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The differences between clinical researchers and senior 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 researcher and a senior research associate. Additionally, a senior research associate has an average salary of $72,618, which is higher than the $55,453 average annual salary of a clinical researcher.
The top three skills for a clinical researcher include patients, informed consent and IRB. The most important skills for a senior research associate are patients, data analysis, and CRISPR.
| Clinical Researcher | Senior Research Associate | |
| Yearly salary | $55,453 | $72,618 |
| Hourly rate | $26.66 | $34.91 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 60,864 | 58,903 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 58% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A clinical researcher is primarily in charge of conducting research trials for medicine and health care development. Their responsibilities mainly revolve around conducting extensive research and analysis by gathering samples, performing experiments, working with research participants, and collaborating with other researchers and scientists. Moreover, as a clinical researcher, it is essential to maintain records of all experiments, summarize findings into reports and presentations, and monitor every progress, all while adhering to the research's deadlines, budgets, goals, and policies.
A Senior Research Associate works closely with research team members to implement research ideas. They diagnose, solve system/software problems, and install application software according to research needs.
Clinical researchers and senior research associates have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Clinical Researcher | Senior Research Associate | |
| Average salary | $55,453 | $72,618 |
| Salary range | Between $38,000 And $79,000 | Between $51,000 And $102,000 |
| Highest paying City | Santa Rosa, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | Edwards Lifesciences | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Government |
There are a few differences between a clinical researcher and a senior research associate in terms of educational background:
| Clinical Researcher | Senior Research Associate | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 58% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Most common major | Biology | Biology |
| Most common college | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between clinical researchers' and senior research associates' demographics:
| Clinical Researcher | Senior Research Associate | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 38.3% Female, 61.7% | Male, 53.6% Female, 46.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 2.5% Unknown, 7.4% Hispanic or Latino, 14.0% Asian, 13.5% White, 62.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 2.5% Unknown, 7.4% Hispanic or Latino, 13.9% Asian, 13.4% White, 62.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |