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The differences between clinical trials associates and clinical assistants 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 trials associate, becoming a clinical assistant takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a clinical trials associate has an average salary of $74,952, which is higher than the $30,215 average annual salary of a clinical assistant.
The top three skills for a clinical trials associate include informed consent, patients and clinical operations. The most important skills for a clinical assistant are patients, customer service, and PET.
| Clinical Trials Associate | Clinical Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $74,952 | $30,215 |
| Hourly rate | $36.03 | $14.53 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 16% |
| Number of jobs | 55,487 | 101,926 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 49% |
| Average age | 44 | 37 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 12 |
A clinical trial associate is in charge of coordinating and executing clinical trial operations, ensuring to meet all goals within budgets and deadlines. Their responsibilities revolve around preparing and processing necessary documentation and certifications, submitting requirements to government agencies, distributing essential materials within the clinical teams, and reviewing study sheets, ensuring every paperwork is complete and accurate. Furthermore, as a clinical trial associate, it is vital to lead while implementing the company's policies and regulations, including its vision and mission.
A clinical assistant is responsible for assisting medical professionals with medical procedures and ensure a high level of patient care. Clinical assistants perform minor clinic procedures such as taking patients' temperature, sterilizing medical equipment, proper dumping of disposable items, responding to patients' inquiries and concerns, processing payments, arranging appointment schedules, and maintaining an organized record of patients' information, such as their medical history and health insurance records. A clinical assistant must strictly adhere to sanitary and hygienic procedures at all times to promote a safe and clean environment for the patients.
Clinical trials associates and clinical assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Clinical Trials Associate | Clinical Assistant | |
| Average salary | $74,952 | $30,215 |
| Salary range | Between $46,000 And $121,000 | Between $13,000 And $66,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Brockton, MA |
| Highest paying state | California | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Dorsey & Whitney | Columbia University in the City of New York |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Pharmaceutical |
There are a few differences between a clinical trials associate and a clinical assistant in terms of educational background:
| Clinical Trials Associate | Clinical Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 49% |
| Most common major | Biology | Psychology |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | - |
Here are the differences between clinical trials associates' and clinical assistants' demographics:
| Clinical Trials Associate | Clinical Assistant | |
| Average age | 44 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 25.3% Female, 74.7% | Male, 18.4% Female, 81.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 2.5% Unknown, 7.4% Hispanic or Latino, 13.9% Asian, 13.4% White, 62.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 11.1% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 21.1% Asian, 8.9% White, 53.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 6% |