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$143.8K

$194.5K

How much do medicinal chemistry jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 27, 2026, the average yearly pay for medicinal chemistry in the United States is $143,750.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $120,000.00 and $175,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What Is Medicinal Chemistry?

Medicinal chemistry is a branch of chemistry that focuses on developing pharmaceutical drugs. Professionals in this field often research chemicals, apply the principles of biology and biochemistry when synthesizing new chemicals, explore treatment options, analyze disease samples, and otherwise work to support the health of the general public. Most medicinal chemistry takes place in research labs, but drug candidates that get far enough in the development process may go through testing outside the development lab. Medicinal chemists often participate in these trials to monitor effects and provide care as needed. You can find most medicinal chemistry jobs with pharmaceutical companies, but a few jobs exist with government regulatory agencies.

What is the job of a Medicinal Chemist?

A Medicinal Chemist designs and synthesizes new pharmaceutical compounds to develop effective and safe medications. They analyze chemical properties, optimize drug candidates, and work closely with biologists and pharmacologists in research laboratories. Strong knowledge of organic chemistry, laboratory skills, and familiarity with drug development processes are essential for this role.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Medicinal Chemist, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Medicinal Chemist, you need a strong background in organic and analytical chemistry, typically supported by a Ph.D. or master's degree in chemistry or a related field. Familiarity with techniques such as NMR, mass spectrometry, and chromatography, as well as experience with chemical informatics software, are essential. Attention to detail, problem-solving abilities, and effective teamwork are standout soft skills for this role. These skills and qualifications are crucial for designing and optimizing drug candidates efficiently, ensuring scientific rigor, and collaborating successfully in multidisciplinary research environments.

What jobs can you get with medicinal chemistry?

Medicinal chemistry graduates can pursue roles such as medicinal chemist, pharmaceutical researcher, or drug development scientist. These positions typically involve designing and synthesizing new compounds, analyzing biological activity, and working in laboratories or research settings, often requiring knowledge of organic chemistry, pharmacology, and laboratory techniques.

What is the difference between Medicinal Chemistry vs Organic Chemistry?

AspectMedicinal ChemistryOrganic Chemistry
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Chemistry, PhD often preferredBachelor's or Master's in Chemistry, PhD often preferred
Work EnvironmentPharmaceutical labs, research institutionsAcademic labs, research institutions, industry
Industry UsageDrug development, pharmaceutical researchMaterials, polymers, natural products, academic research
Common Search/ComparisonMedicinal Chemistry vs Organic Chemistry

Medicinal Chemistry focuses on designing and developing new drugs, often working closely with pharmacology and biology. Organic Chemistry involves studying the structure, properties, and reactions of organic compounds, with broader applications in materials and academia. While both fields require strong chemistry backgrounds, Medicinal Chemistry is more specialized towards pharmaceuticals, whereas Organic Chemistry covers a wider range of chemical research areas.

What are some common challenges medicinal chemists face when working on drug discovery projects?

Medicinal chemists often encounter challenges such as optimizing the balance between a compound’s potency, selectivity, and pharmacokinetic properties. This process requires significant collaboration with biologists, pharmacologists, and analytical chemists to iteratively refine molecules for effectiveness and safety. Additionally, deadlines can be tight due to project milestones and funding cycles, making time management and adaptability crucial. Working in multidisciplinary teams also means strong communication skills are vital to ensure everyone is aligned on project goals and progress.

What is medicinal chemistry?

Medicinal chemistry is a scientific discipline at the intersection of chemistry, pharmacology, and biology. It involves the design, synthesis, and development of chemical compounds that can be used as pharmaceutical agents to prevent, treat, or cure diseases. Medicinal chemists analyze the structure-activity relationships of molecules to optimize their efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetic properties. The field plays a crucial role in drug discovery and development, collaborating closely with biologists, pharmacologists, and other scientists.

Are medicinal chemists in high demand?

Medicinal chemists are in steady demand due to their role in drug discovery and development, especially in pharmaceutical and biotech industries. Employment opportunities are expected to grow as the industry advances and requires expertise in organic synthesis, structure-activity relationships, and laboratory skills.

What can you do with a degree in medicinal chemistry?

A degree in medicinal chemistry prepares individuals for roles in drug discovery, development, and research within pharmaceutical companies, biotech firms, or research institutions. Professionals in this field analyze chemical compounds, design new drugs, and utilize laboratory techniques and analytical tools to develop effective medications. The role often requires strong knowledge of chemistry, biology, and laboratory skills, and may involve collaboration with multidisciplinary teams.
More about Medicinal Chemistry jobs
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Medicinal Chemistry jobs near you
Infographic showing various Medicinal Chemistry job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 78% Full Time, 18% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 14% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $143,750 per year, or $69.1 per hour.
Director, Medicinal Chemistry

