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The differences between clinical trial coordinators and research nurses 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 trial coordinator and a research nurse. Additionally, a research nurse has an average salary of $53,463, which is higher than the $50,720 average annual salary of a clinical trial coordinator.
The top three skills for a clinical trial coordinator include clinical trials, patients and informed consent. The most important skills for a research nurse are patients, informed consent, and data collection.
| Clinical Trial Coordinator | Research Nurse | |
| Yearly salary | $50,720 | $53,463 |
| Hourly rate | $24.38 | $25.70 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 64,859 | 46,665 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 56% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A clinical trial coordinator is responsible for assisting in medical trials and clinical research studies. Clinical trial coordinators support the whole operational process of medical research from its conceptualization until the final outputs. They manage the adequacy of tools and equipment, ensuring the cleanliness and orderliness of the facilities to prevent potential hazards and delays in laboratory testing. A clinical trial coordinator must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in writing progress reports and securing the acquired laboratory samples.
A research nurse specializes in conducting studies and scientific research for healthcare and medical development. They may work for medical facilities, private clinics, learning institutions, and government agencies. It is their duty to design research strategies and procedures, gather and analyze samples through various scientific methods, coordinate with other experts, and develop treatment and healthcare plans to optimize patient services and outcomes. Moreover, a research nurse typically works with a team of researchers, which requires an active communication line while adhering to the organization's policies and regulations.
Clinical trial coordinators and research nurses have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Clinical Trial Coordinator | Research Nurse | |
| Average salary | $50,720 | $53,463 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $72,000 | Between $38,000 And $74,000 |
| Highest paying City | Berkeley, CA | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | California | New York |
| Best paying company | Mohawk Valley Health System | Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Pharmaceutical |
There are a few differences between a clinical trial coordinator and a research nurse in terms of educational background:
| Clinical Trial Coordinator | Research Nurse | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 56% |
| Most common major | Nursing | Nursing |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Duke University |
Here are the differences between clinical trial coordinators' and research nurses' demographics:
| Clinical Trial Coordinator | Research Nurse | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 23.9% Female, 76.1% | Male, 9.2% Female, 90.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 2.6% Unknown, 7.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.2% Asian, 10.5% White, 63.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 2.6% Unknown, 7.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.3% Asian, 8.4% White, 65.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |