Medicinal Chemist salary in United Kingdom

Average Yearly Salary of Medicinal Chemist in United Kingdom is approximately 71,890 GBP (84,450 USD). Data is for 2025 and indicates a pre-tax value. The salary itself depends on multiple factors such as seniority, job performance, certifications, experience or any other bonuses. The value indicated is an average amount based on records we have in database. Real values may vary. The data is for orientational purposes.

What does Medicinal Chemist do?

A medicinal chemist is a professional who specializes in the design, synthesis, and development of new drugs. They work to identify and create chemical compounds that can be used as potential medicines to treat various diseases and conditions. These chemists are involved in all stages of drug development, from initial research and discovery to preclinical and clinical trials. Medicinal chemists collaborate with other scientists, such as biologists and pharmacologists, to understand the biological targets and mechanisms of diseases, and then design molecules that can interact with these targets effectively. They use their knowledge of organic chemistry and drug design principles to optimize the potency, selectivity, and safety of potential drug candidates. Additionally, they analyze the structure-activity relationships of compounds to improve their pharmacokinetic properties.

Skills: Medicinal Chemist, Drug Discovery, Drug Development, Organic Chemistry, Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Research
Job industry: Pharmaceutical

How much does Medicinal Chemist make?

Difference in salary year over year or average salary increase is approximately 4 %


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Salary comparison to National average

Is Medicinal Chemist a well paid job?

Yes, our data shows that Medicinal Chemist is a well paid job. With years and experience the salary might increase even further, resulting in higher satisfaction.

What is considered a high salary for Medicinal Chemist?

High salary for Medicinal Chemist would be somewhere between 79,079 GBP and 104,241 GBP. However this is an estimation based on Gaussian Distribution.

How much can you save working as Medicinal Chemist in United Kingdom?

Living in United Kingdom the approximate monthly expenses are: 1,956 USD. This amount covers basic needs such as food, housing, clothing, healthcare and education costs for a single person. No luxury expenses such as traveling, leisure, hobbies are included in the estimation.

Estimated Yearly Salary: 71,890 GBP
Estimated Monthly Salary: 5,991 GBP
Estimated Weekly Salary: 1,383 GBP per week
Estimated Hourly Salary: 35 GBP per hour
By working as Medicinal Chemist a person can save up to 5,082 USD per month or 60,983 USD yearly. Values are pre-tax.

NOTE: These values are estimates and are averaged for the whole country. Furthermore the value is likely exaggerated as no other expenses are taken into account in the projection. Unessential expenses are very subjective and are difficult to assess. Most likely the previously estimated number is significantly lower for majority of people. Expenses in different cities across the country may vary. Above values accuracy is low and is based on limited set of data obtained.

For more information regarding expenses in United Kingdom, see costs of living in United Kingdom.

Salary comparison to region and neighbouring coutries

Country's neighbours are: Ireland.
To make it easier for comparison a conversion from local currency to USD has been made (conversion rates may vary).

Estimated Yearly Salary for Medicinal Chemist

Last revision of data: 2025-01-04

Salary increase per years of experience

Based on data available the salary increase per years of experience is as following

0 years (beginner) equals base salary

1 to 5 years of experience yields +12% salary increase

6 to 10 years of experience yields +25% salary increase

11 to 15 years of experience yields +16% salary increase

16 to 25 years of experience yields +9% salary increase

more than 25 years of experience yields +10% salary increase

NOTE: Details based on limited set of data. Percentages may vary. The salary increase over years of experience can vary widely based on factors such as job industry, job role, location, company size, and individual performance. To gain even larger increase in salary one is advised to switch jobs and / or employer.

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Data as of 2025

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