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Clinical research assistant vs study director

The differences between clinical research assistants and study directors 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 study director. Additionally, a study director has an average salary of $82,066, 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 study director are toxicology, data collection, and study design.

Clinical research assistant vs study director overview

Clinical Research AssistantStudy Director
Yearly salary$39,837$82,066
Hourly rate$19.15$39.45
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs97,3806,789
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Average age4444
Years of experience22

What does a clinical research assistant do?

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.

What does a study director do?

Technically, a study director carries out scientific responsibilities for protocol design or study plan and approval. Study directors supervise the gathering, analysis, interpretation, documentation, and reporting of data results. They handle the matriculation of students with regard to data management system development. Working with the computer systems team is part of their duties so they will be able to establish a data management system in tracking the study participants. They also support the toxicology team or group on different project teams.

Clinical research assistant vs study director salary

Clinical research assistants and study directors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Clinical Research AssistantStudy Director
Average salary$39,837$82,066
Salary rangeBetween $29,000 And $54,000Between $56,000 And $118,000
Highest paying CityFarmington, CTSacramento, CA
Highest paying stateConnecticutCalifornia
Best paying companySt. Jude Children's Research HospitalAbbVie
Best paying industryHealth CareHealth Care

Differences between clinical research assistant and study director education

There are a few differences between a clinical research assistant and a study director in terms of educational background:

Clinical Research AssistantStudy Director
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Most common majorBiologyBiology
Most common collegeUniversity of Michigan - Ann Arbor-

Clinical research assistant vs study director demographics

Here are the differences between clinical research assistants' and study directors' demographics:

Clinical Research AssistantStudy Director
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 26.8% Female, 73.2%Male, 54.9% Female, 45.1%
Race ratioBlack 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, 7.5% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 12.0% White, 62.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between clinical research assistant and study director duties and responsibilities

Clinical research assistant example responsibilities.

  • Manage patient caseload with emphasis in occupational rehabilitation
  • Maintain compliance with ICH, GCP and federal regulations as well as reporting adverse events to the FDA.
  • Perform medical assessment procedures including phlebotomy, laboratory processing, vital signs, and electrocardiogram.
  • Skil in CPR and patient distress.
  • Transport patients, and restive beds from ICU and IMCU units
  • Specialize training such as, CPI non-violent crisis intervention and CPR.
    • Show more

Study director example responsibilities.

  • Design, conducts and manages studies for EPA and oce compliance, such as water solubility and partition coefficient studies.
  • Manage all outsource toxicology studies at contract research laboratories.
  • Establish and maintain strong community partnerships to achieve HIV prevention objectives.
  • Evaluate study design and toxicology data as needed.
  • Consult drug development scientists on data interpretation and study conclusions for FDA submission.
  • Participate on the ISO certification team.
    • Show more

Clinical research assistant vs study director skills

Common clinical research assistant skills
  • Patients, 16%
  • Informed Consent, 8%
  • Data Collection, 7%
  • Data Entry, 6%
  • IRB, 6%
  • Patient Care, 4%
Common study director skills
  • Toxicology, 10%
  • Data Collection, 7%
  • Study Design, 7%
  • Project Management, 6%
  • Data Analysis, 6%
  • FDA, 6%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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