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Clinical trials associate vs study director

The differences between clinical trials associates and study directors 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 study director. Additionally, a study director has an average salary of $82,066, which is higher than the $74,952 average annual salary of a clinical trials associate.

The top three skills for a clinical trials associate include informed consent, patients and clinical operations. The most important skills for a study director are toxicology, data collection, and study design.

Clinical trials associate vs study director overview

Clinical Trials AssociateStudy Director
Yearly salary$74,952$82,066
Hourly rate$36.03$39.45
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs55,4876,789
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 62%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Average age4444
Years of experience22

What does a clinical trials associate do?

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.

What does a study director do?

Technically, a study director carries out scientific responsibilities for protocol design or study plan and approval. Study directors supervise the gathering, analysis, interpretation, documentation, and reporting of data results. They handle the matriculation of students with regard to data management system development. Working with the computer systems team is part of their duties so they will be able to establish a data management system in tracking the study participants. They also support the toxicology team or group on different project teams.

Clinical trials associate vs study director salary

Clinical trials associates and study directors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Clinical Trials AssociateStudy Director
Average salary$74,952$82,066
Salary rangeBetween $46,000 And $121,000Between $56,000 And $118,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CASacramento, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companyDorsey & WhitneyAbbVie
Best paying industryPharmaceuticalHealth Care

Differences between clinical trials associate and study director education

There are a few differences between a clinical trials associate and a study director in terms of educational background:

Clinical Trials AssociateStudy Director
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 62%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Most common majorBiologyBiology
Most common collegeUniversity of Pennsylvania-

Clinical trials associate vs study director demographics

Here are the differences between clinical trials associates' and study directors' demographics:

Clinical Trials AssociateStudy Director
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 25.3% Female, 74.7%Male, 54.9% Female, 45.1%
Race ratioBlack 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, 14.6% Asian, 12.0% White, 62.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between clinical trials associate and study director duties and responsibilities

Clinical trials associate example responsibilities.

  • Manage trial master files and study document to meet GCP/ICH and internal guidelines for records retention.
  • Audit TMF to ensure all require regulatory documentation are collected and lead.
  • Work closely with investigators to recruit eligible patients to clinical protocols, manage data collection and preparation.
  • Preform ICF customization in accordance with ICH guidelines, GCP s and local regulatory requirements.
  • Support the setup, data entry and QC of the system to ensure accuracy and quality of data.
  • Monitor clinical data and resolve inconsistencies according to FDA regulations and ICF guidelines.
    • Show more

Study director example responsibilities.

  • Design, conducts and manages studies for EPA and oce compliance, such as water solubility and partition coefficient studies.
  • Manage all outsource toxicology studies at contract research laboratories.
  • Establish and maintain strong community partnerships to achieve HIV prevention objectives.
  • Evaluate study design and toxicology data as needed.
  • Consult drug development scientists on data interpretation and study conclusions for FDA submission.
  • Participate on the ISO certification team.
    • Show more

Clinical trials associate vs study director skills

Common clinical trials associate skills
  • Informed Consent, 9%
  • Patients, 7%
  • Clinical Operations, 6%
  • FDA, 6%
  • Consent Forms, 5%
  • TMF, 5%
Common study director skills
  • Toxicology, 10%
  • Data Collection, 7%
  • Study Design, 7%
  • Project Management, 6%
  • Data Analysis, 6%
  • FDA, 6%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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