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Job outlook for clinical research managers in the United States
Clinical research manager job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected clinical research manager job growth rate is 6% from 2018-2028.
About 4,600 new jobs for clinical research managers are projected over the next decade.
Clinical research manager salaries have increased 15% for clinical research managers in the last 5 years.
There are over 23,627 clinical research managers currently employed in the United States.
There are 100,000 active clinical research manager job openings in the US.
The average clinical research manager salary is $96,504.
Are clinical research manager jobs in demand?
Clinical research manager job and salary trends over time
Clinical research manager jobs over time
Clinical research manager job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 23,627 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 23,978 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 21,402 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 19,044 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 17,764 | 0.01% |
Average clinical research manager salary over time
Clinical research manager salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $96,504 | $46.40 | +6.8% |
| 2024 | $90,320 | $43.42 | +4.2% |
| 2023 | $86,654 | $41.66 | +4.1% |
| 2022 | $83,233 | $40.02 | --0.7% |
| 2021 | $83,848 | $40.31 | --0.3% |
Clinical research manager jobs by state
Most common states for clinical research managers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 341 | 49% |
| 2 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,980 | 29% |
| 3 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 306 | 29% |
| 4 | Vermont | 623,657 | 170 | 27% |
| 5 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 1,095 | 26% |
| 6 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 345 | 26% |
| 7 | Delaware | 961,939 | 247 | 26% |
| 8 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,346 | 24% |
| 9 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 179 | 24% |
| 10 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 2,068 | 23% |
| 11 | California | 39,536,653 | 8,587 | 22% |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 2,756 | 22% |
| 13 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 787 | 22% |
| 14 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 228 | 22% |
| 15 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 195 | 22% |
| 16 | Alaska | 739,795 | 163 | 22% |
| 17 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,811 | 21% |
| 18 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 1,156 | 21% |
| 19 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 279 | 21% |
| 20 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 2,063 | 20% |
Most common cities for clinical research managers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Fernando | 2 | 8% | $118,616 |
| 2 | Frankfort | 2 | 7% | $72,631 |
| 3 | Lawndale | 2 | 6% | $117,046 |
| 4 | Annapolis | 2 | 5% | $81,113 |
| 5 | Charlottesville | 2 | 4% | $78,819 |
| 6 | Boston | 15 | 2% | $100,384 |
| 7 | Alhambra | 2 | 2% | $117,336 |
| 8 | Lansing | 2 | 2% | $87,630 |
| 9 | Santa Monica | 2 | 2% | $117,769 |
| 10 | Brookline | 1 | 2% | $100,414 |
| 11 | Baltimore | 6 | 1% | $81,245 |
| 12 | Atlanta | 4 | 1% | $73,615 |
| 13 | Cambridge | 1 | 1% | $100,321 |
| 14 | Los Angeles | 3 | 0% | $117,623 |
| 15 | Chicago | 2 | 0% | $85,677 |
| 16 | Aurora | 1 | 0% | $71,324 |
| 17 | Baton Rouge | 1 | 0% | $73,950 |
Clinical Research Manager job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of clinical research manager experts
Swarthmore College
Florida Gulf Coast University
Stephen F. Austin State University
University of Minnesota
Stevens Institute of Technology
Drexel University
What will help Clinical Research Managers increase their earning potential?
Michael Brown: I think having a suite of skills is the best strategy. Our graduates learn physics analysis and problem solving skills, but also computer modelling skills, experimental techniques, writing skills, and even how to make an effective presentation.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Clinical Research Managers?
Michael Brown: I don't think so. This has been a challenging year, but 10 years from now, I think graduates will reflect back and see this year as just that: a challenge that we eventually overcame. We developed tools for remote meetings and interviews that I think we will use moving forward.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Clinical Research Manager job market given the pandemic?
Marianela Rivera Ph.D.: The pandemic has had a strong impact on the job market, and it seems that many of those changes are not necessarily going to go away once the situation goes back to normal. The market is highly competitive, even more than before; therefore candidates should be able to demonstrate that they are not limiting themselves to their degrees. Looking for ways to keep up with technology and teaching trends is a must. Flexibility and the willingness and ability to work remotely I think are some of the most important trends in the job market as well. Candidates should be able to demonstrate that they are able to adapt and that they are willing to keep learning. Another significant factor to keep in mind is the importance given to diverse and inclusive environments. The pandemic has also highlighted issues related to sexism, racism, and inequality. Departments of Romance languages, literatures, and linguistics are looking to become more inclusive, therefore, they look for candidates who support an inclusive curriculum, show experience working with diverse populations of students, and demonstrate a commitment to teaching in and about multicultural environments.
