 GBP for the most experienced and specialised people in the role.

The wide gap between low end and top end reflects how much pay can vary inside the same job title. A junior natural sciences manager working at a small local employer earns very different money from a senior at a multinational. Skills, employer, city and years in the seat all push the number around. For a cross-country comparison, see the natural sciences manager salary in Guernsey or Jersey, both of which pay in the same currency.

How natural sciences manager pay ranges in United Kingdom

A good way to think about salary in United Kingdom is to look at the distribution rather than the headline average. Half of all natural sciences managers in United Kingdom earn less than 156,200 GBP a year, and the other half earn more. That middle number is the median, and it is usually more useful than the average for answering "is my pay normal here".

Looking at the quartiles fills in the picture. A quarter of earners take home less than 99,700 GBP (the 25th percentile), and a quarter clear 210,600 GBP (the 75th percentile). The middle 50% of natural sciences managers sit somewhere inside that band, which is where the typical reader of this page probably lives.

The very lowest reported salaries sit around 65,900 GBP. The highest stretch to 229,600 GBP, though only a small fraction of earners ever reach that level. If you are deciding whether your own offer or current pay is reasonable, work out which of those four bands you would fall into and use that as your reference point.

65,900
Low
156,200
Median
229,600
High
99,700
25th
210,600
75th
The middle 50% sit between the 25th and 75th percentile Tails are the lowest and highest reported All figures in GBP

Natural sciences manager pay by experience in United Kingdom

Years of experience is the single biggest lever on pay for a natural sciences manager in United Kingdom, ahead of education and almost any other single factor. The longer you have been in the role, the more your employer can trust you to handle complexity, mentor others and act independently, all of which command higher pay. The chart below shows how the typical natural sciences manager salary changes as you move through the career ladder.

  • 0-2 Years
    75,400 GBP
  • 2-5 Years
    +34% from previous
    100,700 GBP
  • 5-10 Years
    +49% from previous
    150,100 GBP
  • 10-15 Years
    +23% from previous
    183,900 GBP
  • 15-20 Years
    +9% from previous
    199,700 GBP
  • 20+ Years
    +8% from previous
    216,300 GBP

The single largest jump on the ladder is from 2 - 5 Years to 5 - 10 Years, where pay rises by about 49%. That is the point at which a natural sciences manager typically goes from "competent in the role" to "the person other people in the team learn from", and the market pays well for that step.

Natural sciences manager pay by education in United Kingdom

Education sits alongside experience as one of the biggest factors driving natural sciences manager pay in United Kingdom. Higher qualifications consistently pull higher salaries, but the size of the gap tends to be smallest at junior levels and widens as people move up. Two people in the same role with the same years of experience but different degrees can end up earning very different money once they reach mid-career.

Below is the average natural sciences manager salary in United Kingdom broken down by the highest level of education a worker has completed.

  • Bachelor's Degree
    87,000 GBP
  • Master's Degree
    +58% from previous
    137,100 GBP
  • PhD
    +65% from previous
    226,100 GBP

Natural sciences manager gender pay gap in United Kingdom

The gender pay gap is a stubborn feature of almost every labour market, and United Kingdom is no exception. Male natural sciences managers in United Kingdom earn an average of 146,900 GBP a year, while female natural sciences managers earn around 140,200 GBP. That works out to a 5% gap in favour of men, even when comparing people doing the same work.

A pay gap of this size has a real long-term cost. Over a typical thirty-year career it can add up to several years of pay, and it compounds through pensions, retirement contributions and bonus-linked stock. Some of the gap is explained by women being more likely to work part-time, take career breaks, or be steered toward lower-paying specialisations. Some of it is straightforward unequal pay for the same job, which is harder to defend.

Natural Sciences Manager gender pay gap

5%

Men earn this much more than women on average in United Kingdom.

Men 146,900 GBP
Women 140,200 GBP

Pay raises for a natural sciences manager in United Kingdom

Most countries hand out at least some kind of pay raise every year, typically when an employee's contract is reviewed or as a cost-of-living adjustment to keep wages roughly in step with inflation. The rhythm and size of those raises varies hugely between industries.

A typical worker doing this role in United Kingdom sees a raise of about 13% every 16 months, which works out to roughly 10% on an annual basis. That figure is the typical underlying rate; in years where inflation runs high you can usually expect a bit more, and in flat-economy years a bit less.

Across all jobs in United Kingdom, the national average raise is around 9% every 15 months.

