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The differences between clinical trials associates and clinical research coordinators 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 trials associate and a clinical research coordinator. Additionally, a clinical trials associate has an average salary of $74,952, which is higher than the $52,459 average annual salary of a clinical research coordinator.
The top three skills for a clinical trials associate include informed consent, patients and clinical operations. The most important skills for a clinical research coordinator are patients, informed consent, and IRB.
| Clinical Trials Associate | Clinical Research Coordinator | |
| Yearly salary | $74,952 | $52,459 |
| Hourly rate | $36.03 | $25.22 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 55,487 | 102,960 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 60% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
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 research coordinator is a healthcare professional responsible for administering clinical trials of drugs or medications. Clinical research coordinators work under the supervision of clinical research managers to collect data and help inform trial participants about the study's objectives. They must ensure that these trials have met all regulations, including drug safety, government regulations, and the organization's code of ethics. Clinical research coordinators must obtain a bachelor's degree in nursing and have at least two years of healthcare experience.
Clinical trials associates and clinical research coordinators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Clinical Trials Associate | Clinical Research Coordinator | |
| Average salary | $74,952 | $52,459 |
| Salary range | Between $46,000 And $121,000 | Between $37,000 And $72,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Richmond, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | Dorsey & Whitney | Genentech |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a clinical trials associate and a clinical research coordinator in terms of educational background:
| Clinical Trials Associate | Clinical Research Coordinator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 60% |
| Most common major | Biology | Nursing |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Duke University |
Here are the differences between clinical trials associates' and clinical research coordinators' demographics:
| Clinical Trials Associate | Clinical Research Coordinator | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 25.3% Female, 74.7% | Male, 20.0% Female, 80.0% |
| 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, 2.5% Unknown, 7.5% Hispanic or Latino, 14.7% Asian, 10.7% White, 64.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |