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The differences between clinical research assistants and research project 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 research assistant and a research project coordinator. Additionally, a research project coordinator has an average salary of $48,683, which is higher than the $39,837 average annual salary of a clinical research assistant.
The top three skills for a clinical research assistant include patients, informed consent and data collection. The most important skills for a research project coordinator are data collection, patients, and project management.
| Clinical Research Assistant | Research Project Coordinator | |
| Yearly salary | $39,837 | $48,683 |
| Hourly rate | $19.15 | $23.41 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 97,380 | 67,800 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Clinical research assistants are responsible for assisting with scientific studies and monitoring clinical trials. Other duties and responsibilities include ensuring compliance with clinical trial procedures and protocols, finding research subjects, and collecting and analyzing data. In addition, they are responsible for overseeing clinical site activities and preparing documentation, presentation, and correspondence on findings. They are also expected to prepare informed consent for clinical trials and conduct audits on research trials. The skills and qualifications required for this role include a bachelor's degree in psychology, science or related field, previous work experience, and excellent communication skills.
Research Project Coordinators take on a lead role in maintaining and creating processes that support the execution of a research project. Their duties include researching governance requirements, preparing for contract bidding, manage budgeting of a project to meet a specified timeline, and present findings of a project to all stakeholders involved. The Research Project Coordinator will also support administrative tasks, including producing corporate reports, organizing committee meetings, and developing a research database to track active milestones achieved.
Clinical research assistants and research project coordinators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Clinical Research Assistant | Research Project Coordinator | |
| Average salary | $39,837 | $48,683 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $54,000 | Between $36,000 And $65,000 |
| Highest paying City | Farmington, CT | Middletown, CT |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | St. Jude Children's Research Hospital | Dignity Health |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Professional |
There are a few differences between a clinical research assistant and a research project coordinator in terms of educational background:
| Clinical Research Assistant | Research Project Coordinator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Most common major | Biology | Psychology |
| Most common college | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor | Duke University |
Here are the differences between clinical research assistants' and research project coordinators' demographics:
| Clinical Research Assistant | Research Project Coordinator | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 26.8% Female, 73.2% | Male, 37.8% Female, 62.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 2.4% Unknown, 7.4% Hispanic or Latino, 13.6% Asian, 12.9% White, 63.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 2.5% Unknown, 7.4% Hispanic or Latino, 13.9% Asian, 13.3% White, 62.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |