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Job outlook for clinical program managers in the United States
Clinical program manager job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected clinical program manager job growth rate is 28% from 2018-2028.
About 136,200 new jobs for clinical program managers are projected over the next decade.
Clinical program manager salaries have increased 8% for clinical program managers in the last 5 years.
There are over 20,613 clinical program managers currently employed in the United States.
There are 159,239 active clinical program manager job openings in the US.
The average clinical program manager salary is $86,048.
Are clinical program manager jobs in demand?
Clinical program manager job and salary trends over time
Clinical program manager jobs over time
Clinical program manager job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 20,613 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 18,998 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 18,638 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 17,588 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 16,376 | 0.00% |
Average clinical program manager salary over time
Clinical program manager salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $86,048 | $41.37 | +3.3% |
| 2025 | $83,325 | $40.06 | +1.3% |
| 2024 | $82,294 | $39.56 | +1.4% |
| 2023 | $81,155 | $39.02 | +1.9% |
| 2022 | $79,662 | $38.30 | +2.2% |
Clinical program manager jobs by state
Most common states for clinical program managers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 746 | 107% |
| 2 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 3,833 | 52% |
| 3 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 317 | 42% |
| 4 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 2,744 | 40% |
| 5 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 399 | 38% |
| 6 | Delaware | 961,939 | 319 | 33% |
| 7 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 1,323 | 32% |
| 8 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 336 | 32% |
| 9 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 2,514 | 30% |
| 10 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 1,080 | 30% |
| 11 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 405 | 30% |
| 12 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,594 | 29% |
| 13 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 1,712 | 28% |
| 14 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 870 | 28% |
| 15 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 375 | 28% |
| 16 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 247 | 28% |
| 17 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 2,423 | 27% |
| 18 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 1,452 | 26% |
| 19 | California | 39,536,653 | 9,913 | 25% |
| 20 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 471 | 25% |
Most common cities for clinical program managers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fairbanks | 2 | 6% | $83,526 |
| 2 | Renton | 3 | 3% | $93,688 |
| 3 | Santa Cruz | 2 | 3% | $114,637 |
| 4 | San Mateo | 2 | 2% | $115,132 |
| 5 | Santa Fe | 2 | 2% | $79,734 |
| 6 | Bakersfield | 2 | 1% | $107,339 |
| 7 | Modesto | 2 | 1% | $113,183 |
| 8 | Albany | 1 | 1% | $71,552 |
| 9 | Los Angeles | 4 | 0% | $102,875 |
| 10 | Phoenix | 3 | 0% | $72,065 |
| 11 | San Diego | 3 | 0% | $99,843 |
| 12 | Washington | 3 | 0% | $91,386 |
| 13 | Boston | 2 | 0% | $85,521 |
| 14 | Fresno | 2 | 0% | $111,160 |
| 15 | Houston | 2 | 0% | $67,744 |
| 16 | Jacksonville | 2 | 0% | $61,882 |
| 17 | Sacramento | 2 | 0% | $113,175 |
| 18 | Aurora | 1 | 0% | $69,847 |
| 19 | Baltimore | 1 | 0% | $92,476 |
Clinical Program Manager job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of clinical program manager experts
Middle Tennessee State University
Freed-Hardeman University
Oklahoma Baptist University
Auburn University at Montgomery
Western Carolina University
Auburn University at Montgomery
Maryville University
Azusa Pacific University
Thiel College
How have salaries changed over time for Clinical Program Managers?
Frank Lambert Ph.D.: Salaries continue to rise. There are hundreds of graduates across the nation every semester, and yet there are still multiple job openings. Retirement of baby boomers in librarianship appears to be increasing. I would not say there is a shortage of qualified candidates; however, according to the Library Journal's most recent salary survey, their 2019 Placements & Salaries survey learned that full-time grads earned on average 6.2 percent more than they did in 2018 www.libraryjournal.com
This also was a 24% increase from 2011 salary levels. Salaries increasing this much may be due to, as I wrote, a glut of open positions in librarianship due to retirements, but closer analysis should be conducted before anything definitive is stated.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Clinical Program Managers?
