How to hire a clinical statistical programmer

How to hire a clinical statistical programmer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step clinical statistical programmer hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a clinical statistical programmer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new clinical statistical programmer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a clinical statistical programmer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a clinical statistical programmer, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A clinical statistical programmer's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, clinical statistical programmers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list shows salaries for various types of clinical statistical programmers.

   Type of Clinical Statistical Programmer	Description	Hourly rate
   Clinical Statistical Programmer	Computer programmers write and test code that allows computer applications and software programs to function properly. They turn the program designs created by software developers and engineers into instructions that a computer can follow.	$28-56
   Software Developer	A software developer is responsible for designing application systems to support the user and business' needs. Duties of a software developer include testing software codes, performing diagnostic programs and troubleshooting, interpreting system data and establishing efficient parameters, and ensuring the compatibility of the systems... Show more	$32-54
   Software Engineer	A software engineer is a computer science professional who is responsible for the development of information systems, designing and building computer systems software and applications software. They often prefer to call themselves as a software developer or computer programmer... Show more	$35-65

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Macro
   • Data Management
   • Adam
   • Efficacy
   • SAS Programs
   • FDA
   • Analysis Datasets
   • QC
   • ISE
   • Oncology
   • Clinical Trial Data
   • Data Analysis
   • Data Validation
   • CRF

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage clinical trial validation studies and QC for NDA submission.
   • Manage the system test for the installation of large IBM mainframe COBOL, CICS, IMS software package.
   • Lead statistical analysis and programming for data service projects for clinical trials to submit for FDA approval, for various clients.
   • Develop different VBA macro tools to automate reporting and assure information accuracy, overlapping avoidance and management control.
   • Create safety and efficacy customize reports for FDA regulatory submissions.
   • Programme quaternion math library using C++.

   More clinical statistical programmer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your clinical statistical programmer job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A clinical statistical programmer can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, clinical statistical programmers' average salary in hawaii is 38% less than in new hampshire.
   • Seniority. Entry-level clinical statistical programmers 50% less than senior-level clinical statistical programmers.
   • Certifications. A clinical statistical programmer with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a clinical statistical programmer's salary.

   Average clinical statistical programmer salary

   $83,894yearly

   $40.33 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level clinical statistical programmer salary

   $59,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 14, 2025

   Average clinical statistical programmer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$103,003	$50
   2	Connecticut	$94,834	$46
   3	Massachusetts	$92,764	$45
   4	Washington	$91,549	$44
   5	Maryland	$90,080	$43
   6	North Carolina	$88,207	$42
   7	New York	$86,527	$42
   8	New Jersey	$85,583	$41
   9	Indiana	$82,911	$40
   10	Texas	$82,513	$40
   11	Michigan	$79,853	$38
   12	Ohio	$75,662	$36
   13	Kansas	$74,090	$36

   Average clinical statistical programmer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Genentech	$113,892	$54.76	2
   2	Biogen	$112,741	$54.20	1
   3	AbbVie	$112,628	$54.15	69
   4	Novartis	$111,741	$53.72	5
   5	Bristol-Myers Squibb	$111,072	$53.40	15
   6	AstraZeneca	$109,338	$52.57
   7	Boehringer Ingelheim	$109,177	$52.49	9
   8	Novo Nordisk	$108,930	$52.37
   9	Tech Data	$107,534	$51.70
   10	Gilead Sciences	$101,733	$48.91	8
   11	Sony Electronics	$101,453	$48.78
   12	Alexion Pharmaceuticals	$101,099	$48.61	2
   13	Edwards Lifesciences	$100,834	$48.48	94
   14	Amgen	$100,360	$48.25	5
   15	Sanofi US	$99,992	$48.07	9
   16	Medidata	$99,730	$47.95
   17	Onyx Pharmaceuticals	$99,597	$47.88
   18	Abbott	$99,115	$47.65	274
   19	BioMarin	$98,968	$47.58	2
   20	Vertex Pharmaceuticals	$98,692	$47.45	4

4. Writing a clinical statistical programmer job description

   A job description for a clinical statistical programmer role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a clinical statistical programmer job description:

   Clinical statistical programmer job description example

   With a unique legacy in dermatology as well as decades of cutting-edge innovation, Galderma is the leading company solely dedicated to skin and advancing the future of dermatology.
   
   We look for people who focus on getting results, embrace learning and bring a positive energy. They must combine initiative with a sense of teamwork and collaboration. Above all, they must be passionate about doing something meaningful for consumers, patients and the healthcare professionals we serve every day. We aim to empower each employee and to promote their personal growth all the while ensuring business needs are met now and into the future. Across our company, we embrace diversity and respect the dignity, privacy and personal rights of every employee.
   
   At Galderma, we actively give our teams reasons to believe in our ambition to become the leading dermatology company in the world. With us, you have the ultimate opportunity to gain new and challenging work experiences and create unparalleled, direct impact.
   Job Description
   
   As our new Statistical Programmer, you will be responsible for leading, developing and implementing statistical solutions to the Galderma R&D sponsored clinical trials. Within this role, you will perform statistical programming activities for all assigned clinical studies sponsored by Galderma.
   
   Job Responsibilities
   Provide statistical programming expertise with respect to Statistical Programming, Biostatistics Perform/Coordinate all statistical programming related tasks Support the development of tables, listings and figures for assigned projects Work closely with statisticians to deliver all the statistical deliverables Create derived data set specifications for all assigned studies and integrated summaries Provide oversight and guidance to CRO for all statistical programming related activities, including development and validation of ADaM Review statistical analysis plans for all assigned studies and integrated summaries and provide comments to study biostatistician Review annotated case report forms and provide comments Contribute to process improvement initiatives as assigned
   Minimum Requirements
   Minimum of 6-7 years of SAS Programming experience including statistical programming experience in pharmaceutical setting Extensive experience in applying SAS programming language, preferably in pharmaceuticals setting Very good knowledge of CDISC Standards, including SDTM, ADaM Master's or bachelor's degree in Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science, or any related field Knowledge in SAS macros Good understanding in statistical methods used in statistical analysis Ability to review protocol and SAP and provide feedback Good understanding in Good Programming Practices in pharmaceutical industry Fundamental knowledge of GCP standards Good interpersonal skills

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right clinical statistical programmer for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with clinical statistical programmers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit clinical statistical programmers who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your clinical statistical programmer job on Zippia to find and recruit clinical statistical programmer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as dice, engineering.com, stack overflow, it job pro.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with clinical statistical programmer candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   If your interviews with clinical statistical programmer applicants aren't enough to make a decision, you should also consider including a test project. These are often the best, most straightforward, and least bias-prone ways of determining who will likely succeed in the role. If you don't know how to design an appropriate test, you can ask someone else on the team to create it or take a look at these websites to get a few ideas:

   • TestDome
   • CodeSignal
   • Testlify
   • BarRaiser
   • Coderbyte

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new clinical statistical programmer

   Once you've selected the best clinical statistical programmer candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new clinical statistical programmer. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a clinical statistical programmer?