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Natural resource manager salary
Average natural resource manager salary
$72,463
Average Natural Resource Manager Salary
The current average salary for a Natural Resource Manager is approximately $72,463 annually, translating to about $35 per hour. Salaries in this field can fluctuate based on several factors, including years of experience, state, and industry. Entry-level positions may start at lower rates, while those with more experience can command higher compensation, particularly in specialized roles or in high-demand areas.
Where Natural Resource Managers Earn More
Geographic location plays a significant role in salary variations. States such as California and New York typically offer higher wages due to their higher cost of living and demand for natural resource management expertise. Additionally, sectors like environmental consulting and government agencies often provide more competitive salaries. Understanding these factors is essential for job seekers aiming to maximize their earning potential.
Highest Paying Industries
The industries where Natural Resource Managers earn the most include government agencies, environmental protection organizations, and consulting firms. These sectors prioritize sustainable practices, offering robust salaries to attract skilled professionals.
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Where can a Natural Resource Manager earn more?
Natural resource manager salary estimates from across the web
Average natural resource manager salary by state
The average natural resource manager salary in California, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average natural resource manager salary states are Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Vermont.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for natural resource managers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Virginia | $97,686 | $46.96 |
| 2 | Kentucky | $93,257 | $44.84 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | $97,291 | $46.77 |
| 4 | Virginia | $90,828 | $43.67 |
| 5 | California | $107,923 | $51.89 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $88,494 | $42.55 |
| 7 | Ohio | $96,710 | $46.50 |
| 8 | South Carolina | $92,820 | $44.63 |
| 9 | Delaware | $88,770 | $42.68 |
| 10 | North Dakota | $96,228 | $46.26 |
| 11 | Nevada | $81,801 | $39.33 |
| 12 | North Carolina | $87,383 | $42.01 |
| 13 | Maine | $83,999 | $40.38 |
| 14 | District of Columbia | $88,524 | $42.56 |
| 15 | Alabama | $87,224 | $41.93 |
| 16 | Indiana | $86,744 | $41.70 |
| 17 | Arizona | $84,613 | $40.68 |
| 18 | Oregon | $85,358 | $41.04 |
| 19 | South Dakota | $77,186 | $37.11 |
| 20 | Wisconsin | $86,118 | $41.40 |
| 21 | Minnesota | $86,827 | $41.74 |
| 22 | Colorado | $83,400 | $40.10 |
| 23 | Montana | $74,647 | $35.89 |
| 24 | Mississippi | $72,449 | $34.83 |
| 25 | Idaho | $75,896 | $36.49 |
| 26 | Tennessee | $71,568 | $34.41 |
| 27 | Louisiana | $82,148 | $39.49 |
| 28 | Wyoming | $71,915 | $34.57 |
| 29 | Illinois | $76,524 | $36.79 |
| 30 | Michigan | $75,626 | $36.36 |
| 31 | New Jersey | $82,675 | $39.75 |
| 32 | New Mexico | $71,139 | $34.20 |
| 33 | New York | $82,567 | $39.70 |
| 34 | Washington | $75,994 | $36.54 |
| 35 | Hawaii | $75,100 | $36.11 |
| 36 | Kansas | $71,271 | $34.26 |
| 37 | Maryland | $71,290 | $34.27 |
| 38 | Alaska | $63,264 | $30.42 |
| 39 | Connecticut | $71,242 | $34.25 |
| 40 | Iowa | $73,174 | $35.18 |
| 41 | Vermont | $68,117 | $32.75 |
| 42 | Georgia | $71,582 | $34.41 |
| 43 | Nebraska | $69,046 | $33.20 |
| 44 | Oklahoma | $69,044 | $33.19 |
| 45 | Missouri | $71,615 | $34.43 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $69,830 | $33.57 |
| 47 | Texas | $71,537 | $34.39 |
| 48 | Utah | $67,822 | $32.61 |
| 49 | New Hampshire | $69,824 | $33.57 |
| 50 | Massachusetts | $70,691 | $33.99 |
| 51 | Florida | $66,707 | $32.07 |
Highest paying cities for natural resource managers
The highest-paying cities for natural resource managers are San Mateo, CA, Morgantown, WV, and Cleveland, OH.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Mateo, CA | $110,412 | $53.08 |
| 2 | Morgantown, WV | $99,034 | $47.61 |
| 3 | Cleveland, OH | $97,839 | $47.04 |
| 4 | Philadelphia, PA | $97,690 | $46.97 |
| 5 | Arlington, VA | $91,286 | $43.89 |
| 6 | Minneapolis, MN | $86,925 | $41.79 |
| 7 | Indianapolis, IN | $86,769 | $41.72 |
| 8 | Milwaukee, WI | $86,416 | $41.55 |
| 9 | Charlotte, NC | $85,795 | $41.25 |
| 10 | Salem, OR | $85,535 | $41.12 |
| 11 | Lakewood, CO | $83,314 | $40.05 |
| 12 | New York, NY | $82,761 | $39.79 |
| 13 | Chicago, IL | $76,795 | $36.92 |
| 14 | Olympia, WA | $76,537 | $36.80 |
| 15 | Detroit, MI | $76,022 | $36.55 |
| 16 | Saint Louis, MO | $72,899 | $35.05 |
| 17 | Cheyenne, WY | $72,380 | $34.80 |
| 18 | Austin, TX | $72,294 | $34.76 |
| 19 | Overland Park, KS | $71,785 | $34.51 |
| 20 | Atlanta, GA | $71,625 | $34.44 |
Natural resource manager salary details
A natural resource manager's salary ranges from $50,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $102,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a natural resource manager's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $102,000 | $8,500 | $49 |
| 75th Percentile | $87,000 | $7,250 | $42 |
| Average | $72,463 | $6,039 | $35 |
| 25th Percentile | $60,000 | $5,000 | $29 |
| 10th Percentile | $50,000 | $4,167 | $24 |
Highest paying natural resource manager jobs
The highest paying types of natural resource managers are human resources vice president, senior human resources manager, and human resources lead.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Generalist | $46,518 | $3,876 | $22.36 | 8,585 |
| Office Manager Of Human Resources | $72,985 | $6,082 | $35.09 | 73,168 |
| Director Of Human Resources | $100,601 | $8,383 | $48.37 | 46,924 |
| Human Resources Vice President | $169,647 | $14,137 | $81.56 | 74,729 |
| Staffing Manager | $51,367 | $4,281 | $24.70 | 17,860 |
| Human Resources Consultant | $71,882 | $5,990 | $34.56 | 52,761 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for natural resource managers, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Mark Ashton
Senior Associate Dean of The Forest School; Morris K. Jesup Professor of Silviculture and Forest Ecology and Director of School Forests, Yale University
Top companies hiring natural resource managers now:
Which companies pay natural resource managers the most?
Natural resource manager salaries at JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Accenture are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average natural resource manager salary at companies like Forest and City of Seattle are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | JPMorgan Chase & Co. | $102,043 | $49.06 |
| 2 | Accenture | $91,335 | $43.91 |
| 3 | Forest Manufacturing Co | $84,314 | $40.54 |
| 4 | City of Seattle | $82,998 | $39.90 |
| 5 | University of California-Berkeley | $81,154 | $39.02 |
| 6 | City of Springfield | $77,140 | $37.09 |
| 7 | iHire | $76,629 | $36.84 |
| 8 | United States Army Corps of Engineers | $75,729 | $36.41 |
| 9 | Burns & McDonnell | $73,995 | $35.57 |
| 10 | Aon | $73,417 | $35.30 |
| 11 | Marin Water | $71,519 | $34.38 |
| 12 | GEI Consultants | $69,468 | $33.40 |
| 13 | Washington State University | $69,345 | $33.34 |
| 14 | The State of Oregon | $66,018 | $31.74 |
| 15 | West Virginia University | $65,855 | $31.66 |
| 16 | Howard County Government | $65,814 | $31.64 |
| 17 | Alaska State Library | $64,631 | $31.07 |
| 18 | State Of Illinois - Illinois Student Assistance Commission | $59,634 | $28.67 |
| 19 | Fresh Thyme | $57,773 | $27.78 |
| 20 | State Bar of Michigan | $56,403 | $27.12 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Natural Resource Manager salary by industry
The average natural resource manager salary varies across industries:
- The average natural resource manager salary in the technology industry is $82,077, the highest of any industry.
- The average natural resource manager salary in the finance industry is $81,876.
- Natural resource managers in the construction industry earn an average salary of $61,122, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for natural resource managers
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Technology | $82,077 | $39.46 |
| 2 | Insurance | $81,876 | $39.36 |
| 3 | Government | $68,889 | $33.12 |
| 4 | Construction | $61,122 | $29.39 |
High paying natural resource manager jobs
Natural resource manager salary trends
The average natural resource manager salary has risen by $5,082 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average natural resource manager earned $67,381 annually, but today, they earn $72,463 a year. That works out to a 4% change in pay for natural resource managers over the last decade.
Compare natural resource manager salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average natural resource manager salary over time
Compare natural resource manager salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Natural resource manager salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $72,500 | $34.84 | +2.1% |
| 2025 | $70,900 | $34.10 | +2.2% |
| 2024 | $69,400 | $33.36 | -0.3% |
| 2023 | $69,600 | $33.46 | -0.5% |
| 2022 | $70,000 | $33.64 | +1.1% |
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