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Clinical research associate vs research project coordinator

The differences between clinical research associates 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 associate and a research project coordinator. Additionally, a clinical research associate has an average salary of $62,966, which is higher than the $48,683 average annual salary of a research project coordinator.

The top three skills for a clinical research associate include patients, informed consent and CRA. The most important skills for a research project coordinator are data collection, patients, and project management.

Clinical research associate vs research project coordinator overview

Clinical Research AssociateResearch Project Coordinator
Yearly salary$62,966$48,683
Hourly rate$30.27$23.41
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs94,33667,800
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 67%
Average age4444
Years of experience22

What does a clinical research associate do?

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.

What does a research project coordinator do?

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 associate vs research project coordinator salary

Clinical research associates and research project coordinators have different pay scales, as shown below.

Clinical Research AssociateResearch Project Coordinator
Average salary$62,966$48,683
Salary rangeBetween $43,000 And $91,000Between $36,000 And $65,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CAMiddletown, CT
Highest paying stateCaliforniaConnecticut
Best paying companyMetaDignity Health
Best paying industryPharmaceuticalProfessional

Differences between clinical research associate and research project coordinator education

There are a few differences between a clinical research associate and a research project coordinator in terms of educational background:

Clinical Research AssociateResearch Project Coordinator
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 67%
Most common majorBiologyPsychology
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaDuke University

Clinical research associate vs research project coordinator demographics

Here are the differences between clinical research associates' and research project coordinators' demographics:

Clinical Research AssociateResearch Project Coordinator
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 28.3% Female, 71.7%Male, 37.8% Female, 62.2%
Race ratioBlack 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, 2.5% Unknown, 7.4% Hispanic or Latino, 13.9% Asian, 13.3% White, 62.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between clinical research associate and research project coordinator duties and responsibilities

Clinical research associate example responsibilities.

  • Manage, schedule and train up to 15 CRAs.
  • Recruit patients, attain patient inform consent form, educate subjects on compliance, and ensure patient safety per ICH guidelines.
  • Manage site TMF to ensure communication requirements adherence
  • Manage CRO and regional monitor to complete close out activities, including device accountability management.
  • Manage regional academic and community base oncology practices as the primary contact for all communications and support.
  • Manage the monitoring CRO and the data clean-up efforts for a 510k submission and interim/annual study reports by effectively collaborating cross-functionally.
  • Show more

Research project coordinator example responsibilities.

  • Manage study documentation throughout study life cycle including IRB annual renewals, modifications, patient study charts and regulatory binder.
  • Recommend administrative revisions to IRB submit studies including inform consent documents.
  • Demonstrate small molecule are protective against DNA damage in mouse model of melanoma.
  • Conduct analysis using SPSS which result in developing a new software for students to selecting college.
  • Conduct primary research through interviews with Boston area travelers and analyze raw data into reports via SPSS.
  • Maintain FDA correspondence and government documentation.
  • Show more

Clinical research associate vs research project coordinator skills

Common clinical research associate skills
  • Patients, 9%
  • Informed Consent, 7%
  • CRA, 6%
  • Clinical Trials, 6%
  • Clinical Trial Management, 5%
  • Oncology, 4%
Common research project coordinator skills
  • Data Collection, 12%
  • Patients, 9%
  • Project Management, 6%
  • Public Health, 5%
  • IRB, 5%
  • Data Analysis, 4%

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