Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between clinical research managers and research managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a clinical research manager, becoming a research manager takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a clinical research manager has an average salary of $96,504, which is higher than the $82,894 average annual salary of a research manager.
The top three skills for a clinical research manager include patients, oversight and FDA. The most important skills for a research manager are market research, analytics, and quantitative research.
| Clinical Research Manager | Research Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $96,504 | $82,894 |
| Hourly rate | $46.40 | $39.85 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 19% |
| Number of jobs | 100,000 | 48,867 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 44 | 37 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
A clinical research manager is responsible for leading a clinical research team in conducting clinical trials for medical purposes. Clinical research managers conduct scientific investigations, following critical methods and procedures within the budget goals and discussed timeframe. They monitor the adequacy of laboratory tools and equipment, request purchase orders, and ensure the authenticity of the materials for the accuracy of findings. A clinical research manager also enforces strict safety standards and protocols during clinical trials to avoid potential hazards and chemical contamination.
A Research Manager performs research, data collection, and economic, statistical, and demographic analysis. They also determine and implement research and development strategies, policies, and plans.
Clinical research managers and research managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Clinical Research Manager | Research Manager | |
| Average salary | $96,504 | $82,894 |
| Salary range | Between $66,000 And $140,000 | Between $51,000 And $133,000 |
| Highest paying City | South San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | Varian Medical Systems | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Finance |
There are a few differences between a clinical research manager and a research manager in terms of educational background:
| Clinical Research Manager | Research Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Nursing | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Georgia |
Here are the differences between clinical research managers' and research managers' demographics:
| Clinical Research Manager | Research Manager | |
| Average age | 44 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 21.5% Female, 78.5% | Male, 47.9% Female, 52.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 2.6% Unknown, 7.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.0% Asian, 9.3% White, 65.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 4.9% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.6% Asian, 13.1% White, 65.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 10% |