Salary AI Book a Demo

Natural Resources Manager Salary in the United States

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

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Natural Resources Manager in the United States is $116,473 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $56.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $134,412
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $102,971 to $125,863
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $90,678
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Natural Resources Manager Salaries

A Natural Resources 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 Resources Manager Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Natural Resources 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): $87,703
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $102,704
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $119,286
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $164,131
  • Expert (over 8 years): $187,488
Levels Salary
Environme... Level Natural Resources Manager$87,703
Environme... Level Natural Resources Manager$102,704
Natural R... Level Natural Resources Manager$119,286
Environme... Level Natural Resources Manager$164,131
Environme... Level Natural Resources Manager$187,488
View as Graph

How Do Natural Resources Manager Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Natural Resources Managers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $128,959.
  • California: $128,470.
  • Massachusetts: $126,758.

Top Paying Cities for Natural Resources 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: $146,907
  • San Francisco: $145,299
  • Oakland: $142,237

What Skills Can Increase a Natural Resources 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%
See More Skills

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 Resources 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 $129,285
11%
Environmental Consulting $125,791
8%
Consulting $125,791
8%
Get Latest Data

Natural Resources Manager Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Natural Resources 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 Resources Manager positions in Telecom or Media typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Natural Resources Manager as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Natural Resources Manager

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Energy & Utilities$291,182$140.0150%

How Education impacts a Natural Resources Manager's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Natural Resources 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 Resources Manager with a Bachelor's Degree is between $132,523 and $143,007).

Natural Resources Manager Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Natural Resources 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%
View as Graph

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

Understanding how a Natural Resources 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
$102,971
Average $116,473/year
$125,863
$8,581
Average $9,706/month
$10,489
$1,980
Average $2,240/week
$2,420
$50
Average $56/hour
$61
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $125,863 $10,489 $2,420 $61
Average $116,473 $9,706 $2,240 $56
25th Percentile $102,971 $8,581 $1,980 $50

Most common benefits for Natural Resources Manager

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

Common company salaries for Natural Resources Manager

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

Find Your Next Natural Resources Manager Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Natural Resources Manager job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

For Employees

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Get a Salary Increase

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

Search Job Openings

For Employers

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Adjust Employee Salary

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Price My Industry Jobs

FAQ about Natural Resources Manager

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

The Energy & Utilities industry offers the highest average compensation for Natural Resources 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.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst