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The differences between clinical study managers and clinical directors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a clinical study manager, becoming a clinical director takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a clinical director has an average salary of $96,497, which is higher than the $78,195 average annual salary of a clinical study manager.
The top three skills for a clinical study manager include GCP, informed consent and oversight. The most important skills for a clinical director are patients, patient care, and physical therapy.
| Clinical Study Manager | Clinical Director | |
| Yearly salary | $78,195 | $96,497 |
| Hourly rate | $37.59 | $46.39 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 28% |
| Number of jobs | 61,352 | 83,232 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 43% |
| Average age | 44 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
A clinical study manager is primarily in charge of overseeing the efforts in conducting clinical studies, ensuring everything runs smoothly and efficiently. Their responsibilities include setting objectives, organizing budgets and schedules, establishing guidelines, delegating tasks, and developing strategies to optimize operations. They must also monitor the progress of the studies, conducting corrective measures when needed. Furthermore, as a clinical study manager, it is essential to lead and coordinate the workforce to reach goals, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations, including the study's vision and mission.
A clinical director is a managing professional who manages the work of healthcare providers to ensure quality patient care is achieved. Clinical directors are responsible for organizational tasks such as adjusting staff schedules, explaining insurance benefits to the patients, and managing financial reports. They can work either in small clinics with a smaller workforce or larger hospitals with multiple departments. Clinical directors may also assist in the hiring process of healthcare providers and should establish a positive work environment.
Clinical study managers and clinical directors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Clinical Study Manager | Clinical Director | |
| Average salary | $78,195 | $96,497 |
| Salary range | Between $49,000 And $122,000 | Between $63,000 And $145,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | California | Rhode Island |
| Best paying company | Neuralink IT Solutions | Sutro Biopharma |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a clinical study manager and a clinical director in terms of educational background:
| Clinical Study Manager | Clinical Director | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 43% |
| Most common major | Biology | Nursing |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Here are the differences between clinical study managers' and clinical directors' demographics:
| Clinical Study Manager | Clinical Director | |
| Average age | 44 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 35.0% Female, 65.0% | Male, 35.2% Female, 64.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 2.6% Unknown, 7.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.2% Asian, 10.8% White, 63.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 11.6% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 8.1% White, 60.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 12% |