Small Molecules

2025 Job Market Outlook & Salary Guide

Small Molecules

2025 Job Market Overview.

The Small Molecules industry continues to thrive as a critical segment in drug development, driven by innovations in high-throughput screening, computational chemistry, and synthetic methods. Science and clinical professionals with expertise in analytical chemistry, pharmacokinetics, and regulatory strategy are in high demand as precision medicine and advanced therapies reshape the landscape.

Global number of employees.

Wonder where your peers around the world are working - or where else you could take your skills?

Source: Lightcast

Top in-demand roles in North America.

Zooming in on North America, these will be the top 5 most in-demand roles in Small Molecules throughout the continent in 2025.

Source: Lightcast

For each of the top 5 in-demand roles in Small Molecules in North America, we'll explore the supply of qualified professionals vs. the number of current job openings, the average number of applications and days online for each role, and the current salary range.

Small Molecules

Top Roles in Small Molecules

With evolving regulations and a relentless push for novel therapies, the Small Molecules industry offers unparalleled career opportunities for professionals eager to advance groundbreaking medicinal solutions and shape the future of healthcare.

Below is the current supply of qualified professionals in each key role, compared to the demand for those same roles expressed as the number of current job openings.

Title	# of Qualified Job Seekers	# of Job Openings	Average # of Applications/Job	# of Days Posted Online
Research Scientists	10,000	8,000	50 - 100	45 - 60
QC/QA Specialists	8,000	6,000	40 - 80	30 - 45
Regulatory Affairs Specialists	5,000	4,000	20 - 50	60 - 90
Production/Manufacturing Technicians	12,000	10,000	30 - 70	20 - 40
Clinical Research Associates	6,000	5,000	25 - 60	60 - 90

Last year the average Science & Clinical job posting saw about 120 applications and was kept online for about 50 days. How many people can you expect to compete with for the average job posting? And how quickly should you get that application in once it's posted?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual wage for medical scientists in 2023 was $100,890. In Small Molecules, entry-level positions often offer salaries starting around $65,000 to $80,000 annually, while senior roles, especially in research or quality assurance, can command upwards of $120,000. See ranges for some of the top roles below.

Title	Low Range	High Range
Research Scientists	$75,000	$120,000
QC/QA Specialists	$60,000	$90,000
Regulatory Affairs Specialists	$70,000	$110,000
Production/Manufacturing Technicians	$50,000	$85,000
Clinical Research Associates	$80,000	$140,000

Small molecules are making a significant comeback to the forefront, largely driven by the booming obesity drug market following years of massive investments in rare diseases.

Emmanuelle Hoarau

Science & Clinical Domain Intelligence Director

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This data reflects general averages across skills and geographies. Individuals should assess their own skills, experiences, and local job market trends to plan their career development. Regularly updating skills and adapting to industry changes is key to staying competitive. Join the Kelly Science & Clinical network to receive the latest career advice, trends, & exclusive jobs straight to your inbox every month.