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Drug Development Jobs in Berkeley, CA (NOW HIRING)

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Drug Development information

See Berkeley, CA salary details

$40.4K

$94.8K

$162.8K

How much do drug development jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 13, 2026, the average yearly pay for drug development in Berkeley, CA is $94,819.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $71,600.00 and $110,800.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What career develops drugs?

A career in drug development typically involves roles such as pharmacologist, medicinal chemist, clinical researcher, or regulatory affairs specialist. These professionals work in laboratories, research institutions, or pharmaceutical companies to discover, test, and bring new drugs to market, often requiring knowledge of biology, chemistry, and regulatory processes.

What is the difference between Drug Development vs Pharmacologist?

AspectDrug DevelopmentPharmacologist
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, or related fields; often requires experience in clinical trialsDegree in Pharmacology, Pharmacy, or related fields; may require licensing or certification for clinical practice
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, pharmaceutical companies, clinical trial sitesResearch labs, hospitals, academic institutions, regulatory agencies
Industry UsageDeveloping new drugs, overseeing clinical trials, regulatory submissionsStudying drug effects, mechanisms, safety, and efficacy; advising on drug use

While both roles are integral to the pharmaceutical industry, Drug Development focuses on creating and bringing new drugs to market through research, testing, and regulatory processes. Pharmacologists primarily study how drugs interact with biological systems, often working in research or clinical settings to understand drug effects and safety. The two roles often collaborate but differ in their core responsibilities and career focus.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in drug development, and why are they important?

To thrive in Drug Development, you need a strong background in pharmaceutical sciences, biology, or chemistry, often supported by an advanced degree (e.g., PhD, PharmD, or MSc). Familiarity with regulatory compliance, clinical trial management systems, and data analysis software such as SAS or R is typically required. Excellent problem-solving, project management, and cross-functional communication skills help professionals excel in this multidisciplinary field. These competencies ensure that new drugs are developed safely, efficiently, and in accordance with regulatory standards.

What is drug development?

Drug development is the process of bringing a new pharmaceutical drug to market. It involves several stages, including drug discovery, preclinical research, clinical trials, and regulatory approval. Each stage is designed to ensure the safety, efficacy, and quality of the drug before it can be made available to patients. The entire process can take several years and requires collaboration between scientists, clinicians, regulatory agencies, and pharmaceutical companies.

How much do drug development professionals make?

Drug development professionals, including roles such as research scientists and clinical trial managers, typically earn between $70,000 and $130,000 annually, depending on experience, education, and location. Entry-level positions may start lower, while senior roles with advanced skills and certifications can exceed this range.

How do you get into drug development?

To enter drug development, individuals typically need a background in life sciences such as biology, chemistry, or pharmacology, often supported by a relevant bachelor's or advanced degree. Gaining experience through internships, research projects, or entry-level roles in pharmaceutical or biotech companies can be valuable, along with developing skills in laboratory techniques, data analysis, and regulatory compliance.

What are the typical stages of collaboration between different teams in a drug development role?

In drug development, professionals regularly collaborate across multidisciplinary teams, including research scientists, clinical trial coordinators, regulatory affairs specialists, and manufacturing experts. Early stages involve close work with research and discovery teams to identify promising compounds, followed by coordination with clinical teams during trial phases, and finally with regulatory and production teams as the drug moves toward approval and commercialization. Effective communication and cross-functional teamwork are essential, as each stage relies on timely data sharing and joint problem-solving to navigate complex challenges.

What job categories do people searching Drug Development jobs in Berkeley, CA look for?

The top searched job categories for Drug Development jobs in Berkeley, CA are:

What cities near Berkeley, CA are hiring for Drug Development jobs?

Cities near Berkeley, CA with the most Drug Development job openings:

Drug Development jobs near you
Infographic showing various Drug Development job openings in Berkeley, CA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 80% Full Time, 17% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $94,819 per year, or $45.6 per hour.

Consultant, Life Sciences - Pharmaceutical Drug Development

Integrated Project Management

San Francisco, CA • On-site

Full-time

Medical, PTO

Re-posted 23 hours ago

Job description

For more than three decades, premier organizations have trusted IPM to lead the successful execution of their strategic portfolios and critically important initiatives. Headquartered in Chicago with offices in Boston, Parsippany, Minneapolis, St. Louis, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, IPM has led more than 5,000 projects for over 500 clients. Our clients range from Fortune 100 companies to start-ups.
We are a certified "Great Place to Work" company and have been named to the Great Place to Work list of "Best Workplaces in Consulting and Professional Services".
Our Consultants are our full-time employees and the competitive advantage that sets us apart from the rest.

