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Clinical research coordinator vs study director

The differences between clinical research coordinators 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 coordinator and a study director. Additionally, a study director has an average salary of $82,066, which is higher than the $52,459 average annual salary of a clinical research coordinator.

The top three skills for a clinical research coordinator include patients, informed consent and IRB. The most important skills for a study director are toxicology, data collection, and study design.

Clinical research coordinator vs study director overview

Clinical Research CoordinatorStudy Director
Yearly salary$52,459$82,066
Hourly rate$25.22$39.45
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs102,9606,789
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 60%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Average age4444
Years of experience22

What does a clinical research coordinator do?

A clinical research coordinator is a healthcare professional responsible for administering clinical trials of drugs or medications. Clinical research coordinators work under the supervision of clinical research managers to collect data and help inform trial participants about the study's objectives. They must ensure that these trials have met all regulations, including drug safety, government regulations, and the organization's code of ethics. Clinical research coordinators must obtain a bachelor's degree in nursing and have at least two years of healthcare experience.

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 coordinator vs study director salary

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

Clinical Research CoordinatorStudy Director
Average salary$52,459$82,066
Salary rangeBetween $37,000 And $72,000Between $56,000 And $118,000
Highest paying CityRichmond, CASacramento, CA
Highest paying stateWashingtonCalifornia
Best paying companyGenentechAbbVie
Best paying industryHealth CareHealth Care

Differences between clinical research coordinator and study director education

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

Clinical Research CoordinatorStudy Director
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 60%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Most common majorNursingBiology
Most common collegeDuke University-

Clinical research coordinator vs study director demographics

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

Clinical Research CoordinatorStudy Director
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 20.0% Female, 80.0%Male, 54.9% Female, 45.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 2.5% Unknown, 7.5% Hispanic or Latino, 14.7% Asian, 10.7% White, 64.0% 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 coordinator and study director duties and responsibilities

Clinical research coordinator example responsibilities.

  • Assess study participants for adverse reactions or complications and manage side effects of chemotherapy and other study relate drugs.
  • Establish and maintain strong community partnerships to achieve HIV prevention objectives.
  • Direct acquisition and analysis of functional MRI research data following GCP and FDA regulations
  • Prepare and maintain IRB and regulatory documentation for various research projects and consent patients for clinical research.
  • Facilitate constant communication between principal investigators, oncology nurses, and patients to address concerns and maximize eligibility and enrollment.
  • Schedule patient for study procedures; initiate/coordinate drug orders, laboratory procedures and treatments for patients base on standing protocol orders.
    • 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 coordinator vs study director skills

Common clinical research coordinator skills
  • Patients, 11%
  • Informed Consent, 10%
  • IRB, 7%
  • Data Collection, 5%
  • Research Projects, 4%
  • 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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