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The differences between clinical research associates and clinical project managers 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 associate and a clinical project manager. Additionally, a clinical project manager has an average salary of $100,510, which is higher than the $62,966 average annual salary of a clinical research associate.
The top three skills for a clinical research associate include patients, informed consent and CRA. The most important skills for a clinical project manager are manage cross, patients, and clinical research.
| Clinical Research Associate | Clinical Project Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $62,966 | $100,510 |
| Hourly rate | $30.27 | $48.32 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 94,336 | 153,837 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 60% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A clinical research associate is responsible for assisting medical professionals in clinical trials and conducting research studies on medications and medical procedures. Clinical research associates monitor the research materials, ensuring its safety and reliability through trial procedures, writing comprehensive reports of results, and disseminating information across the concerned parties. They also provide recommendations on improving clinical processes, reiterating protocol requirements, and maintaining strict confidentiality of the trial subjects. A clinical research associate must have extensive knowledge of the medical industry, including its disciplines and principles, to perform duties accurately under minimal supervision.
A clinical project manager specializes in developing and organizing clinical trials. Their responsibilities revolve around planning and coordinating with all necessary personnel and experts, scheduling meetings, and preparing necessary documentation, ensuring compliance with all laws and regulations. Moreover, a clinical project manager must devise strategies and train all staff, develop protocols and guidelines, coordinate with vendors and suppliers, evaluate staff and verify documentation, and assist in all activities to ensure that every process aligns with the project's agenda. Should there be any issues or concerns, a clinical project manager must conduct corrective measures right away.
Clinical research associates and clinical project managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Clinical Research Associate | Clinical Project Manager | |
| Average salary | $62,966 | $100,510 |
| Salary range | Between $43,000 And $91,000 | Between $74,000 And $136,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | South San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | Intuitive Surgical |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Pharmaceutical |
There are a few differences between a clinical research associate and a clinical project manager in terms of educational background:
| Clinical Research Associate | Clinical Project Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 60% |
| Most common major | Biology | Nursing |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between clinical research associates' and clinical project managers' demographics:
| Clinical Research Associate | Clinical Project Manager | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 28.3% Female, 71.7% | Male, 32.5% Female, 67.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 2.5% Unknown, 7.4% Hispanic or Latino, 13.7% Asian, 13.0% White, 62.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 2.6% Unknown, 7.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.0% Asian, 10.8% White, 63.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |