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Clinical specialist vs clinical manager

The differences between clinical specialists and clinical managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a clinical specialist, becoming a clinical manager takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a clinical manager has an average salary of $84,066, which is higher than the $67,002 average annual salary of a clinical specialist.

The top three skills for a clinical specialist include patients, excellent interpersonal and patient care. The most important skills for a clinical manager are patients, customer service, and home health.

Clinical specialist vs clinical manager overview

Clinical SpecialistClinical Manager
Yearly salary$67,002$84,066
Hourly rate$32.21$40.42
Growth rate6%28%
Number of jobs55,67081,863
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 57%Bachelor's Degree, 48%
Average age4447
Years of experience46

What does a clinical specialist do?

A Clinical Specialists role is to assist in the selling of particular medical devices that need more detailed and complex knowledge. They work in laboratories as part of a team of technologists, technicians, and supervisors.

What does a clinical manager do?

A clinical manager is responsible for monitoring medical procedures and administrative duties to ensure the smooth flow of operations in a healthcare facility. Clinical managers manage the facility's staffing needs, evaluate budget reports, assist healthcare professionals on administering medical duties, and develop strategic procedures to optimize treatments and maximize productivity. A clinical manager enforces strict sanitary and safety regulations for everyone's strict compliance. They also need to have excellent knowledge of the medical industry to promote medical processes and provide the highest quality care.

Clinical specialist vs clinical manager salary

Clinical specialists and clinical managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Clinical SpecialistClinical Manager
Average salary$67,002$84,066
Salary rangeBetween $39,000 And $113,000Between $55,000 And $128,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateConnecticutRhode Island
Best paying companyGenentechGenentech
Best paying industryPharmaceuticalHealth Care

Differences between clinical specialist and clinical manager education

There are a few differences between a clinical specialist and a clinical manager in terms of educational background:

Clinical SpecialistClinical Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 57%Bachelor's Degree, 48%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Clinical specialist vs clinical manager demographics

Here are the differences between clinical specialists' and clinical managers' demographics:

Clinical SpecialistClinical Manager
Average age4447
Gender ratioMale, 29.6% Female, 70.4%Male, 22.6% Female, 77.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.9% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 9.0% White, 66.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 11.4% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 14.4% Asian, 8.0% White, 61.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage9%12%

Differences between clinical specialist and clinical manager duties and responsibilities

Clinical specialist example responsibilities.

  • Collaborate with teams managing Medicare / Medicaid (CMS) requirements to increase care access for all patients.
  • Manage CNS supervise hospital base cardiac surgery clinic.
  • Collaborate with ambulatory practice managers as lead patient scheduler to develop back office scheduler position to manage all disease group patients.
  • Monitor patients with implant devices and provide ongoing programming recommendations to cardiologists and surgical staff.
  • Monitor documentation to ensure compliance with ICH GCP guidelines and interact with regulatory team members.
  • Serve as NRP and BLS instructor.
  • Show more

Clinical manager example responsibilities.

  • Track and manage IRB approvals.
  • Lead a team of 25 patient service coordinators and receptionists.
  • Manage and lead teams consisting of multiple internal departments as well as CRO and other vendors.
  • Manage data for research project billing and accountability for drug study product in accordance with FDA regulations.
  • Manage studies in association with the lead CRA to ensure all project expectations and milestones are meet.
  • Manage all facets of daily operations relating to imaging services, radiation therapy, and medical oncology services.
  • Show more

Clinical specialist vs clinical manager skills

Common clinical specialist skills
  • Patients, 21%
  • Excellent Interpersonal, 7%
  • Patient Care, 6%
  • Clinical Support, 6%
  • Customer Service, 5%
  • Technical Support, 4%
Common clinical manager skills
  • Patients, 19%
  • Customer Service, 8%
  • Home Health, 6%
  • Direct Patient Care, 5%
  • Quality Patient Care, 5%
  • Patient Education, 3%

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