ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Medicinal Chemistry Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Edison Scientific, Inc.

$150 - $200/hr

Role We're looking for a Medicinal Chemist to join our Forward Deployed team, embedded directly ... Your job: make sure our AI agents produce chemistry that's credible, synthesizable, and useful to ...

previous pagenext page

Showing results 21-40

All JobsScience JobsMedicinal Chemistry Jobs

Medicinal Chemistry information

See salary details

$81K

$143.8K

$194.5K

How much do medicinal chemistry jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 9, 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 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.

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 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 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.

How much money do medicinal chemists make?

Medicinal chemists typically earn a median annual salary of around $80,000 to $120,000, depending on experience, education, and location. Senior professionals with advanced degrees and specialized skills can earn higher salaries, often exceeding $150,000. Salaries may also vary based on industry sector and company size.

What can I do with a medicinal chemistry degree?

A medicinal chemistry degree prepares individuals for roles in drug discovery, development, and research within pharmaceutical companies, biotech firms, or academic institutions. Graduates often work as medicinal chemists, research scientists, or formulation specialists, utilizing skills in chemical synthesis, analysis, and laboratory techniques. Advanced positions may require additional experience or certifications in related fields such as pharmacology or toxicology.

What careers are in medicinal chemistry?

Careers in medicinal chemistry include roles such as medicinal chemist, pharmaceutical researcher, drug discovery scientist, and formulation scientist. These professionals typically work in pharmaceutical companies, research institutions, or biotech firms, utilizing skills in organic chemistry, pharmacology, and laboratory techniques to develop new medications.
More about Medicinal Chemistry jobs

What cities are hiring for Medicinal Chemistry jobs?

Cities with the most Medicinal Chemistry job openings:

What are the most commonly searched types of Medicinal Chemistry jobs?

The most popular types of Medicinal Chemistry jobs are:

What states have the most Medicinal Chemistry jobs?

States with the most job openings for Medicinal Chemistry jobs include:

What job categories do people searching Medicinal Chemistry jobs look for?

The top searched job categories for Medicinal Chemistry jobs are:

Medicinal Chemistry jobs near you
Infographic showing various Medicinal Chemistry job openings in the United States as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 86% Full Time, and 14% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $143,750 per year, or $69.1 per hour.

Principal Scientist, Medicinal Chemistry

Watertown, MA

Psivant Therapeutics, Inc.
See more jobs at Psivant Therapeutics, Inc.external

$170K - $200K/yr

Full-time

Retirement

Re-posted 6 days ago

Job description

PsiThera is seeking a talented and creative medicinal chemist with strong hands-on experience advancing discovery programs from hit identification through development candidate nomination. This candidate will bring deep expertise in synthetic and medicinal chemistry, with a demonstrated track record optimizing peptide therapeutics for oral delivery, particularly macrocyclic peptides. The role requires practical experience designing and synthesizing complex molecules, peptides and peptidomimetics; applying structure-activity relationship principles to improve potency, selectivity, stability, permeability, and ADME/PK properties; and using multiparameter optimization to balance efficacy, developability, and oral exposure. The candidate must be able to integrate computational modeling, structural information, biophysical data, and biological assay results into clear design hypotheses and translate those hypotheses into executable chemistry plans. Appointable candidates will also have experience directing chemistry CRO, leading teams and communicating decisions clearly to cross-functional teams to progress programs efficiently toward development candidates. 

Key Responsibilities

  • Advance peptide therapeutics, especially macrocyclic peptides and small molecule programs from screening to development candidate selection. 

  • In collaboration with CADD, biophysics, structural biology, DMPK and biology design molecules to achieve program goals and meet timelines. 

  • Implement structure-based and computational-based drug design to optimize peptide and small molecule therapeutics. Prioritize and implement synthesis, manage teams of external synthetic chemists to ensure timely delivery of complex target molecules for biological testing. 

  • Ensure data integrity and project success by interpreting analytical results to confirm compound quality. 

  • Stay current with chemistry, medicinal chemistry and project-relevant literature as well as with new patent application filings. 

  • Lead research team or serve as medicinal chemistry lead from concept through lead optimization toward development candidate selection. 

Qualifications

  • Education: BS, MS or PhD in organic chemistry, medicinal chemistry or a closely related field. 

  • Experience: 5-10 years of experience in the biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry, with a proven track record of advancing molecules from hit to development candidate selection.  

  • Demonstrated expertise in organic chemistry, including proficiencies in both automated solid-phase peptide synthesis, and solution-phase small molecule synthesis. 

  • Demonstrated expertise in medicinal chemistry, analyzing data, designing molecules and implementing synthesis to optimize both peptides and small molecules for oral delivery. 

  • Deep knowledge of macrocyclic peptides optimization, including properties required for oral administration. 

  • Proficient in structure-based ligand design to guide peptide and small molecule optimization.  

  • Experience with computational modeling and simulation for design and optimization of peptides and small molecules. 

  • Experience utilizing peptide informatics tools for SAR 

  • Familiarity with machine learning and AI-driven platforms in drug discovery. 

  • Experience leading and managing teams of external chemists 

  • Experience with leading, co-leading research project teams or as medicinal chemistry lead.Hands-on and collaborative attitude with proven ability to work across drug discovery disciplines, including biology, structural biology, computational chemistry and biophysics. 

  • Excellent communication skills, with the ability to inspire, collaborate and lead in a multidisciplinary environment. 

  • Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail, with a strong passion for learning new concepts and technologies. 

Additional Qualifications

  • Familiarity with library-based screening technologies (DEL, mRNA display , phage display) and direct experience with screen follow-up. 

  • Experience with progressing programs through lead optimization for immunology targets. 

$170,000 - $200,000 a year

PsiThera is creating better therapeutics through an integrated molecular design paradigm that leverages best-in-class physics-based and AI technologies honed through decades of research and innovation. Our focus is first-in-class inflammation and immunology (I&I) small molecule therapeutics. We have assembled a diverse team with extensive experience across disciplines ranging from physics and computer science to chemistry, biology, biochemistry, and structural biology. This continuum of complementary skills drives our scientific vision to deliver meaningful therapeutics to patients in need. We are patient-inspired, perseverant, synergistic, supportive, intrepid, and inclusive. If you're passionate about advancing medicine in a fast-paced, innovative environment, and eager to contribute to a team that blends advanced computation with drug discovery, PsiThera might be the perfect fit for you. 

At PsiThera, we are a lean, high-performing team dedicated to pushing boundaries and achieving growth-both personally and scientifically. We seek individuals who are smart, collaborative, and thrive in a dynamic, early-stage biotech environment. 

Read More About Us 

Our Story: https://psithera.com/company/ 

Team:     https://psithera.com/company/team-and-leadership/ 

Benefits: 

  • Competitive salary and benefits package including 401k match 

  • Opportunity to make a significant impact on the development of novel therapeutics 

  • Work with a talented and passionate team of scientists 

  • Be a part of a cutting-edge company that is revolutionizing drug discovery 

Psivant Therapeutics, Inc. (d/b/a PsiThera) is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. We comply with all applicable laws and regulations, ensuring that all qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status. 

Please note that we do not accept unsolicited resumes and kindly request that recruiters do not contact our team regarding this job posting. If a resume is submitted without a prior agreement, we will not be obligated to pay any referral or placement fees. Thank you for your understanding!

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.
apply for this job

Apply