Kristen Roberson: The workplace will forever be altered due to the pandemic, and the effects of those in career transitions, not just those graduating now, will be impacted for some time. It will take some time for the new normal to be normal.
Dr. Daryl Green
Associate Professor of BusinessOklahoma Baptist University
College of Business
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Clinical Program Manager job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Daryl Green: I have been researching emerging employment trends for several years. While working for the Department of Energy as a senior engineer, I have served as a college recruiter. There were gaps in the students' skill sets compared to employers' needs. I later co-authored a book called Job Strategies for the 21st Century to provide students with the necessary tools for future employment. 2021 will be very difficult due to the pandemic. From my research, here are 2021 employment trends to consider:
-Global Market - We are connected! Since employers can tap into human resources across the world, students will compete against others across the globe.
-Students who understand this employment reality will be better prepared.
-AI and Automation - Artificial intelligence is disruptive technology. Companies can avoid the high expense of labor through automation. According to 2013 Oxford University study, nearly half of American jobs are at risk of being taken over by computers by 2033. Students need to understand AI technologies.
-New Work Model - 2020 brought in the explosion of working from home due to Covid-19. Employees already wanted to have more flexibility in life. They got it from employers. Companies responded by offering 70% of full-time workers the ability to work from home!
-Freelancing - Freelancing is part of the gig economy. It goes much further than Airbnb and Uber. In the gig economy, businesses hire independent contractors to perform individual jobs, called "gigs." The total freelancing income is almost $1 trillion. Therefore, students who have an entrepreneurial mindset will fare better.
-Digital & Ecommerce - Covid-19 ushered the digital economy. If companies did not have a digital platform in 2020 with the lockdowns, they did not exist. According to the Internet World Stats, there are currently 4,208,571, 287 internet users. Therefore, students cannot afford to miss this continuing trend of digital platforms.
Brett Lehman Ph.D.
ProfessorAuburn University at Montgomery
Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Clinical Program Managers?
Brett Lehman Ph.D.: Sociology students with research and public speaking experience will have improved job prospects. This could be developed in many courses, though some core areas for us are Research Methods and Statistics. Most employers collect and analyze data of some kind. Then they have to organize the results properly and present the findings to a variety of audiences. Any course that require students to do their own projects, make difficult decisions, justify those decisions, and then explain the results give students a leg up in critical thinking skills and much more. Students might also have similar experiences through community service, independent/supervised research projects, or an internship.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Clinical Program Managers?
Angela Sebby Ph.D.: While jobs may be slower to return to the capacity pre-Covid, the industry and tourism employment will rebound as people still want to travel and explore diverse foods, cultures, and experiences. However, the enduring impact will be the rapid onset of technology that allowed for limited contact with employees and others has become the new norm. Although human interaction is an important aspect of service in the tourism industry, employers have found that they can reduce the number of personal interactions but still deliver an acceptable level of quality service. What would have taken years to adopt, COVID created an amplified adoption.
What technical skills for a Clinical Program Manager stand out to employers?
Angela Sebby Ph.D.: Business, creative, and organizational skills - I would recommend that upcoming graduates are proficient in Word, Excel (highly used), Powerpoint, Outlook (especially how to send meeting requests and calendar organization), TEAMS, Gantt charts for team management, Mindmapping for creativity, and design software. Additionally, I would recommend that they learn how to properly utilize social media for marketing and PR, not just personal posting. Finally, email etiquette would be essential.
What soft skills should all Clinical Program Managers possess?
TeWhan Hahn Ph.D.: Writing skills including email writing, being able to work in teams, and knowing the workplace etiquettes.
Meaghan Goodman Ph.D.
Program Director & Assistant ProfessorMaryville University
Speech-Language Pathology
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Clinical Program Managers?
Meaghan Goodman Ph.D.: At this point it is hard to say. Certainly, there were immediate impacts as students and professors alike shifted to learning and teaching in a virtual world. Some students had to tackle online learning while sharing resources like Wi-Fi with parents and other siblings. Long term, it is possible that coronavirus may impact hiring for the foreseeable future. With more money needing to be shifted towards personal protective equipment, and cleaning procedures and supplies, many businesses including hospital systems and school districts will be taking a closer look at their bottom line.
I do think this pandemic highlighted a need for highly skilled Speech-Language Pathologists. For some, contracting COVID-19 meant intubation (a procedure in which a tube in inserted through the mouth and into the trachea to provide breathing support for critically ill patients). We are often consulted for patients requiring prolonged intubation. After a patient has intubation removed, we are often consulted in evaluating damage to a patient's swallow as well as their vocal quality. Because of the nature of intubation, patients aren't able to speak, so alternative forms of communication must be established, lending another opportunity for a Speech-Language Pathologists to demo
What's a day at work look like for a Clinical Program Manager?
Meaghan Goodman Ph.D.: A bachelor's in communication sciences and disorders can prepare you for three different tracks. First, it can prepare you to become a licensed Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA). This is someone who works under a fully credential speech-language pathologist. Often times, they carryout intervention plans developed by a fully credentialed speech-language pathologist. If graduate school is on your horizon, a bachelor's degree in communication sciences and disorders will prepare you for acceptance into a Speech-Language Pathology program, or an Audiology program. If you are not accepted into a graduate program right away, working as a speech-language pathology assistant (SLPA) is a great way to get experience in the field!
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Clinical Program Managers?
Bala Musa Ph.D.: Digital literacy, cultural literacy, information technology, data management and human communication skills courses and certifications will continue to be relevant in the workplace.
What's a good job out of college for Clinical Program Managers?
Bala Musa Ph.D.: A good job out of college is one that allows you to apply creative and critical thinking skills. Future work environments will require employees to innovate and adapt. Any job that helps you cultivate, sharpen and apply those skills will serve you and your organization well. It will prepare you to adapt in the face of change and future disruptions.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Clinical Program Manager job market given the pandemic?
Mary Beth Mason Ph.D.: I think we are going to see teletherapy as a more common service delivery model across settings. I think that that will be what I call a "Pandemic Positive". I think many states will pass legislation post pandemic for teletherapy to be a reimbursable service.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Clinical Program Managers?
Mary Beth Mason Ph.D.: I think one of the great things about being a speech-language pathologist is that we can work across the lifespan in a variety of settings. In order to have that flexibility, graduates should get their Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), professional state license, and credential to work in public school setting. It is important to get those three credentials as soon as possible after graduation because they will meet the current standards. If they wait, there might be new standards in place which means they might need additional coursework and/or pass additional tests.
What's a good job out of college for Clinical Program Managers?
Mary Beth Mason Ph.D.: I think it's important for new graduates to remain open to different work settings when looking for a job. Happiness is a balancing act between work and home so it's important to consider factors such as schedule and commute in addition to work setting and caseload.
New clinicians need to complete a Clinical Fellowship experience before applying for their Certificate of Clinical Competency from ASHA. I always tell students to ask about their Clinical Fellowship mentor during their interview. That is always a good question to ask in the interview when the employer asks if you have questions. Successful completion of the Clinical Fellowship is the final step in the certification process so it's really important to have a good working relationship with that person. A good mentor can help a new clinician have a great experience in any setting.
My final piece of advice to new graduates is to always negotiate. I tell my students to call me for a pep talk if they need one because I know their worth and value. Employers expect some back and forth following the initial offer. A good employer is not going to withdraw an offer because you counter for increased salary or better benefits. In helping professions like speech-language pathology, I think many don't want to seem aggressive, but negotiating job offers is completely acceptable.
Bottom line is we all need to have a job that we like that allows us to have a life that we love.