IPM partners with clients across the life sciences industry sectors, including pharmaceuticals, medical technology, and biotechnology, which includes large-molecule proteins, monoclonal antibodies, cell, tissue, and genetic therapies, and molecularly engineered vaccines.
Within each sector we lead, at the core team level, product development projects from pre-clinical R&D through commercialization, including planning for regulatory, clinical, and commercial strategies and processes, and product lifecycle management with a focus to late stage development and submission.

Within each sector we lead the creation or improvement of operational processes including harmonizing regulatory and quality systems and building project, program and portfolio management capabilities.
JOB DESCRIPTION
As a Consultant, you will partner with client leadership and delivery teams to lead project and program planning and execution across various functions, driving projects and programs to achieve mission-critical outcomes for our pharmaceutical industry clients. At each new engagement you will leverage the continual exposure and experiences from working within a variety of clients and project types.
Your primary goals and focus will be to:
  • Lead product development projects and programs in the pharmaceutical industry, including pre-clinical R&D, commercialization and product lifecycle management
  • Implement or optimize project management frameworks through the use of current best practices and tools, to improve the teams ability to execute and meet their goals.
  • Leverage current industry best-practice tools, such as MS Project, Smartsheet, Planisware, etc., to develop and drive integrated project plans, aligning project tactics with project strategy
  • Manage projects within established scope, schedule and budget while exceeding IPM project management standards
  • Participate and if need be drive discussions, and develop and document high-level strategies for accomplishing specific project objectives
  • Establish, maintain, guide and lead high performance project teams, serving as the project advocate within the client organization
DESIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
The successful candidate for this position should have the following skills and experience:
  • A Bachelor's degree in a science or engineering discipline or relatable field. Advanced degrees in science, engineering or business are a plus.
  • 6+ years of industry experience in the pharmaceutical industry.
  • 3+ years of project management experience related to one or more of IPM's business offerings:
    • Within product development and management across the full product life cycle: pre-clinical research and development; clinical development; regulatory submissions and compliance; commercialization; product management; quality assurance and control
    • Knowledge and application of a disciplined project management process (Six Sigma and Project Management Professional certifications are a plus)
    • Exceptional interpersonal and leadership skills to effectively communicate and build relationships with a broad spectrum of audiences at all organizational levels
    • Demonstrated ability to adapt to new situations and learn quickly.
WHY IPM
  • Engaging culture: IPM has a caring, nurturing culture with a transparent communication approach and culture-building and team-building events, both regional and company-wide.
  • Inclusion: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion have always been a part of our culture; we are a company that treats everyone with respect and dignity. Everyone has a voice and is heard.
  • Professional development: We ensure you reach your professional aspirations by providing you with training and development opportunities. We'll create the bandwidth you need to further your career at IPM. You are IPM's future - we only promote from within.
  • Diverse projects: We lead a wide variety of projects and provide significant exposure to many clients and project types.
  • Collaborative work environment: We have a well-structured system to provide support from managers, internal teams, and our Centers of Excellence (CoE). Our CoEs serve as a resource for specific service and industry knowledge, tools and best practices.
  • Comprehensive compensation and benefits program: including 100% employer-paid health for employees and 80% paid health for dependents; 401(k)matching, performance bonus, tuition reimbursement, paid vacation, holiday, personal and sick time, and relocation assistance among many others; salary range is $125,000 - $180,000 dependent on experience.
  • Philanthropy: We are devoted to the communities we serve and actively promote employee involvement in community improvement projects. We've created "Project Mercy" to channel our philanthropic efforts every quarter.

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time.

Disclaimer: Where a specific pay range is noted, it is a good faith estimate at the time of this posting. The actual salary offered will be based on experience, skills, qualifications, and market / business considerations.

IPM is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment.

IPM's hybrid work environment requires a minimum of three days in the office. The specific days are flexible and may vary depending on project schedules and meetings. On-site locations may also vary. In addition, we follow our clients' guidance on on-site requirements, so the minimum number of days in the office may increase depending on the client and project assignment.

IPM's hybrid work environment requires a minimum of three days in the office. The specific days are flexible and may vary depending on project schedules and meetings. On-site locations may also vary. In addition, we follow our clients' guidance on on-site requirements, so the minimum number of days in the office may increase depending on the client and project assignment.

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