Natural Sciences Major Guide: Overview and RoEDU™ Opportunities 2025

The Natural Sciences major builds core foundations in this discipline and prepares students with practical, career-relevant skills. Use RoEDU™ to find programs that match your goals.

Within Sciences, students often explore key subfields and specializations that provide targeted expertise.

Graduates translate classroom knowledge into real-world impact across sectors through hands-on projects and internships.

As part of Sciences, this major connects to diverse, high-demand fields and interdisciplinary pathways.

Salary Outlook

Entry-level salary
$94,720

Typical starting pay soon after graduation.

Mid-career salary (10y)
$149,759

Estimated after a decade of experience.

Experienced salary (20y)
$201,264

Seasoned professionals at ~20 years.

Weighted median over last 5 years
CAGR 5.1%

CAGR (compound annual growth rate) summarizes average yearly change across the observed period.

Estimated lifetime earnings

40 years, present value
$3,788,800

Employment-weighted across mapped SOCs; entry ≈ 85% of median; historical CAGR shown for last 5y; projections capped at 3% CAGR; lifetime is 40-year present value at 3% discount.

Career Opportunities & Salaries

Data from Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024) • Median wages, employment, and growth projections

OccupationMedian WageTotal JobsGrowth RateEducation
Natural Sciences Managers
SOC: 11-9121
Occupation: Natural Sciences Managers
$161,180
100,870
N/A
N/A
Life Scientists, All Other
SOC: 19-1099
Occupation: Life Scientists, All Other
$87,800
7,320
N/A
N/A
Physical Scientists, All Other
SOC: 19-2099
Occupation: Physical Scientists, All Other
$117,960
22,580
N/A
N/A
Postsecondary Teachers, All Other
SOC: 25-1199
Occupation: Postsecondary Teachers, All Other
$78,490
151,530
N/A
N/A

Historical Career Trends (2020-2024)

Historical data from Bureau of Labor Statistics (2020-2024) • Salary trends and employment growth over 5 years

Natural Sciences Managers

16.8%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$161,180100,870
2023$157,74096,520
2022$144,44082,570
2021$137,90074,760
2020$137,94075,870

Life Scientists, All Other

7.1%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$87,8007,320
2023$86,9507,490
2022$83,9308,320
2021$81,5006,820
2020$82,0006,540

Physical Scientists, All Other

10.0%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$117,96022,580
2023$112,28020,820
2022$107,97019,820
2021$104,10019,680
2020$107,21019,050

Postsecondary Teachers, All Other

9.1%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$78,490151,530
2023$79,870166,980
2022$76,920214,520
2021$78,160199,020
2020$71,950194,740

Colleges offering Natural Sciences

American Public University System

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$11k

Earnings

$61k

San Jose State University

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$14k

Earnings

$70k

Santa Clara University

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$50k

Earnings

$89k

Case Western Reserve University

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$42k

Earnings

$76k

University of Washington-Seattle Campus

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$12k

Earnings

$68k