Director, Medicinal Chemistry

Protagonist Therapeutics

Newark, CA

$210K - $250K/yr

Full-time

Posted 17 days ago

Job description

Director, Medicinal Chemistry
The Discovery Chemistry team at Protagonist Therapeutics is seeking a highly motivated and experienced Director of Medicinal Chemistry to lead and manage a competent chemistry group in small molecule and peptide drug discovery against a diverse range of therapeutic targets. The individual will be responsible for the design and execution of efficient medicinal chemistry strategies in hit/lead discovery, lead optimization, as well as development candidate progression and nomination for first-in-human clinical studies. The individual will lead the design, synthesis, and structure-activity-relationship analysis of new molecules, and solve challenging problems with critical thinking within our multi-disciplinary drug discovery team. The individual will also effectively manage external chemistry resources and seamlessly integrate external resources with internal expertise to ensure high overall chemistry productivity. The individual will have a demonstrated track record in synthetic organic chemistry and medicinal chemistry, and is highly enthusiastic about drug discovery. The individual will co-lead multiple discovery programs, and possess effective interpersonal skills, as well as excellent verbal and written communication capabilities. The Director of Medicinal Chemistry will report to VP of Chemistry.
Key Responsibilities
  • Lead and manage a competent medicinal chemistry group and external chemistry resources to support multiple small molecule and peptide drug discovery programs.
  • Responsible for the design and execution of efficient medicinal chemistry strategies that drive the drug discovery process – including hit/lead discovery and lead optimization, ADME/PK, pharmacology, and toxicology - to successfully deliver development candidates into first-in-human clinical studies.
  • Co-lead multiple drug discovery programs against diverse therapeutic targets and provide functional expertise and input in the development of work plans from lead identification to clinical development candidate selection.
  • Develop structure-activity relationships and conduct multi-parameter optimization to identify high-quality drug candidates.
  • Effectively plan for and prioritize internal and external medicinal chemistry resources to achieve project goals including the use of computational and structural resources.
  • Communicate, collaborate, and coordinate effectively with cross-functional teams.
  • Effectively communicate project work, issues, schedules, and accomplishments to senior management.
  • Evaluate and select chemistry CROs and oversee key preclinical chemistry activities.
Professional Experience/Qualifications
  • Ph.D. in Synthetic Organic Chemistry or Medicinal Chemistry
  • 10+ years of drug discovery experience in a pharmaceutical and/or biotechnology setting as a medicinal chemist
  • Experience in leading and managing medicinal chemistry teams
  • Demonstrated capabilities and working knowledge of synthetic chemistry, medicinal chemistry, and analytical techniques as evidenced by a record of achievement (publications, patents, etc.). Familiarity with the use of computational and structural biology during the drug discovery process
  • Demonstrated track record of leading/managing early discovery projects and identifying development candidates against challenging targets with a deep understanding of both hit and lead generation and lead optimization
  • Experience in working efficiently within a strong, multi-disciplinary team and utilizing cross-functional information, such as ADME/PK, in vitro assays, and in vivo pharmacology to drive drug design and optimization strategies
  • Experience in managing diverse and multiple CROs for medicinal chemistry and biological evaluations
  • A strong understanding of the pharmacology, DMPK and toxicology requirements of oral and injectable therapeutics
  • Experience in the supervision, mentoring, and development of other scientists
  • Proficient in analyzing data, and addressing technical challenges using analytical and problem-solving skills
  • Experience in applying structural information and molecular modeling to the drug design process
  • Solid understanding of Intellectual property in drug discovery and attention to detail when involved in the drafting of patent applications
  • Excellent working knowledge of critical analytical and separations technologies, such as HPLC, RP-HPLC, LC/MS, ion exchange and size-exclusion chromatography, and the ability to evaluate new technologies
  • Enthusiastic self-starter with strong organizational and interpersonal skills
  • Demonstrated ability to successfully thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced, innovative environment with an emphasis on teamwork, collaboration, and communication within team and across the departments
The base pay range for this position at commencement of employment is expected to be between $210,000 and $250,000/year; however, base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.
Protagonist Therapeutics is a discovery through late-stage development biopharmaceutical company. The Company's proprietary peptide technology platform enables de novo discovery of peptide therapeutics. Two novel peptides derived from Protagonist's proprietary discovery platform are at or near commercialization. ICOTYDE™ (icotrokinra) is approved in the U.S. for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in adults and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older who weigh at least 40 kg who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy. ICOTYDE is the first and only targeted oral peptide that precisely blocks the Interleukin-23 receptor (IL-23R) licensed to Janssen Biotech, Inc.,a Johnson amp; Johnson company. ICOTYDE was jointly discovered by Protagonist and Johnson amp; Johnson scientists, with Protagonist having primary responsibility for the development of ICOTYDE through Phase 1, and Johnson amp; Johnson assuming responsibility for further development and commercialization. An NDA for rusfertide, a first-in-class hepcidin mimetic peptide that is being co-developed with Takeda Pharmaceuticals pursuant to a worldwide license and collaboration agreement entered in 2024, is under priority review with the FDA. Protagonist holds an option to co-commercialize rusfertide in the U.S. through a 50/50 profit and loss share structure or can opt-out of this structure. The Company also has a number of preclinical stage drug discovery programs addressing clinically and commercially validated targets including an oral IL-17 peptide antagonist, obesity dual and triple agonists, an oral hepcidin functional mimetic, and the recently announced IL-4 and amylin programs.
More information on Protagonist, its pipeline drug candidates, and clinical studies can be found on the Company's website at https://www.protagonist-inc.com.

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