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Medicinal chemist salary
Average medicinal chemist salary
$65,248
Understanding Medicinal Chemist Salaries
The average salary for a Medicinal Chemist in the United States is approximately $65,248 per year. However, this figure can differ significantly based on several factors such as geographical location, level of education, and years of experience. For instance, states like California and Massachusetts tend to offer higher salaries, reflecting the demand for skilled professionals in these areas.
In addition to location, the specific sector can influence earning potential. Medicinal Chemists working in pharmaceuticals typically earn more than those in academia or government roles. Experience also plays a critical role; entry-level positions may start lower, but as professionals gain expertise, they can command higher wages.
To gain deeper insights, prospective Medicinal Chemists can utilize salary comparison tools and industry reports. This information helps them make informed career decisions, ensuring they choose paths that align with their financial goals and professional aspirations.
Job Opportunities
Job seekers can explore various platforms, including Zippia, to find current openings and apply for roles. With the right qualifications and experience, the field offers numerous pathways for career advancement and salary growth.
Let Zippi find your next medicinal chemist job
Let Zippi find your next medicinal chemist job
Where can a Medicinal Chemist earn more?
Medicinal chemist salary estimates from across the web
Average medicinal chemist salary by state
The highest-paying states for medicinal chemists are Delaware, Vermont, and Washington. The lowest average medicinal chemist salary states are Arkansas, Nebraska, and North Carolina.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for medicinal chemists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delaware | $89,129 | $42.85 |
| 2 | Washington | $81,707 | $39.28 |
| 3 | Vermont | $86,804 | $41.73 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $75,158 | $36.13 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $73,179 | $35.18 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $76,383 | $36.72 |
| 7 | District of Columbia | $85,143 | $40.93 |
| 8 | Maryland | $74,467 | $35.80 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $67,975 | $32.68 |
| 10 | Missouri | $68,084 | $32.73 |
| 11 | Michigan | $70,681 | $33.98 |
| 12 | Tennessee | $72,039 | $34.63 |
| 13 | Ohio | $68,329 | $32.85 |
| 14 | Virginia | $71,487 | $34.37 |
| 15 | California | $68,433 | $32.90 |
| 16 | Oklahoma | $73,434 | $35.30 |
| 17 | Texas | $67,306 | $32.36 |
| 18 | Indiana | $64,662 | $31.09 |
| 19 | Connecticut | $64,813 | $31.16 |
| 20 | Iowa | $62,675 | $30.13 |
| 21 | West Virginia | $67,461 | $32.43 |
| 22 | Utah | $63,265 | $30.42 |
| 23 | New Mexico | $61,794 | $29.71 |
| 24 | Kentucky | $63,548 | $30.55 |
| 25 | South Carolina | $64,275 | $30.90 |
| 26 | Montana | $62,346 | $29.97 |
| 27 | Kansas | $61,291 | $29.47 |
| 28 | Idaho | $60,758 | $29.21 |
| 29 | Pennsylvania | $56,393 | $27.11 |
| 30 | Alaska | $62,504 | $30.05 |
| 31 | North Dakota | $56,942 | $27.38 |
| 32 | Wisconsin | $55,037 | $26.46 |
| 33 | Minnesota | $58,112 | $27.94 |
| 34 | Illinois | $58,277 | $28.02 |
| 35 | Georgia | $59,542 | $28.63 |
| 36 | Oregon | $56,168 | $27.00 |
| 37 | New York | $55,514 | $26.69 |
| 38 | Colorado | $59,660 | $28.68 |
| 39 | Maine | $56,119 | $26.98 |
| 40 | Alabama | $55,633 | $26.75 |
| 41 | North Carolina | $50,195 | $24.13 |
| 42 | Arizona | $55,903 | $26.88 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $51,546 | $24.78 |
| 44 | Louisiana | $56,903 | $27.36 |
| 45 | Mississippi | $55,149 | $26.51 |
| 46 | Hawaii | $54,153 | $26.04 |
| 47 | Nevada | $54,230 | $26.07 |
| 48 | Nebraska | $50,723 | $24.39 |
| 49 | Wyoming | $45,275 | $21.77 |
| 50 | Florida | $39,316 | $18.90 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $42,962 | $20.65 |
Highest paying cities for medicinal chemists
The highest-paying cities for medicinal chemists are San Francisco, CA, Waltham, MA, and Danbury, CT.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $74,938 | $36.03 |
| 2 | Waltham, MA | $73,098 | $35.14 |
| 3 | Danbury, CT | $64,932 | $31.22 |
| 4 | Ames, IA | $62,297 | $29.95 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $55,602 | $26.73 |
| 6 | Jupiter, FL | $38,706 | $18.61 |
Medicinal chemist salary details
A medicinal chemist's salary ranges from $44,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $96,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a medicinal chemist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $96,000 | $8,000 | $46 |
| 75th Percentile | $80,000 | $6,667 | $38 |
| Average | $65,248 | $5,437 | $31 |
| 25th Percentile | $53,000 | $4,417 | $25 |
| 10th Percentile | $44,000 | $3,667 | $21 |
Highest paying medicinal chemist jobs
The highest paying types of medicinal chemists are senior research chemist, senior chemist, and analytical research chemist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chemist, Development | $71,571 | $5,964 | $34.41 | 57,547 |
| Research And Development Chemist | $77,233 | $6,436 | $37.13 | 100,225 |
| Quality Assurance Chemist | $59,242 | $4,937 | $28.48 | 66,457 |
| Analytical Research Chemist | $81,763 | $6,814 | $39.31 | 62,289 |
| Laboratory Chemist | $62,702 | $5,225 | $30.15 | 41,322 |
| Quality Control Chemist | $58,892 | $4,908 | $28.31 | 90,467 |
Top companies hiring medicinal chemists now:
Which companies pay medicinal chemists the most?
Medicinal chemist salaries at Novartis and Roivant Sciences are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average medicinal chemist salary at companies like Broad Institute and University of California, Berkeley are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Novartis | $95,856 | $46.08 |
| 2 | Roivant Sciences | $86,275 | $41.48 |
| 3 | Broad Institute | $76,841 | $36.94 |
| 4 | University of California-Berkeley | $75,196 | $36.15 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Medicinal chemist salary trends
The average medicinal chemist salary has risen by $7,849 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average medicinal chemist earned $57,399 annually, but today, they earn $65,248 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for medicinal chemists over the last decade.
Compare medicinal chemist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average medicinal chemist salary over time
Compare medicinal chemist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Medicinal chemist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $65,200 | $31.37 | +2.1% |
| 2024 | $63,900 | $30.71 | +1.0% |
| 2023 | $63,300 | $30.42 | +2.8% |
| 2022 | $61,500 | $29.57 | +1.3% |
| 2021 | $60,700 | $29.17 | +3.4% |
Recently added medicinal chemist salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arc Institute | Medicinal Chemist | Palo Alto, CA | 04/05/2025 | $121,250 |
| Novartis AG | Computational Medicinal Chemist, Computer-Aided Drug Design | Emeryville, CA | 03/24/2025 | $132,300 |
| Novartis | Computational Medicinal Chemist, Computer-Aided Drug Design | Emeryville, CA | 02/18/2025 | $132,300 |
| Nurix Therapeutics, Inc. | Medicinal Chemistry Contractor | San Francisco, CA | 07/29/2024 | $104,350 |
| JS Pharm Corp | Medicinal Chemist | Ontario, CA | 07/15/2024 | $73,486 |
| General Dynamics Information Technology | Medicinal Synthetic Chemist | Silver Spring, MD | 05/18/2024 | $86,250 |
| General Dynamics Information Technology | Medicinal Synthetic Chemist | Silver Spring, MD | 05/18/2024 | $86,250 |
| NES Associates | Medicinal Synthetic Chemist | Silver Spring, MD | 05/18/2024 | $86,250 |
| NES Associates | Medicinal Synthetic Chemist | Silver Spring, MD | 05/18/2024 | $86,250 |
| Novartis AG | Computational Medicinal Chemist/Senior Expert Data Science | Cambridge, MA | 03/02/2024 | $130,400 |
Medicinal chemist salary FAQs
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