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Job outlook for clinical research assistants in the United States
Clinical research assistant job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected clinical research assistant job growth rate is 6% from 2018-2028.
About 4,600 new jobs for clinical research assistants are projected over the next decade.
Clinical research assistant salaries have increased 15% for clinical research assistants in the last 5 years.
There are over 31,846 clinical research assistants currently employed in the United States.
There are 97,380 active clinical research assistant job openings in the US.
The average clinical research assistant salary is $39,837.
Are clinical research assistant jobs in demand?
Clinical research assistant job and salary trends over time
Clinical research assistant jobs over time
Clinical research assistant job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 31,846 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 32,319 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 28,847 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 25,669 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 23,944 | 0.01% |
Average clinical research assistant salary over time
Clinical research assistant salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $39,837 | $19.15 | +6.8% |
| 2025 | $37,284 | $17.92 | +4.2% |
| 2024 | $35,771 | $17.20 | +4.1% |
| 2023 | $34,358 | $16.52 | --0.7% |
| 2022 | $34,613 | $16.64 | --0.3% |
Clinical research assistant jobs by state
Most common states for clinical research assistants
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 293 | 42% |
| 2 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 332 | 25% |
| 3 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,663 | 24% |
| 4 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 986 | 24% |
| 5 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 255 | 24% |
| 6 | Vermont | 623,657 | 142 | 23% |
| 7 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,189 | 21% |
| 8 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 158 | 21% |
| 9 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 208 | 20% |
| 10 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 1,675 | 19% |
| 11 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 1,053 | 19% |
| 12 | California | 39,536,653 | 7,187 | 18% |
| 13 | Delaware | 961,939 | 175 | 18% |
| 14 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 159 | 18% |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 2,151 | 17% |
| 16 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 617 | 17% |
| 17 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 353 | 17% |
| 18 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 227 | 17% |
| 19 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 1,657 | 16% |
| 20 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 507 | 16% |
Most common cities for clinical research assistants
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston | 36 | 5% | $49,571 |
| 2 | Waltham | 3 | 5% | $49,565 |
| 3 | Bradenton | 2 | 4% | $33,821 |
| 4 | Burlington | 1 | 4% | $49,562 |
| 5 | Palo Alto | 2 | 3% | $48,791 |
| 6 | New Haven | 2 | 2% | $51,631 |
| 7 | Philadelphia | 11 | 1% | $41,688 |
| 8 | Baltimore | 5 | 1% | $46,851 |
| 9 | Chattanooga | 2 | 1% | $43,529 |
| 10 | Durham | 2 | 1% | $35,373 |
| 11 | Fayetteville | 2 | 1% | $35,069 |
| 12 | Riverside | 2 | 1% | $46,195 |
| 13 | Alhambra | 1 | 1% | $46,398 |
| 14 | Bellflower | 1 | 1% | $46,351 |
| 15 | Los Angeles | 7 | 0% | $46,448 |
| 16 | Miami | 2 | 0% | $33,699 |
| 17 | Anaheim | 1 | 0% | $46,292 |
Clinical Research Assistant job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of clinical research assistant experts
Seattle University
Swarthmore College
Florida Gulf Coast University
Stephen F. Austin State University
University of Minnesota
Stevens Institute of Technology
Drexel University
University of Wisconsin – La Crosse
The University of New Mexico
North Central College
Harriet Phinney Ph.D.
Associate ProfessorSeattle University
Department of Anthropology and Sociology
What soft skills should all Clinical Research Assistants possess?
Harriet Phinney Ph.D.: Understanding human diversity, effective communication (speaking and writing: the ability to convey complex ideas respectfully to a diverse audience) across differences, adept at working in groups, yet also independent thinkers.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Clinical Research Assistants?
Harriet Phinney Ph.D.: Empirical data collection: Research skills for collecting original data, analyzing the data, writing up the information collected, and presenting it in a professional manner.
What will help Clinical Research Assistants increase their earning potential?
Michael Brown: I think having a suite of skills is the best strategy. Our graduates learn physics analysis and problem solving skills, but also computer modelling skills, experimental techniques, writing skills, and even how to make an effective presentation.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Clinical Research Assistant job market given the pandemic?
Marianela Rivera Ph.D.: The pandemic has had a strong impact on the job market, and it seems that many of those changes are not necessarily going to go away once the situation goes back to normal. The market is highly competitive, even more than before; therefore candidates should be able to demonstrate that they are not limiting themselves to their degrees. Looking for ways to keep up with technology and teaching trends is a must. Flexibility and the willingness and ability to work remotely I think are some of the most important trends in the job market as well. Candidates should be able to demonstrate that they are able to adapt and that they are willing to keep learning. Another significant factor to keep in mind is the importance given to diverse and inclusive environments. The pandemic has also highlighted issues related to sexism, racism, and inequality. Departments of Romance languages, literatures, and linguistics are looking to become more inclusive, therefore, they look for candidates who support an inclusive curriculum, show experience working with diverse populations of students, and demonstrate a commitment to teaching in and about multicultural environments.
What technical skills for a Clinical Research Assistant stand out to employers?
Marianela Rivera Ph.D.: In the past, technology was not necessarily one of the main concerns for people interested in romance languages, literatures, and linguistics; however, even before the pandemic, a variety of platforms and resources were made available to facilitate teaching courses related to those fields. The pandemic has highlighted the need to adapt to evolving times, so now technical skills are definitely something employers look for in potential candidates in addition to teaching and research excellence. Knowledge of and experience in online course development, technical writing, social media management, learning management systems, and project management are definitely skills that would stand out to employers.
