Clinical research director vs senior clinical research associate

The differences between clinical research directors and senior clinical research associates 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 director and a senior clinical research associate. Additionally, a clinical research director has an average salary of $100,744, which is higher than the $95,878 average annual salary of a senior clinical research associate.

The top three skills for a clinical research director include patients, clinical trials and oversight. The most important skills for a senior clinical research associate are patients, informed consent, and oncology.

Clinical research director vs senior clinical research associate overview

	Clinical Research Director	Senior Clinical Research Associate
Yearly salary	$100,744	$95,878
Hourly rate	$48.43	$46.10
Growth rate	6%	6%
Number of jobs	98,335	94,045
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 55%	Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Average age	44	44
Years of experience	2	2

What does a clinical research director do?

Clinical research directors are responsible for providing leadership in a clinical research setting. These directors oversee the development and evaluation of drugs and the program designs to prevent and treat contagious diseases as a part of their main responsibility. They gather information on progress reports and create new strategies to present them to higher management. This job requires them to have strong communication and leadership skills to thrive in their role and confidence in themselves to perform their duties without worry.

What does a senior clinical research associate do?

A Senior Clinical Research Associate performs and coordinates all aspects of the clinical monitoring and site management process. They design, implement, and monitor clinical trials.

Clinical research director vs senior clinical research associate salary

Clinical research directors and senior clinical research associates have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Clinical Research Director	Senior Clinical Research Associate
Average salary	$100,744	$95,878
Salary range	Between $66,000 And $153,000	Between $64,000 And $142,000
Highest paying City	Foster City, CA	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	California	Washington
Best paying company	Amgen	Acorda Therapeutics
Best paying industry	Pharmaceutical	Pharmaceutical

Differences between clinical research director and senior clinical research associate education

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

	Clinical Research Director	Senior Clinical Research Associate
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 55%	Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Most common major	Nursing	Biology
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	Duke University

Clinical research director vs senior clinical research associate demographics

Here are the differences between clinical research directors' and senior clinical research associates' demographics:

	Clinical Research Director	Senior Clinical Research Associate
Average age	44	44
Gender ratio	Male, 41.3% Female, 58.7%	Male, 28.2% Female, 71.8%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 2.6% Unknown, 7.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.7% Asian, 9.2% White, 64.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%	Black or African American, 2.6% Unknown, 7.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.0% Asian, 11.6% White, 62.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage	9%	9%

Differences between clinical research director and senior clinical research associate duties and responsibilities

Clinical research director example responsibilities.

Coordinate and manage appropriate training for research staff (GCP, ICH, CLIA, protocol training, etc .).
Manage all regulatory documentation and correspondence require by sponsor and IRB.
Manage all planning and execution of oncology clinical trials, domestic and international, including decision impact and companion diagnostic trials.
Interpret and apply ICH/ GCP guidelines and deliver staff training via NIH, CITI, FDA and sponsor provide materials.
Select potential patients for participation in clinical trials.
Provide oversight for the oncology clinical research program.

Senior clinical research associate example responsibilities.

Manage a consultant to review scientific support and create dossiers on each product that make health claims in the EU.
Interact with FDA and other regulatory authorities to manage and facilitate approval of regulatory submissions.
Monitor U.S. sites in accordance with ICH and GCP guidelines.
Maintain investigators and subjects files, review investigators files for compliance with GCP and FDA regulations, review drug utilization records.
Verify informed consent procedures and protocol requirements base on applicable regulatory requirements to ensure protection of study patients.
Provide site management for both therapeutic and supportive care oncology protocols that are complex and require knowledge in advance therapeutic areas.

Clinical research director vs senior clinical research associate skills

Common clinical research director skills

Patients, 21%
Clinical Trials, 12%
Oversight, 7%
FDA, 6%
GCP, 6%
Clinical Development, 6%

Common senior clinical research associate skills

Patients, 11%
Informed Consent, 6%
Oncology, 5%
CRA, 5%
Site Management, 5%
Field Training, 4%

Clinical Research Director vs. similar jobs

Clinical Research Director related careers

Clinical Research Director related jobs

What similar roles do

Zippia Careers
Executive Management Industry
Clinical Research Director
Clinical Research Director vs Senior Clinical Research Associate

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse executive management jobs