Drug Discovery AI Researcher.
Boston.
$265,000
median salary, 23% above the national average
$207,000 to $345,000. Last updated August 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
A Drug Discovery AI Researcher in Boston earns a median of $265,000 in 2026. That is 23% above the national average. The range runs from $207,000 to $345,000, and where you land depends on your experience, your skills, and how well you negotiate. The gap between theoretical knowledge and production deployment experience is the single largest salary differentiator. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page.
Salary range.
Where do you fall?
Orbyt estimate for Drug Discovery AI Researcher in Boston, modelled from national occupation wages adjusted for local cost of living. The published government benchmark for this occupation is below.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $129,500 for Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists (SOC 19-1042) in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metropolitan area, based on 16,060 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$77,770
25th percentile
$97,520
Median
$129,500
75th percentile
$168,020
90th percentile
$209,520
Workers surveyed
16,060
Why this differs from the estimate above. The Orbyt estimate of $265,000 is 105% higher than this published figure. That is usually not an error in either number: BLS reports by occupation code, and Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists covers a different population than the Drug Discovery AI Researcher title as it is typically advertised. Both are shown, unreconciled, so you can judge which one describes the job you mean.
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists (SOC 19-1042) rather than Drug Discovery AI Researcher specifically. The Bostonrange at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 19-1042Salary by experience.
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $239,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$172,000
to $212,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$225,000
to $278,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$292,000
to $345,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$331,000
to $411,000
Total compensation.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $58,000 to the total package.
Base
$265,000
Equity
$32,000
Bonus
$21,000
Signing
$5,000
Estimated total: $323,000
How Boston compares.
Boston, MA
$265,000
Cost of living: 22% above average
National Average
$215,000
Boston is $50,000 above
Drug Discovery AI Researcher salary by city.
Salary by role in Boston.
What you should know.
Here is what the Drug Discovery AI Researcher market actually looks like in Boston. Boston's job market is powered by world class universities, a thriving biotech corridor, and established finance and healthcare sectors. The Kendall Square area is one of the most concentrated biotech hubs globally. Tech salaries in Boston are competitive with West Coast markets, particularly for roles that intersect with life sciences, AI, and robotics. The gap between theoretical knowledge and production deployment experience is the single largest salary differentiator. Drug Discovery AI Researchers who can optimize inference costs, reduce model latency, and handle scale reliably earn significantly more. Published research or open source contributions to widely adopted frameworks create additional leverage in negotiations.
Entry-level Drug Discovery AI Researchers start near $168,000. Mid-career professionals with three to five years of experience reach $215,000 to $280,000. Senior-level roles command $275,000 to $333,000. Management transitions to director-level positions offer $355,000 and above. In Boston, those numbers run higher. The cost of living here is 22% above average, and employers adjust to compete.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity at top-tier companies adds 30% to 60% above base salary. Annual bonuses of 15% to 25% are standard. Signing bonuses of $25,000 to $75,000 are common when changing roles. Refresher equity grants vest annually. Relocation packages and executive benefits like financial planning are typical. And on the tax side: massachusetts has a flat 5% income tax on most earnings, plus a 4% surtax on income above $1 million. There is no city income tax in Boston, keeping the total burden moderate. When someone quotes you $265,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Emphasize specialized credentials or advanced degrees. Boston employers, especially in biotech and finance, place a premium on educational pedigree and certifications. The range for Drug Discovery AI Researchers in Boston runs from $207,000 to $345,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: BLS OES, H-1B LCA (DOL). COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified July 1, 2026. Full methodology
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Common questions.
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