Hunter Hampton Ph.D.
Assistant ProfessorStephen F. Austin State University
Department of History
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Clinical Research Assistants?
Hunter Hampton Ph.D.: Historically, the biggest impact on a person's job prospects is an undergraduate degree. As I tell my students, the most important thing you can major in is the one that you finish. But I believe flexibility in an undergraduate degree is beneficial for future employment. Majoring in the humanities provides job seekers cultural awareness, written and oral communication skills, and critical thinking. If the past year has taught us anything about work, cultural awareness, clear communication, critical thinking, and flexibility are essential for successful employers and employees. This skillset also widens job prospects for applicants. As the nature of work continues to change in the wake of the pandemic, I think that employers will seek out employees with a flexible skill set that can adapt quickly to unforeseen of conditions and tasks.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Clinical Research Assistant job market given the pandemic?
Hunter Hampton Ph.D.: As someone who graduated from college in 2008 and sought refuge in graduate school, I believe we will see a similar influx in graduate student enrollments over the next two or three years as the economy hopefully recovers. Immediately after I graduated, I applied to about twenty minimum-wage retail jobs. I got two interviews and only one job offer. I saw graduate school as a tool to both buy time in hopes of improved job prospects and increase my qualifications for that future job market. I could see a similar trend now. People that lost their job due to the pandemic may return to finish their undergraduate degree or begin a graduate program for the same reason that I did.
What soft skills should all Clinical Research Assistants possess?
Lee Penn Ph.D.: I hear over and over again from recruiters - they want candidates with strong backgrounds in their majors PLUS two things.
1 - experience with data science, statistics, or some kind of computer science
2 - soft skills (communication, playing well with other, collaboration, etc...)
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Clinical Research Assistant job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Ionut Florescu: When the pandemic started in March 2020 the job market drained. I had students with internships blocked and job offers rescinded over night. The fact that we had 87% employment 3 months after graduation for the program I am leading, during pandemic times I think is a testimonial of the strength of our career development team. This changed in December 2020 and I believe this spring we will see a return to normality. We are already doing better than last year and the semester is not even finished.
I am seeing all interviews going online even for companies that are next to us. So, in theory at least, our advantage being right next to Manhattan and Jersey City is not as prominent as before the pandemic. Yet, in the last two months our students are doing as well as before the pandemic. The reason, I think they keep coming back to us is tradition and the fact that our graduates are very technically sound.
Our undergraduate program Quantitative Finance was completely unaffected by the pandemic. The reason is the students typically get offers in their third year. So seniors were unaffected and juniors are now getting offers. This is because the QF program is extremely technical. It probably is the only program in Business Schools in US where students are taking Calc I through IV, and more probability and statistics than any engineering program. I think going forward, those traits are going to become the norm not the exception. I believe every graduate in the future will need to know how to program.
What soft skills should all Clinical Research Assistants possess?
Dr. Ionut Florescu: I believe in terms of soft skills, every graduate should be able to explain the results of their complex models to someone who isn't technically sound. So, presentation skills are extremely important. Then the capability of approaching a presenter at a conference or workshop and ask pertinent questions about what they just presented is really important. We require all our students to not only make presentations but also ask questions during other teams' presentations. I believe the most important thing as a teacher in the course is to criticize them when their presentation is not crisp or when the question isn't clear or appropriate.
Rogelio Minana Ph.D.
Vice Provost for Global Engagement, Head of Global Studies and Modern LanguagesDrexel University
Office of Global Engagement
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Clinical Research Assistants?
Rogelio Minana Ph.D.: It is still unclear the concrete impacts of the pandemic on jobs (working remotely vs on site, and the like), but it is clear that technology, adaptability, and a sense of how the global affects the local and vice versa are indispensable features in today's professional and civic life. Higher education institutions must focus on these skills in order to prepare students beyond disciplinary knowledge, as careers prove more fluid than ever before and the world as a whole becomes even more connected.
What's a good job out of college for Clinical Research Assistants?
Rogelio Minana Ph.D.: In today's global world, a good job out of college is one that enables a young graduate to explore a variety of career paths. The jobs of the future will require imagination, creativity, adaptability, and in many cases the ability to move one's career in different directions by means of interdisciplinarity and intercultural competency. Careers are living entities in today's market, and a job that allows a recent graduate to explore and not feel constrained to just one discipline or task will best prepare them to thrive as they become lifelong learners.
What will help Clinical Research Assistants increase their earning potential?
Rogelio Minana Ph.D.: In any field, having broad global qualifications, from experience studying and living abroad to language skills and the ability to work as part of international teams, provides a clear edge. Data indicates that international/global experience leads to higher graduation rates and higher GPA in college, as well as to higher earnings and higher change of promotion to decision-making positions after graduation. Developing intercultural competency and proactively seeking and appreciating diversity, both domestic and international, are critical not only for a healthy job market but also for a fairer society.
What technical skills for a Clinical Research Assistant stand out to employers?
Shelly Lesher: Employers value our graduates for their ability to independently solve complex problems, whether in or out of the lab. This skill has not and will not change regardless of instructional mode.
What skills stand out on Clinical Research Assistant resumes?
Emma Trentman Ph.D.: Communication (especially in multilingual settings), innovation, and flexibility--these are often hard to commodify as skills, so it is important for employers and prospective employees to understand the many ways in which they can be demonstrated.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Clinical Research Assistants to find work opportunities?
Dr. Jelena Sanchez Ph.D.: The pandemic has blurred geographical boundaries. A successful bilingual graduate today will find access to the global employment from their computer at home anywhere in the world.