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Clinical trials specialist vs clinical research coordinator

The differences between clinical trials specialists 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 specialist and a clinical research coordinator. Additionally, a clinical trials specialist has an average salary of $74,910, which is higher than the $52,459 average annual salary of a clinical research coordinator.

The top three skills for a clinical trials specialist include patients, clinical research and clinical trials. The most important skills for a clinical research coordinator are patients, informed consent, and IRB.

Clinical trials specialist vs clinical research coordinator overview

Clinical Trials SpecialistClinical Research Coordinator
Yearly salary$74,910$52,459
Hourly rate$36.01$25.22
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs57,458102,960
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 research coordinator do?

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 specialist vs clinical research coordinator salary

Clinical trials specialists and clinical research coordinators have different pay scales, as shown below.

Clinical Trials SpecialistClinical Research Coordinator
Average salary$74,910$52,459
Salary rangeBetween $46,000 And $120,000Between $37,000 And $72,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CARichmond, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaWashington
Best paying companyExelixisGenentech
Best paying industryPharmaceuticalHealth Care

Differences between clinical trials specialist and clinical research coordinator education

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

Clinical Trials SpecialistClinical Research Coordinator
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 66%Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Most common majorBiologyNursing
Most common collegeUniversity of Michigan - Ann ArborDuke University

Clinical trials specialist vs clinical research coordinator demographics

Here are the differences between clinical trials specialists' and clinical research coordinators' demographics:

Clinical Trials SpecialistClinical Research Coordinator
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 27.0% Female, 73.0%Male, 20.0% Female, 80.0%
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, 2.5% Unknown, 7.5% Hispanic or Latino, 14.7% Asian, 10.7% White, 64.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between clinical trials specialist and clinical research coordinator 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 research coordinator example responsibilities.

  • Assess study participants for adverse reactions or complications and manage side effects of chemotherapy and other study relate drugs.
  • Establish and maintain strong community partnerships to achieve HIV prevention objectives.
  • Direct acquisition and analysis of functional MRI research data following GCP and FDA regulations
  • Prepare and maintain IRB and regulatory documentation for various research projects and consent patients for clinical research.
  • Facilitate constant communication between principal investigators, oncology nurses, and patients to address concerns and maximize eligibility and enrollment.
  • Schedule patient for study procedures; initiate/coordinate drug orders, laboratory procedures and treatments for patients base on standing protocol orders.
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Clinical trials specialist vs clinical research coordinator skills

Common clinical trials specialist skills
  • Patients, 13%
  • Clinical Research, 10%
  • Clinical Trials, 9%
  • Informed Consent, 8%
  • FDA, 5%
  • Consent Forms, 4%
Common clinical research coordinator skills
  • Patients, 11%
  • Informed Consent, 10%
  • IRB, 7%
  • Data Collection, 5%
  • Research Projects, 4%
  • Patient Care, 4%

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