AI Pharmaceutical/Drug Discovery Specialist.
Burlington.
$187,000
median salary, 3% above the national average
$139,000 to $247,000. Last updated April 2026.
Get the job.
Data points to own the conversation.
If you are evaluating a AI Pharmaceutical/Drug Discovery Specialist offer in Burlington, VT, here is the reality: $139,000 to $247,000, with $187,000 as the midpoint. 3% above the national average. Pay is highest at biotech companies and pharma giants with active AI drug discovery pipelines. Do not accept the first number.
Salary range
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $168,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$122,000
to $150,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$159,000
to $196,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$206,000
to $243,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$234,000
to $290,000
Salary trend
+9% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $81,000 to the total package.
Base
$187,000
Equity
$49,000
Bonus
$21,000
Signing
$11,000
Estimated total: $268,000
How Burlington compares
Burlington, VT
$187,000
Cost of living: 6% above average
National Average
$182,000
Burlington is $5,000 above
AI Pharmaceutical/Drug Discovery Specialist salary by city
Salary by role in Burlington
What you should know
Here is what the AI Pharmaceutical/Drug Discovery Specialist market actually looks like in Burlington. Burlington is Vermont's largest city and a small but growing hub for technology, healthcare, and sustainable industries. The University of Vermont drives education and research employment. The city attracts remote workers and small tech companies seeking New England quality of life at lower costs than Boston. Pay is highest at biotech companies and pharma giants with active AI drug discovery pipelines. Specialists with expertise in molecular modeling, protein structure prediction, and clinical trial optimization earn top rates. PhD holders in computational biology or chemistry command significant premiums.
Junior computational biologists start around $110,000. Senior AI drug discovery specialists earn $170,000 to $210,000. Directors of computational chemistry or heads of AI research at pharma companies reach $280,000 to $380,000 with bonuses. In Burlington, cost of living sits near the national average, so the numbers you see are roughly what you keep.
Base salary is not the full picture. Pharma bonuses typically range from 15% to 30% of base salary. Biotech equity can be transformative if molecules reach clinical milestones. Large pharma companies also offer comprehensive benefits including sabbaticals and education funding. And on the tax side: vermont's top income tax rate is 8.75%, one of the highest in the nation. Burlington has no city income tax, but the state burden requires careful salary planning. When someone quotes you $187,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Negotiate remote work flexibility. Burlington's lifestyle appeal is a retention tool, but employers know they must offer competitive pay to offset Vermont's high tax rate. The range for AI Pharmaceutical/Drug Discovery Specialists in Burlington runs from $139,000 to $247,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: SEC filings, H-1B LCA (DOL), BLS OES, 50+ job posting platforms. COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified April 8, 2026. Full methodology
Considering a related role?
- A ML Engineer in Burlington earns $188,000 (1% more)
- The highest-paying role in Burlington is Chief AI Officer at $329,000
Common questions.
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