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Clinical trials specialist vs clinical project manager

The differences between clinical trials specialists and clinical project managers 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 specialist and a clinical project manager. Additionally, a clinical project manager has an average salary of $100,510, which is higher than the $74,910 average annual salary of a clinical trials specialist.

The top three skills for a clinical trials specialist include patients, clinical research and clinical trials. The most important skills for a clinical project manager are manage cross, patients, and clinical research.

Clinical trials specialist vs clinical project manager overview

Clinical Trials SpecialistClinical Project Manager
Yearly salary$74,910$100,510
Hourly rate$36.01$48.32
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs57,458153,837
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 66%Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Average age4444
Years of experience22

What does a clinical trials specialist do?

A Clinical Trials specialist assist in the daily activities involved in clinical trials. This includes gathering facts, information, and observed data and helps analyze and interpret results. Clinic trials are essential in developing new medicines and vaccines needed for the safeguard of human health. Alongside this primary responsibility, it is also the clinical trial specialist's task to organize data, monitor laboratory equipment, and ensure all specimens needed for the trials are according to instructions.

What does a clinical project manager do?

A clinical project manager specializes in developing and organizing clinical trials. Their responsibilities revolve around planning and coordinating with all necessary personnel and experts, scheduling meetings, and preparing necessary documentation, ensuring compliance with all laws and regulations. Moreover, a clinical project manager must devise strategies and train all staff, develop protocols and guidelines, coordinate with vendors and suppliers, evaluate staff and verify documentation, and assist in all activities to ensure that every process aligns with the project's agenda. Should there be any issues or concerns, a clinical project manager must conduct corrective measures right away.

Clinical trials specialist vs clinical project manager salary

Clinical trials specialists and clinical project managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Clinical Trials SpecialistClinical Project Manager
Average salary$74,910$100,510
Salary rangeBetween $46,000 And $120,000Between $74,000 And $136,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CASouth San Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companyExelixisIntuitive Surgical
Best paying industryPharmaceuticalPharmaceutical

Differences between clinical trials specialist and clinical project manager education

There are a few differences between a clinical trials specialist and a clinical project manager in terms of educational background:

Clinical Trials SpecialistClinical Project Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 66%Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Most common majorBiologyNursing
Most common collegeUniversity of Michigan - Ann ArborUniversity of Pennsylvania

Clinical trials specialist vs clinical project manager demographics

Here are the differences between clinical trials specialists' and clinical project managers' demographics:

Clinical Trials SpecialistClinical Project Manager
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 27.0% Female, 73.0%Male, 32.5% Female, 67.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 2.6% Unknown, 7.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.2% Asian, 11.2% White, 62.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%Black or African American, 2.6% Unknown, 7.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.0% Asian, 10.8% White, 63.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between clinical trials specialist and clinical project manager duties and responsibilities

Clinical trials specialist example responsibilities.

  • Manage all clinical data and subject source documentation through the EDC system to verify compliance and subject eligibility.
  • Lead study data management activities for oncology trials in preparation for study close-out.
  • Review clinical study documents for completeness and compliance with protocol, FDA regulations, ICH and GCP guidelines.
  • Perform routine quality control (QC) of TMF and submit documents to ensure overall quality.
  • Review ICF and study reports and find discrepancies that are missed by CRO management.
  • Collect, review, approve and track in CTMS regulatory essential start-up and amendment documents.
  • Show more

Clinical project manager example responsibilities.

  • Develop, manage, motivate and ensure professional development of project staff (13 CRAs).
  • Manage domestic and international oncology clinical study sites.
  • Manage multiple pharmaceutical studies ensuring compliance with FDA guidelines.
  • Manage the operational aspects and execution of clinical studies focusing on oncology.
  • Supervise rotating team of CRA's contract with the CRO, educating on therapeutic area, and ensuring ICH GCP compliance.
  • Ensure GCP / ICH regulatory compliance on studies, preventing study deviations and provide swift resolutions to possible violations.
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Clinical trials specialist vs clinical project manager skills

Common clinical trials specialist skills
  • Patients, 13%
  • Clinical Research, 10%
  • Clinical Trials, 9%
  • Informed Consent, 8%
  • FDA, 5%
  • Consent Forms, 4%
Common clinical project manager skills
  • Manage Cross, 12%
  • Patients, 9%
  • Clinical Research, 8%
  • Project Management, 7%
  • Clinical Trials, 5%
  • Oversight, 5%

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