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Job outlook for clinical researchers in the United States
Clinical researcher job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected clinical researcher job growth rate is 6% from 2018-2028.
About 4,600 new jobs for clinical researchers are projected over the next decade.
Clinical researcher salaries have increased 15% for clinical researchers in the last 5 years.
There are over 8,135 clinical researchers currently employed in the United States.
There are 60,864 active clinical researcher job openings in the US.
The average clinical researcher salary is $55,453.
Are clinical researcher jobs in demand?
Clinical researcher job and salary trends over time
Clinical researcher jobs over time
Clinical researcher job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,135 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 8,256 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 7,369 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 6,557 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 6,117 | 0.00% |
Average clinical researcher salary over time
Clinical researcher salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $55,453 | $26.66 | +6.8% |
| 2025 | $51,899 | $24.95 | +4.2% |
| 2024 | $49,792 | $23.94 | +4.1% |
| 2023 | $47,827 | $22.99 | --0.7% |
| 2022 | $48,180 | $23.16 | --0.3% |
Clinical researcher jobs by state
Most common states for clinical researchers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 232 | 33% |
| 2 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,237 | 18% |
| 3 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 1,013 | 14% |
| 4 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 188 | 14% |
| 5 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 151 | 14% |
| 6 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 95 | 13% |
| 7 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 752 | 12% |
| 8 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 498 | 12% |
| 9 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 129 | 12% |
| 10 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 101 | 12% |
| 11 | California | 39,536,653 | 4,448 | 11% |
| 12 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 628 | 11% |
| 13 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 387 | 11% |
| 14 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 879 | 10% |
| 15 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 544 | 10% |
| 16 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 280 | 10% |
| 17 | Vermont | 623,657 | 63 | 10% |
| 18 | Florida | 20,984,400 | 1,839 | 9% |
| 19 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 625 | 9% |
| 20 | Delaware | 961,939 | 88 | 9% |
Most common cities for clinical researchers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Fernando | 4 | 16% | $72,714 |
| 2 | Lawndale | 4 | 12% | $71,884 |
| 3 | Alhambra | 4 | 5% | $72,116 |
| 4 | Urbana | 2 | 5% | $57,921 |
| 5 | Gainesville | 4 | 3% | $49,836 |
| 6 | Lake Worth | 1 | 3% | $51,782 |
| 7 | West Des Moines | 1 | 2% | $42,903 |
| 8 | Carmel | 1 | 1% | $42,870 |
| 9 | Rochester | 1 | 1% | $57,965 |
| 10 | Los Angeles | 6 | 0% | $72,177 |
| 11 | Baltimore | 3 | 0% | $57,392 |
| 12 | Miami | 2 | 0% | $52,432 |
| 13 | Boston | 1 | 0% | $63,124 |
| 14 | Dallas | 1 | 0% | $54,250 |
| 15 | Jacksonville | 1 | 0% | $49,497 |
| 16 | Mesa | 1 | 0% | $66,662 |
| 17 | Philadelphia | 1 | 0% | $51,772 |
| 18 | Saint Paul | 1 | 0% | $57,961 |
Clinical Researcher job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of clinical researcher experts
Ohio State University
Vanderbilt University
Duquesne University
University of Wisconsin - Green Bay
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Swarthmore College
Florida Gulf Coast University
University of Minnesota
Stevens Institute of Technology
Drexel University
Christian Brothers University
La Sierra University
Dr. Judson Jeffries
ProfessorOhio State University
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, And Group Studies
What general advice would you give to a Clinical Researcher?
Dr. Judson Jeffries: Introduce yourself to some of the more noteworthy people in the field at conferences. Establish a relationship with those folks. I am not saying that your circle should include only the most celebrated academics in your field, but you want to get to know maybe 3 to 4 such persons for the following reasons: 1) to position oneself to get sage, counsel and advice from seasoned academics 2) to learn about various opportunities that may not be publicly advertised and 3) at some point the person 's department will need people to evaluate that person for tenure and promotion. Some departments will ask the junior professor for a list of names. At that point the junior professor will be equipped to provide that list. Finally, go into those fields understanding that you have a responsibility to advocate on behalf of those historically marginalized groups that you're studying. What's more, that person needs to understand that what comes with that is doing research that addresses some of the challenges those groups face.
What Clinical Researcher skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Judson Jeffries: Easy, have a vita that clearly shows strong credentials such as publications and the like, which will help said person get multiple interviews, which may lead to multiple offers. Once that person gets multiple offers, that person cannot be shy about negotiating. Everything is negotiable.
What will help Clinical Researchers increase their earning potential?
Dr. Judson Jeffries: Grant writing ability. Scholars will become increasingly reliant on securing grants as universities and colleges continue to tighten their belts. This is especially true for state schools where some state legislatures are not as generous with funding as they once were. The state supported The Ohio State University is one such example. There are many more.
Phillis Sheppard Ph.D.
E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Chair Professor of Religion, Psychology, and Culture and Womanist ThoughtVanderbilt University
Theological And Ministerial Studies
What general advice would you give to a Clinical Researcher?
Phillis Sheppard Ph.D.: I tell recent graduates to read the contract and the faculty manual. Make sure you understand the long term implications of your early salary. Second, plan for retirement now; do not wait until you are making the salary of your fantasies. Take advantage of opportunities to learn about financial health and management. Third, position yourself. Write and publish directly and clearly in your field of study and adjacent areas. Fourth, create a plan with vision for the career you think you want. Finally, one way or the other, you will carve out a career or job, but a vocation is nurtured by paying attention to where you experience passion and a deep sense of belonging. A vocation is where your heart and intellect find a meaningful place in responding to the world's needs. Your salary best positions you when it supports your whole life and commitments.
Jan Levine
Professor of Law and Director, Legal Research & Writing ProgramDuquesne University
School of Law
What soft skills should all Clinical Researchers possess?
Jan Levine: While research skills are important, conveying what was found is even more important. Legal research is not conducted in isolation as an experiment in the bibliography; what matters is using what's found to solve a legal problem. So that means demonstrating the application of the fruits of research in a written document, such as an office memorandum, appellate brief, law review article, or another professional setting or context.
Mario Jimenez Chacon
Assistant ProfessorUniversity of Wisconsin - Green Bay
Humanities Department
What soft skills should all Clinical Researchers possess?
Mario Jimenez Chacon: Interpersonal skills, work ethic, the ability to work in teams, flexibility, and communication skills are all fundamental soft skills. Researchers are also humans and work with humans, so it's essential to have these soft skills to create a welcoming research community.
Dr. Sharon Locke Ph.D.
Director, Center for STEM Research, Education, and Outreach, Professor, Department of Environmental Sciences, ISSP Sustainability Excellence AssociateSouthern Illinois University Edwardsville
Department of Environmental Sciences
What soft skills should all Clinical Researchers possess?
Dr. Sharon Locke Ph.D.: -Strong written and oral communication are most important. If you cannot write well, you cannot be a successful scientist. Period.
-Evidence of skills in working as part of a team of diverse people and ability to understand the culture and language across scientific/technical disciplines--for example, an environmental chemist who understands something about policy or an environmental health specialist that would be able to collect and interpret data collected from community members.
-Willingness to be a lifelong learner.
-Something that helps an applicant stand out, such as experience with project management software or a foreign language.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Clinical Researchers?
Dr. Sharon Locke Ph.D.: -How to use and calibrate field equipment such as water sampling or water quality measurement.
-How to design a research study/experimental design.
-GIS skills
-Environmental statistics skills
-Knowledge of lab and field safety protocols
-Something that helps an applicant to stand out, such as drone pilot certification.
What will help Clinical Researchers 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.
What technical skills for a Clinical Researcher 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.
What soft skills should all Clinical Researchers 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 soft skills should all Clinical Researchers 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.
How have salaries changed over time for Clinical Researchers?
Dr. Ionut Florescu: Our programs are producing graduates who work in the financial services industry, and our salaries are high compared to other domains. However, in 2019 the year before the pandemic, it was the first time when our graduates were attracted to the technology sector because the compensation was higher. It was also the first time when our Business School data science programs had a higher stating salary than the traditionally finance programs. Thus, I saw a shift in the skills, with statistics now being a required skill and not a "good to have" anymore. I do believe this trend will continue for at least a couple of years. The salaries will go up going forward. They did go down in 2020.
Rogelio Minana Ph.D.
Vice Provost for Global Engagement, Head of Global Studies and Modern LanguagesDrexel University
Office of Global Engagement
What will help Clinical Researchers 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.
Dr. Neal Palmer Ph.D.
Chair, Associate ProfessorChristian Brothers University
Department of History and Political Science
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Clinical Researchers to find work opportunities?
Dr. Neal Palmer Ph.D.: The answer to that question likely won't change from pre- to post-pandemic. Southern cities such as Nashville and Memphis were booming before the pandemic, and that will likely continue. These are good places to find jobs because the cost of living is relatively low, there are vibrant culture and entertainment, and there is not as much college-educated competition for jobs as in larger cities.
What general advice would you give to a Clinical Researcher?
Friedbert Ninow Ph.D.: A degree in theological and ministerial studies (or more generally in Religious Studies) does not necessarily have to lead into pastoral ministry. There are many opportunities where a Religion degree is a good foundation: Chaplaincy (e.g., Hospital, Army, Jail, etc.), Politics & Society, Journalism, Health Sciences, Arts, etc.
General advice: Let your heart speak first, not possible career chances or salary perspectives, etc. (I understand that this is important, too).