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The differences between clinical trials specialists and clinical research 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 research manager. Additionally, a clinical research manager has an average salary of $96,504, 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 research manager are patients, oversight, and FDA.
| Clinical Trials Specialist | Clinical Research Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $74,910 | $96,504 |
| Hourly rate | $36.01 | $46.40 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 57,458 | 100,000 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 55% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
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.
A clinical research manager is responsible for leading a clinical research team in conducting clinical trials for medical purposes. Clinical research managers conduct scientific investigations, following critical methods and procedures within the budget goals and discussed timeframe. They monitor the adequacy of laboratory tools and equipment, request purchase orders, and ensure the authenticity of the materials for the accuracy of findings. A clinical research manager also enforces strict safety standards and protocols during clinical trials to avoid potential hazards and chemical contamination.
Clinical trials specialists and clinical research managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Clinical Trials Specialist | Clinical Research Manager | |
| Average salary | $74,910 | $96,504 |
| Salary range | Between $46,000 And $120,000 | Between $66,000 And $140,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | South San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Exelixis | Varian Medical Systems |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Pharmaceutical |
There are a few differences between a clinical trials specialist and a clinical research manager in terms of educational background:
| Clinical Trials Specialist | Clinical Research Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 55% |
| Most common major | Biology | Nursing |
| Most common college | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between clinical trials specialists' and clinical research managers' demographics:
| Clinical Trials Specialist | Clinical Research Manager | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 27.0% Female, 73.0% | Male, 21.5% Female, 78.5% |
| Race ratio | Black 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, 9.3% White, 65.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |