Also called: Drug Discovery Chemist
Designs and builds brand-new molecules that could become future drugs.
Sketches a molecule on a whiteboard, then heads to the fume hood to actually make it, step by step, over several days. When test results come back showing the molecule is too toxic, they tweak one atom and try again.
Pharma industry estimate; BLS chemists overall median is ~$84k.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Doctorate (PhD), about 10 years after high school. PhD in organic or medicinal chemistry is typical for design roles; bachelor's/master's chemists start as synthesis associates.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences.
Growing faster than average (about 5% over 10 years). Tracks BLS chemists projection; tied to pharma R&D budgets.
Medium risk in 5 years, high in 10. AI generates and ranks candidate molecules and robots run more synthesis, so fewer chemists design each drug; judgment stays human.
Classes: AP Chemistry, Organic chemistry dual-enroll, AP Calculus.
Official data: O*NET occupation 19-2031.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.