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The differences between clinical trials associates and research project 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 research project coordinator. Additionally, a clinical trials associate has an average salary of $74,952, which is higher than the $48,683 average annual salary of a research project coordinator.
The top three skills for a clinical trials associate include informed consent, patients and clinical operations. The most important skills for a research project coordinator are data collection, patients, and project management.
| Clinical Trials Associate | Research Project Coordinator | |
| Yearly salary | $74,952 | $48,683 |
| Hourly rate | $36.03 | $23.41 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 55,487 | 67,800 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| 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.
Research Project Coordinators take on a lead role in maintaining and creating processes that support the execution of a research project. Their duties include researching governance requirements, preparing for contract bidding, manage budgeting of a project to meet a specified timeline, and present findings of a project to all stakeholders involved. The Research Project Coordinator will also support administrative tasks, including producing corporate reports, organizing committee meetings, and developing a research database to track active milestones achieved.
Clinical trials associates and research project coordinators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Clinical Trials Associate | Research Project Coordinator | |
| Average salary | $74,952 | $48,683 |
| Salary range | Between $46,000 And $121,000 | Between $36,000 And $65,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Middletown, CT |
| Highest paying state | California | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | Dorsey & Whitney | Dignity Health |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Professional |
There are a few differences between a clinical trials associate and a research project coordinator in terms of educational background:
| Clinical Trials Associate | Research Project Coordinator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Most common major | Biology | Psychology |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Duke University |
Here are the differences between clinical trials associates' and research project coordinators' demographics:
| Clinical Trials Associate | Research Project Coordinator | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 25.3% Female, 74.7% | Male, 37.8% Female, 62.2% |
| 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, 13.9% Asian, 13.3% White, 62.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |