How to hire a clinical research assistant

How to hire a clinical research assistant, step by step

Here's a step-by-step clinical research assistant hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a clinical research assistant job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new clinical research assistant
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a clinical research assistant do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The clinical research assistant hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A clinical research assistant's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, clinical research assistants from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of clinical research assistants and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Clinical Research Assistant	Description	Hourly rate
   Clinical Research Assistant	Natural sciences managers supervise the work of scientists, including chemists, physicists, and biologists. They direct activities related to research and development, and coordinate activities such as testing, quality control, and production.	$13-25
   Study Director	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... Show more	$26-56
   Study Coordinator	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... Show more	$16-31

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Patients
   • Informed Consent
   • Data Collection
   • Data Entry
   • IRB
   • Patient Care
   • Research Projects
   • Clinical Trials
   • Research Data
   • Data Management
   • Clinical Research Studies
   • Excellent Organizational
   • Coordinators
   • Institutional Review

   Check all skills

   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.

   More clinical research assistant duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your clinical research assistant job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A clinical research assistant salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, clinical research assistants' average salary in oklahoma is 38% less than in connecticut.
   • Seniority. Entry-level clinical research assistants earn 46% less than senior-level clinical research assistants.
   • Certifications. A clinical research assistant with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a clinical research assistant's salary.

   Average clinical research assistant salary

   $39,837yearly

   $19.15 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level clinical research assistant salary

   $29,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 23, 2026

   Average clinical research assistant salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Connecticut	$51,852	$25
   2	Massachusetts	$49,571	$24
   3	New York	$48,280	$23
   4	Washington	$47,762	$23
   5	Maryland	$46,851	$23
   6	California	$46,448	$22
   7	Nevada	$45,310	$22
   8	District of Columbia	$43,872	$21
   9	Alabama	$43,196	$21
   10	South Carolina	$42,392	$20
   11	Wisconsin	$42,335	$20
   12	Oregon	$42,104	$20
   13	Pennsylvania	$41,688	$20
   14	Rhode Island	$41,497	$20
   15	Illinois	$40,846	$20
   16	Texas	$39,246	$19
   17	Minnesota	$38,408	$18
   18	Michigan	$38,402	$18
   19	Iowa	$38,352	$18
   20	Colorado	$37,773	$18

   Average clinical research assistant salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	St. Jude Children's Research Hospital	$51,702	$24.86	141
   2	Thomas Jefferson University	$51,318	$24.67	3
   3	University of California-Berkeley	$49,855	$23.97
   4	Children's Hospital Los Angeles	$49,663	$23.88	36
   5	Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center	$49,282	$23.69	24
   6	University of California	$49,217	$23.66	293
   7	Georgetown University	$48,661	$23.39	11
   8	Yale University	$48,527	$23.33	40
   9	Children's Hospital Colorado	$48,387	$23.26	15
   10	Massachusetts General Hospital	$48,287	$23.21	1
   11	BronxCare Health System	$48,041	$23.10	4
   12	Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center	$47,849	$23.00
   13	Brigham and Women's Hospital	$47,797	$22.98	159
   14	UC Merced	$47,336	$22.76
   15	Miriam Hospital	$47,114	$22.65
   16	Dignity Health	$46,920	$22.56	101
   17	Mount Sinai Health System	$45,840	$22.04	176
   18	University of Massachusetts Medical School	$45,689	$21.97	24
   19	McLean Hospital	$45,122	$21.69	2
   20	University of Michigan	$45,109	$21.69	110

4. Writing a clinical research assistant job description

   A good clinical research assistant job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a clinical research assistant job description:

   Clinical research assistant job description example

   NATIONAL LEADERS IN PEDIATRIC CARE
   
   Ranked among the top 10 pediatric hospitals in the nation, Children's Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) provides the best care for kids in California.
   
   Here world-class experts in medicine, education and research work together to deliver family-centered care half a million times each year. From primary to complex critical care, more than 350 programs and services are offered, each one specially designed for children.
   
   The CHLA of the future is brighter than can be imagined. Investments in technology, research and innovation will create care that is personal, convenient and empowering. Our scientists will work with clinical experts to take laboratory discoveries and create treatments that are a perfect match for every patient. And together, CHLA team members will turn health care into health transformation.
   
   Join a hospital where the work you do will matter-to you, to your colleagues, and above all, to our patients and families. The work will be challenging, but always rewarding.
   
   It's Work That Matters.
   
   Overview
   
   Position Summary: The Clinical Research Assistant assists Principal Investigator with the development and implementation of research activities conducted in the enterprise. Responsibilities include but are not limited to: subject recruitment, consenting families, assisting with research, data entry and analysis, grant preparation, professional presentations and preparation of manuscripts for publication.
   
   Minimum Qualifications: Ability to accurately enter data into the computer system. Working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and internet skills required. Basic filing, typing and organizing skills. Ability to speak and understand Spanish preferred.
   
   Education/Licensure/Certifications: Bachelor's Degree in a related field.
   
   Children's Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) is a leader in pediatric and adolescent health both here and across the globe. As a premier Magnet teaching hospital, you'll find an environment that's alive with learning, rooted in care and compassion, and home to thought leadership and unwavering support. CHLA is dedicated to creating hope and building healthier futures - for our patients, as well as for you and your career!
   
   CHLA has been affiliated with the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California since 1932.
   
   At Children's Hospital Los Angeles, our work matters. And so do each and every one of our valued team members. Your race and ethnicity, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation and ability make you uniquely you - and that is just who we are looking for! So, bring the best of yourself and contribute to our mission in your own unique way.
   
   Diversity inspires innovation. Our experiences, perspectives and backgrounds allow us to better serve our patients. As an equal opportunity employer, we celebrate the differences of our team members.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right clinical research assistant for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with clinical research assistants they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit clinical research assistants who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your clinical research assistant job on Zippia to find and recruit clinical research assistant candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with clinical research assistant candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new clinical research assistant

   Once you've decided on a perfect clinical research assistant candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new clinical research assistant. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a clinical research assistant?