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The differences between clinical associates and research coordinators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a clinical associate and a research coordinator. Additionally, a clinical associate has an average salary of $91,027, which is higher than the $48,974 average annual salary of a research coordinator.
The top three skills for a clinical associate include patients, rehabilitation and home health. The most important skills for a research coordinator are patients, informed consent, and data collection.
| Clinical Associate | Research Coordinator | |
| Yearly salary | $91,027 | $48,974 |
| Hourly rate | $43.76 | $23.55 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 56,977 | 65,406 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A clinical associate is responsible for supporting the operations of a medical facility by performing administrative and clerical duties as needed to provide high-quality care services for the patients and assisting health care professionals in performing medical procedures. Clinical associates monitor the conditions of the patients, administer medication, collect laboratory samples, and conduct initial medical assessments such as checking temperature and vital signs. A clinical associate must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially on addressing different patients' needs and reporting the patients' progress to the physicians.
A research coordinator is responsible for assisting the development of research data from clinical trials and laboratory investigations under the supervision of a lead researcher or a research supervisor. In some cases, research coordinators conduct field investigations and analyze existing research materials upon understanding the scope and limitations of the study. They enter their findings and useful resources on the research database for reference to the research team. A research coordinator must have excellent communication skills, both written and oral, especially on gathering data and coordinating with other researchers for the progress and updates of the study.
Clinical associates and research coordinators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Clinical Associate | Research Coordinator | |
| Average salary | $91,027 | $48,974 |
| Salary range | Between $39,000 And $208,000 | Between $35,000 And $68,000 |
| Highest paying City | Baltimore, MD | Bothell, WA |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | University of Iowa Center for Advancement | BNP Paribas |
| Best paying industry | - | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a clinical associate and a research coordinator in terms of educational background:
| Clinical Associate | Research Coordinator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Nursing | Psychology |
| Most common college | Duke University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between clinical associates' and research coordinators' demographics:
| Clinical Associate | Research Coordinator | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 28.0% Female, 72.0% | Male, 29.1% Female, 70.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 2.6% Unknown, 7.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 8.6% White, 65.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 2.6% Unknown, 7.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 10.2% White, 64.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |