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The differences between clinical trials associates and clinical researchers 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 researcher. Additionally, a clinical trials associate has an average salary of $74,952, which is higher than the $55,453 average annual salary of a clinical researcher.
The top three skills for a clinical trials associate include informed consent, patients and clinical operations. The most important skills for a clinical researcher are patients, informed consent, and IRB.
| Clinical Trials Associate | Clinical Researcher | |
| Yearly salary | $74,952 | $55,453 |
| Hourly rate | $36.03 | $26.66 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 55,487 | 60,864 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 58% |
| 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 researcher is primarily in charge of conducting research trials for medicine and health care development. Their responsibilities mainly revolve around conducting extensive research and analysis by gathering samples, performing experiments, working with research participants, and collaborating with other researchers and scientists. Moreover, as a clinical researcher, it is essential to maintain records of all experiments, summarize findings into reports and presentations, and monitor every progress, all while adhering to the research's deadlines, budgets, goals, and policies.
Clinical trials associates and clinical researchers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Clinical Trials Associate | Clinical Researcher | |
| Average salary | $74,952 | $55,453 |
| Salary range | Between $46,000 And $121,000 | Between $38,000 And $79,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Santa Rosa, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Dorsey & Whitney | Edwards Lifesciences |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Pharmaceutical |
There are a few differences between a clinical trials associate and a clinical researcher in terms of educational background:
| Clinical Trials Associate | Clinical Researcher | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 58% |
| Most common major | Biology | Biology |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor |
Here are the differences between clinical trials associates' and clinical researchers' demographics:
| Clinical Trials Associate | Clinical Researcher | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 25.3% Female, 74.7% | Male, 38.3% Female, 61.7% |
| 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, 7.4% Hispanic or Latino, 14.0% Asian, 13.5% White, 62.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |