Clinical program manager vs clinical director

The differences between clinical program managers and clinical directors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a clinical program manager and a clinical director. Additionally, a clinical director has an average salary of $96,497, which is higher than the $86,048 average annual salary of a clinical program manager.

The top three skills for a clinical program manager include patients, clinical program and clinical operations. The most important skills for a clinical director are patients, patient care, and physical therapy.

Clinical program manager vs clinical director overview

	Clinical Program Manager	Clinical Director
Yearly salary	$86,048	$96,497
Hourly rate	$41.37	$46.39
Growth rate	28%	28%
Number of jobs	159,239	83,232
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 52%	Bachelor's Degree, 43%
Average age	47	47
Years of experience	6	6

What does a clinical program manager do?

A clinical program manager is responsible for overseeing clinical trials and procedures, ensuring that the medical operations adhere to the strict safety protocols and internal guidelines of the institution. Clinical program managers address the concerns and discrepancies during the trials and provide recommendations to improve research program procedures and adjust initial resolution plans as needed. They also identify effective sample collection processes, data integration techniques, and data management reports. A clinical program manager inspects the efficiency of laboratory tools and equipment, managing its efficiency to support scientific and medical operations accurately.

What does a clinical director do?

A clinical director is a managing professional who manages the work of healthcare providers to ensure quality patient care is achieved. Clinical directors are responsible for organizational tasks such as adjusting staff schedules, explaining insurance benefits to the patients, and managing financial reports. They can work either in small clinics with a smaller workforce or larger hospitals with multiple departments. Clinical directors may also assist in the hiring process of healthcare providers and should establish a positive work environment.

Clinical program manager vs clinical director salary

Clinical program managers and clinical directors have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Clinical Program Manager	Clinical Director
Average salary	$86,048	$96,497
Salary range	Between $58,000 And $126,000	Between $63,000 And $145,000
Highest paying City	San Mateo, CA	New York, NY
Highest paying state	California	Rhode Island
Best paying company	Amgen	Sutro Biopharma
Best paying industry	Pharmaceutical	Health Care

Differences between clinical program manager and clinical director education

There are a few differences between a clinical program manager and a clinical director in terms of educational background:

	Clinical Program Manager	Clinical Director
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 52%	Bachelor's Degree, 43%
Most common major	Nursing	Nursing
Most common college	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Clinical program manager vs clinical director demographics

Here are the differences between clinical program managers' and clinical directors' demographics:

	Clinical Program Manager	Clinical Director
Average age	47	47
Gender ratio	Male, 28.7% Female, 71.3%	Male, 35.2% Female, 64.8%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 11.1% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 8.1% White, 61.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%	Black or African American, 11.6% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 8.1% White, 60.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage	12%	12%

Differences between clinical program manager and clinical director duties and responsibilities

Clinical program manager example responsibilities.

Manage projects and ambulatory system initiatives, and collaborate with system leadership teams to ensure EMR alignment with all regulatory requirements.
Serve as clinical oncology nurse leader to facilitate day-to-day clinical management and care coordination of patients seen regional cancer care programs.
Supervise CRAs at co-monitoring visits ensuring quality.
Advance familiarity in Medicaid require documentation and billing.
Provide transportation and assistance with activities of daily living which focuse on rehabilitation.
Provide direct clinical and vocational rehabilitation services to adults with mental illness, specializing in solution focuse therapy.

Clinical director example responsibilities.

Develop distinctive ambulatory strategies to achieve and sustain competitive healthcare advantage.
Manage and assist with data collection and input for MDS.
Manage quality of documentation through education and electronic review of clinical processes utilizing HCHB EMR.
Manage front office, marketing, and communication -demonstrated/supervise exercises for patients -Developed instructional packets for home exercise programs
Manage projects and ambulatory system initiatives, and collaborate with system leadership teams to ensure EMR alignment with all regulatory requirements.
Experience in GCP, FDA audits, and regulatory guidance review and implementation.

Clinical program manager vs clinical director skills

Common clinical program manager skills

Patients, 14%
Clinical Program, 12%
Clinical Operations, 9%
Patient Care, 7%
Social Work, 7%
Program Development, 4%

Common clinical director skills

Patients, 18%
Patient Care, 11%
Physical Therapy, 5%
Social Work, 4%
Rehabilitation, 4%
Clinical Services, 3%

Clinical Program Manager vs. similar jobs

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Clinical Program Manager
Clinical Program Manager vs Clinical Director

Updated January 8, 2025

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