Natural Resource Manager Salary in the United States

How much does a Natural Resource Manager make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Natural Resource Manager in the United States is $116,222 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $56.

However, a Natural Resource Manager's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $134,123
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $102,750 to $125,592
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $90,484

Key Factors That Influence Natural Resource Manager Salaries

A Natural Resource Manager's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Natural Resource Manager Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Natural Resource Manager's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $87,514
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $102,483
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $119,029
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $163,777
  • Expert (over 8 years): $187,084
Levels Salary
Environme... Level Natural Resource Manager$87,514
Environme... Level Natural Resource Manager$102,483
Natural R... Level Natural Resource Manager$119,029
Environme... Level Natural Resource Manager$163,777
Environme... Level Natural Resource Manager$187,084

Top Paying Cities for Natural Resource Managers

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $146,591
  • San Francisco: $144,986
  • Oakland: $141,930

What Skills Can Increase a Natural Resource Manager's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 5.13% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Environmental Science (Mentioned in 3.01% Job Postings): Environmental science refers to a grouping of scientific disciplines that are all concerned with the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of the surroundings in which organisms live.
  • Floor Care (Mentioned in 1.75% Job Postings): Floor cleaning is a major occupation throughout the world. The main job of most cleaners is to clean floors.
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 5.13%
Environmental Science 3.01%
Floor Care 1.75%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Natural Resource Manager's salary.

  • Due Diligence: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
  • Environmental Consulting: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Consulting: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Due Diligence $129,006
11%
Environmental Consulting $125,520
8%
Consulting $125,520
8%

Natural Resource Manager Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Natural Resource Manager roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 210% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Energy & Utilities and Aerospace & Defense sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 150% above the average. In contrast, Natural Resource Manager positions in Telecom or Media typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Natural Resource Manager as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Natural Resource Manager

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Energy & Utilities$290,555$140.0150%

How Education impacts a Natural Resource Manager's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Natural Resource Managers enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Natural Resource Manager with a Bachelor's Degree is between $132,523 and $143,007).

Natural Resource Manager Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Natural Resource Manager
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 4.0%
High School 4.0%
Associates 2.9%
Bachelors 44.6%
Masters 43.2%
Doctorate 5.4%

Natural Resource Manager Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Natural Resource Manager's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$102,750
Average $116,222/year
$125,592
$8,563
Average $9,685/month
$10,466
$1,976
Average $2,235/week
$2,415
$49
Average $56/hour
$60
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $125,592 $10,466 $2,415 $60
Average $116,222 $9,685 $2,235 $56
25th Percentile $102,750 $8,563 $1,976 $49

Most common benefits for Natural Resource Manager

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Natural Resource Manager

Here are companies hiring for Natural Resource Manager and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Natural Resource Manager

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Natural Resource Manager?

The Energy & Utilities industry offers the highest average compensation for Natural Resource Manager roles, with salaries approximately 150% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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