Clinical associate vs study coordinator

The differences between clinical associates and study 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 study coordinator. Additionally, a clinical associate has an average salary of $91,027, which is higher than the $47,435 average annual salary of a study coordinator.

The top three skills for a clinical associate include patients, rehabilitation and home health. The most important skills for a study coordinator are patients, informed consent, and IRB.

Clinical associate vs study coordinator overview

	Clinical Associate	Study Coordinator
Yearly salary	$91,027	$47,435
Hourly rate	$43.76	$22.81
Growth rate	6%	6%
Number of jobs	56,977	14,929
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 52%	Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Average age	44	44
Years of experience	2	2

What does a clinical associate do?

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.

What does a study coordinator do?

Study coordinators oversee the entire process of clinical research from its inception to its completion. The coordinators make certain that human subjects are safe and well-protected. They identify the eligibility of the subject through clinical record screening and medical information extracting. It is their responsibility to maintain the regulatory documents based on the requirements of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). They should develop skills and knowledge in clinical trials, study protocol, and patient care.

Clinical associate vs study coordinator salary

Clinical associates and study coordinators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Clinical Associate	Study Coordinator
Average salary	$91,027	$47,435
Salary range	Between $39,000 And $208,000	Between $34,000 And $65,000
Highest paying City	Baltimore, MD	Oakland, CA
Highest paying state	Connecticut	Connecticut
Best paying company	University of Iowa Center for Advancement	Bloodworks Northwest
Best paying industry	-	Health Care

Differences between clinical associate and study coordinator education

There are a few differences between a clinical associate and a study coordinator in terms of educational background:

	Clinical Associate	Study Coordinator
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 52%	Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Most common major	Nursing	Nursing
Most common college	Duke University	University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Clinical associate vs study coordinator demographics

Here are the differences between clinical associates' and study coordinators' demographics:

	Clinical Associate	Study Coordinator
Average age	44	44
Gender ratio	Male, 28.0% Female, 72.0%	Male, 23.7% Female, 76.3%
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, 15.5% Asian, 8.9% White, 64.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage	9%	9%

Differences between clinical associate and study coordinator duties and responsibilities

Clinical associate example responsibilities.

Perform EKG's, placement of cardiac leads and telemetry unit (critical care only).
Manage patient caseload with emphasis in occupational rehabilitation
Assist nurses and doctors with procedures, EKG monitoring, clinical duties, clerical duties.
Assist with project plan management, FDA submission paperwork, and tracking of contingency plans / appropriate triggers.
Experience with communication with professional staff regarding pertinent observations concerning conditions of patients.
Participate in disease diagnosis and treatment in the department of internal medicine and pediatrics

Study coordinator example responsibilities.

Manage and analyze EKG and sleep data collect from subjects in confidential database.
Establish and maintain strong community partnerships to achieve HIV prevention objectives.
Conduct consent discussions and other study procedures per protocol and CFR and GCP guidelines.
Maintain strict patient confidentiality according to HIPPA regulations, GCP and ICH , 21 CFR and other regulatory documentation.
Maintain accurate IRB, regulatory and study documentation to insure compliance with protocol and good clinical practice guidelines.
Coordinate day-to-day study activities including data collection and statistical analysis, protocol development/implementation, IRB relations, and staff development.

Clinical associate vs study coordinator skills

Common clinical associate skills

Patients, 30%
Rehabilitation, 6%
Home Health, 6%
Vital Signs, 5%
CPR, 4%
Excellent Interpersonal, 4%

Common study coordinator skills

Patients, 14%
Informed Consent, 9%
IRB, 7%
Data Collection, 5%
FDA, 5%
Clinical Trials, 4%

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Clinical Associate
Clinical Associate vs Study Coordinator

Updated January 8, 2025

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