By industry

Industries with the highest pay raises in United Kingdom:

  • Banking
  • Energy
  • Information Technology
  • Healthcare
  • Travel
  • Construction
  • Education

By experience level

Experienced workers tend to see larger raises. Retaining a senior is cheaper than replacing them, so employers fight harder for them.

  • Junior Level
    3% - 5%
  • Mid-Career
  • Senior Level
  • Top Management

Natural sciences manager bonus rates in United Kingdom

Bonuses are the other half of total compensation, and they vary a lot between jobs and industries. Some roles are paid almost entirely in base salary; others lean heavily on bonus structures tied to revenue, project completion or company performance. Whether a job pays a bonus, how big it is, and how often it lands all factor into whether the headline salary is actually a good offer.

64%

64% of natural sciences managers in United Kingdom reported a bonus of some kind in the past twelve months. That makes a natural sciences manager a moderate-bonus role overall, which is useful context when you're weighing up a job offer where the base is below market.

Among those who did receive a bonus, the size of the payment varied substantially. Reported bonuses ranged from 2% to 7% of base salary. The remaining 36% of natural sciences managers reported no bonus at all over the same period.

Which careers pay bonuses in United Kingdom

Revenue-facing roles tend to pay the biggest bonuses. Operational and support roles tend toward smaller, more predictable ones.

  • Finance
  • Architecture
  • Sales
  • Business Development
  • Marketing / Advertising
  • Information Technology
  • Healthcare
  • Insurance
  • Customer Service
  • Human Resources
  • Construction
  • Transport
  • Hospitality

Natural sciences manager: public vs private sector pay

Public-sector pay in United Kingdom is about 7% more than private-sector pay for similar work. The private sector typically offers stronger upside and bigger bonuses; the public sector typically offers better benefits and stability.

Public vs private pay gap

6%

Public-sector workers earn this much more than private-sector workers in United Kingdom on average.

Public sector 72,700 GBP
Private sector 68,200 GBP

Natural sciences manager salary by city and region in United Kingdom

Natural sciences manager pay is not even across United Kingdom. The chart below shows the highest-paying cities and regions in the dataset, followed by the full location table.

  • England
  • Scotland
  • London
  • Birmingham
  • Sheffield
  • Glasgow
  • Bristol
  • Leeds
  • Liverpool
  • Leicester
LocationTypeAverageMedianRange
EnglandRegion285,300 GBP308,400 GBP130,500-454,400 GBP
ScotlandRegion195,500 GBP200,600 GBP94,800-305,200 GBP
LondonCity172,100 GBP185,900 GBP80,800-274,700 GBP
BirminghamCity171,300 GBP184,700 GBP80,200-272,500 GBP
SheffieldCity169,700 GBP184,700 GBP78,900-271,300 GBP
GlasgowCity168,700 GBP161,300 GBP88,600-257,700 GBP
BristolCity167,100 GBP183,900 GBP78,200-267,200 GBP
LeedsCity165,900 GBP158,700 GBP87,700-252,500 GBP
LiverpoolCity163,800 GBP158,900 GBP84,600-253,400 GBP
LeicesterCity163,800 GBP177,100 GBP74,700-263,700 GBP
CardiffCity163,500 GBP156,200 GBP87,200-250,600 GBP
SomersetCity160,700 GBP152,900 GBP81,300-243,000 GBP
ManchesterCity158,900 GBP160,600 GBP78,500-246,200 GBP
EdinburghCity158,700 GBP161,300 GBP76,800-247,400 GBP
PortsmouthCity157,600 GBP167,100 GBP73,100-247,400 GBP
NewcastleCity157,600 GBP151,800 GBP79,800-238,200 GBP
CoventryCity153,800 GBP153,700 GBP76,000-238,300 GBP
Kingston upon HullCity153,800 GBP153,700 GBP75,000-235,300 GBP
AberdeenCity153,800 GBP147,900 GBP78,700-232,500 GBP
BradfordCity153,800 GBP153,700 GBP73,800-235,300 GBP
SwanseaCity153,700 GBP150,100 GBP80,000-238,300 GBP
DerbyCity152,900 GBP148,300 GBP79,000-233,800 GBP
NottinghamCity152,900 GBP157,600 GBP76,000-238,300 GBP
BrightonCity152,900 GBP148,300 GBP79,600-233,600 GBP
PeterboroughCity152,700 GBP165,900 GBP72,400-245,600 GBP
ArmaghCity151,800 GBP142,300 GBP79,600-228,200 GBP
PlymouthCity150,100 GBP153,800 GBP71,200-231,400 GBP
BelfastCity150,100 GBP160,600 GBP68,900-236,700 GBP
YorkCity147,900 GBP146,900 GBP71,600-226,100 GBP
SouthamptonCity146,900 GBP151,800 GBP72,700-229,600 GBP
OxfordCity146,900 GBP140,200 GBP75,100-225,500 GBP
NorwichCity146,900 GBP160,700 GBP66,100-233,800 GBP
PooleCity146,700 GBP140,700 GBP77,000-222,300 GBP
WolverhamptonCity146,700 GBP157,600 GBP67,400-229,000 GBP
StirlingCity142,100 GBP134,700 GBP71,400-216,300 GBP
GloucesterCity142,100 GBP134,700 GBP74,000-216,300 GBP
ChesterCity141,000 GBP153,800 GBP63,700-222,700 GBP
NewportCity141,000 GBP151,800 GBP66,000-222,300 GBP
DurhamCity140,700 GBP151,800 GBP65,200-219,500 GBP
LincolnCity140,700 GBP140,200 GBP70,100-218,500 GBP
HartlepoolCity140,200 GBP152,700 GBP65,400-225,500 GBP
DerryCity139,100 GBP142,100 GBP66,200-216,300 GBP
DundeeCity139,100 GBP150,100 GBP62,600-218,100 GBP
LisburnCity139,100 GBP132,000 GBP73,100-212,500 GBP
WalesRegion139,100 GBP130,400 GBP69,800-210,400 GBP
ExeterCity138,700 GBP141,000 GBP67,500-213,800 GBP
WinchesterCity137,100 GBP128,400 GBP69,600-206,700 GBP
SalisburyCity134,700 GBP128,400 GBP71,700-206,700 GBP
CambridgeCity134,700 GBP139,100 GBP66,900-210,400 GBP
NewryCity134,100 GBP142,300 GBP61,600-211,200 GBP
CanterburyCity130,500 GBP127,700 GBP69,700-199,700 GBP
WakefieldCity130,500 GBP141,000 GBP58,000-205,400 GBP
TruroCity130,400 GBP128,200 GBP69,400-201,000 GBP
Northern IrelandRegion130,400 GBP128,200 GBP69,400-201,000 GBP
St DavidsCity127,700 GBP127,600 GBP63,200-195,200 GBP
InvernessCity127,700 GBP137,100 GBP58,500-200,600 GBP
KirkwallCity127,700 GBP130,500 GBP60,600-195,500 GBP
RiponCity127,700 GBP130,500 GBP61,700-195,500 GBP
BangorCity127,600 GBP130,500 GBP61,400-200,600 GBP
StrontianCity124,500 GBP127,700 GBP60,700-191,100 GBP
WellsCity123,800 GBP127,600 GBP63,200-193,200 GBP
AbingdonCity123,800 GBP127,600 GBP59,900-193,200 GBP
StromnessCity121,800 GBP128,400 GBP54,100-192,600 GBP

Natural Sciences Manager in United Kingdom: FAQs

  • How much does a natural sciences manager make per month in United Kingdom?

    A natural sciences manager in United Kingdom earns about 12,225 GBP a month before tax, based on an annual average of 146,700 GBP.

  • What's the salary range for a natural sciences manager in United Kingdom?

    Entry-level natural sciences managers in United Kingdom start near 65,900 GBP. Top-end pay reaches around 229,600 GBP. The middle 50% of earners sit between 99,700 and 210,600 GBP.

  • Is the median natural sciences manager salary in United Kingdom higher or lower than the average?

    The median is 156,200 GBP, higher than the average of 146,700 GBP. Half of natural sciences managers in United Kingdom earn below the median, half earn above it.

  • What's the gender pay gap for natural sciences managers in United Kingdom?

    Men working as a natural sciences manager in United Kingdom earn around 5% more than women on average (146,900 vs 140,200 GBP a year).

  • Do natural sciences managers in United Kingdom get bonuses?

    About 64% of natural sciences managers in United Kingdom reported a bonus in the past 12 months. Reported bonuses ranged from 2% to 7% of base salary.

  • Do natural sciences managers earn more in the public or private sector in United Kingdom?

    In United Kingdom, the public sector pays a natural sciences manager about 7% more on average. Public-sector pay tends to be steadier; private-sector pay tends to offer bigger upside.

  • How often do natural sciences managers in United Kingdom get a pay raise?

    A natural sciences manager in United Kingdom sees a raise of around 13% every 16 months, equivalent to roughly 10% a year.