What technical skills for a Clinical Research Manager stand out to employers?
Marianela Rivera Ph.D.: In the past, technology was not necessarily one of the main concerns for people interested in romance languages, literatures, and linguistics; however, even before the pandemic, a variety of platforms and resources were made available to facilitate teaching courses related to those fields. The pandemic has highlighted the need to adapt to evolving times, so now technical skills are definitely something employers look for in potential candidates in addition to teaching and research excellence. Knowledge of and experience in online course development, technical writing, social media management, learning management systems, and project management are definitely skills that would stand out to employers.
How have salaries changed over time for Clinical Research Managers?
Marianela Rivera Ph.D.: I think in terms of the salary, there has not been a significant change, especially for those who recently graduate and go into the job market; however, there are many more opportunities in terms of professional development and also to promote and implement interdisciplinary projects. Additional financial support is usually available for those who demonstrate interest and/or experience in developing research and/or service-learning projects, but it all depends on the institution.
Hunter Hampton Ph.D.
Assistant ProfessorStephen F. Austin State University
Department of History
How have salaries changed over time for Clinical Research Managers?
Hunter Hampton Ph.D.: This is difficult to answer because of the variety of fields that someone with a history degree can go into. They range from lawyers, museum curators, writers, business owners, teachers, and a few that get a Ph.D to teach at the college level. For my field as a professor specifically, the salaries are near flat over the past four years. I don't foresee them improving in the near future as state funding continues to decline for higher education. But I do believe that the salary for history majors will increase as employers continue to see the value of hiring humanities graduates.
What soft skills should all Clinical Research Managers possess?
Lee Penn Ph.D.: I hear over and over again from recruiters - they want candidates with strong backgrounds in their majors PLUS two things.
1 - experience with data science, statistics, or some kind of computer science
2 - soft skills (communication, playing well with other, collaboration, etc...)
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Clinical Research Manager job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Ionut Florescu: When the pandemic started in March 2020 the job market drained. I had students with internships blocked and job offers rescinded over night. The fact that we had 87% employment 3 months after graduation for the program I am leading, during pandemic times I think is a testimonial of the strength of our career development team. This changed in December 2020 and I believe this spring we will see a return to normality. We are already doing better than last year and the semester is not even finished.
I am seeing all interviews going online even for companies that are next to us. So, in theory at least, our advantage being right next to Manhattan and Jersey City is not as prominent as before the pandemic. Yet, in the last two months our students are doing as well as before the pandemic. The reason, I think they keep coming back to us is tradition and the fact that our graduates are very technically sound.
Our undergraduate program Quantitative Finance was completely unaffected by the pandemic. The reason is the students typically get offers in their third year. So seniors were unaffected and juniors are now getting offers. This is because the QF program is extremely technical. It probably is the only program in Business Schools in US where students are taking Calc I through IV, and more probability and statistics than any engineering program. I think going forward, those traits are going to become the norm not the exception. I believe every graduate in the future will need to know how to program.
What soft skills should all Clinical Research Managers possess?
Dr. Ionut Florescu: I believe in terms of soft skills, every graduate should be able to explain the results of their complex models to someone who isn't technically sound. So, presentation skills are extremely important. Then the capability of approaching a presenter at a conference or workshop and ask pertinent questions about what they just presented is really important. We require all our students to not only make presentations but also ask questions during other teams' presentations. I believe the most important thing as a teacher in the course is to criticize them when their presentation is not crisp or when the question isn't clear or appropriate.
Rogelio Minana Ph.D.
Vice Provost for Global Engagement, Head of Global Studies and Modern LanguagesDrexel University
Office of Global Engagement
What's a good job out of college for Clinical Research Managers?
Rogelio Minana Ph.D.: In today's global world, a good job out of college is one that enables a young graduate to explore a variety of career paths. The jobs of the future will require imagination, creativity, adaptability, and in many cases the ability to move one's career in different directions by means of interdisciplinarity and intercultural competency. Careers are living entities in today's market, and a job that allows a recent graduate to explore and not feel constrained to just one discipline or task will best prepare them to thrive as they become lifelong learners.
What will help Clinical Research Managers increase their earning potential?
Rogelio Minana Ph.D.: In any field, having broad global qualifications, from experience studying and living abroad to language skills and the ability to work as part of international teams, provides a clear edge. Data indicates that international/global experience leads to higher graduation rates and higher GPA in college, as well as to higher earnings and higher change of promotion to decision-making positions after graduation. Developing intercultural competency and proactively seeking and appreciating diversity, both domestic and international, are critical not only for a healthy job market but also for a fairer society.