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The differences between clinical study managers and clinical 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 study manager and a clinical research associate. Additionally, a clinical study manager has an average salary of $78,195, which is higher than the $62,966 average annual salary of a clinical research associate.
The top three skills for a clinical study manager include GCP, informed consent and oversight. The most important skills for a clinical research associate are patients, informed consent, and CRA.
| Clinical Study Manager | Clinical Research Associate | |
| Yearly salary | $78,195 | $62,966 |
| Hourly rate | $37.59 | $30.27 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 61,352 | 94,336 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
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 research associate is responsible for assisting medical professionals in clinical trials and conducting research studies on medications and medical procedures. Clinical research associates monitor the research materials, ensuring its safety and reliability through trial procedures, writing comprehensive reports of results, and disseminating information across the concerned parties. They also provide recommendations on improving clinical processes, reiterating protocol requirements, and maintaining strict confidentiality of the trial subjects. A clinical research associate must have extensive knowledge of the medical industry, including its disciplines and principles, to perform duties accurately under minimal supervision.
Clinical study managers and clinical research associates have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Clinical Study Manager | Clinical Research Associate | |
| Average salary | $78,195 | $62,966 |
| Salary range | Between $49,000 And $122,000 | Between $43,000 And $91,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Neuralink IT Solutions | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Pharmaceutical |
There are a few differences between a clinical study manager and a clinical research associate in terms of educational background:
| Clinical Study Manager | Clinical Research Associate | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Biology | Biology |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between clinical study managers' and clinical research associates' demographics:
| Clinical Study Manager | Clinical Research Associate | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 35.0% Female, 65.0% | Male, 28.3% Female, 71.7% |
| 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, 2.5% Unknown, 7.4% Hispanic or Latino, 13.7% Asian, 13.0% White, 62.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |