AI Pharmaceutical/Drug Discovery Specialist Salary.
Across 81 U.S. cities.
$182,000
national median salary
$135,000 to $240,000. Last updated April 2026.
Highest Paying
$246,000
San Francisco, CA
Best Purchasing Power
$190,000
Princeton, NJ
Lowest Paying
$138,000
Jackson, MS
Salary data sourced from SEC filings, H-1B Labor Condition Applications (DOL), Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, and aggregated job postings across 50+ platforms. Ranges reflect 25th to 75th percentile for full-time positions. Cost-of-living adjustments use Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (2025 index). Last updated April 2026. Baseline derived from BLS SOC 15-2051. Full methodology.
The average AI Pharmaceutical/Drug Discovery Specialist salary in the United States is $182,000 in 2026, with the full range spanning $135,000 at the 25th percentile to $240,000 at the 75th. San Francisco pays the most at $246,000, while Princeton offers the best purchasing power after cost-of-living adjustments. Pay is highest at biotech companies and pharma giants with active AI drug discovery pipelines.
AI Pharmaceutical/Drug Discovery Specialist salary by city
Skills that increase AI Pharmaceutical/Drug Discovery Specialist pay
The skills below command measurable salary premiums for AI Pharmaceutical/Drug Discovery Specialists based on job posting data. Learning the top skill here could add $25,480 to your annual compensation.
≈ +$25,480 per year
≈ +$23,660 per year
≈ +$21,840 per year
≈ +$20,020 per year
≈ +$18,200 per year
≈ +$18,200 per year
≈ +$18,200 per year
≈ +$16,380 per year
What you should know
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.
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.
Total compensation breakdown
Salary by company size
Remote salary adjustment
Remote AI Pharmaceutical/Drug Discovery Specialists typically earn $169,000 (7% less than on-site). This reflects location-adjusted pay policies at companies using geographic salary bands. Some companies pay flat national rates regardless of location.
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