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Clinical trials specialist vs senior clinical research associate

The differences between clinical trials specialists and senior clinical research associates 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 senior clinical research associate. Additionally, a senior clinical research associate has an average salary of $95,878, 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 senior clinical research associate are patients, informed consent, and oncology.

Clinical trials specialist vs senior clinical research associate overview

Clinical Trials SpecialistSenior Clinical Research Associate
Yearly salary$74,910$95,878
Hourly rate$36.01$46.10
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs57,45894,045
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 66%Bachelor's Degree, 66%
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 senior clinical research associate do?

A Senior Clinical Research Associate performs and coordinates all aspects of the clinical monitoring and site management process. They design, implement, and monitor clinical trials.

Clinical trials specialist vs senior clinical research associate salary

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

Clinical Trials SpecialistSenior Clinical Research Associate
Average salary$74,910$95,878
Salary rangeBetween $46,000 And $120,000Between $64,000 And $142,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaWashington
Best paying companyExelixisAcorda Therapeutics
Best paying industryPharmaceuticalPharmaceutical

Differences between clinical trials specialist and senior clinical research associate education

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

Clinical Trials SpecialistSenior Clinical Research Associate
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 66%Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Most common majorBiologyBiology
Most common collegeUniversity of Michigan - Ann ArborDuke University

Clinical trials specialist vs senior clinical research associate demographics

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

Clinical Trials SpecialistSenior Clinical Research Associate
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 27.0% Female, 73.0%Male, 28.2% Female, 71.8%
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, 11.6% White, 62.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between clinical trials specialist and senior clinical research associate 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

Senior clinical research associate example responsibilities.

  • Manage a consultant to review scientific support and create dossiers on each product that make health claims in the EU.
  • Interact with FDA and other regulatory authorities to manage and facilitate approval of regulatory submissions.
  • Monitor U.S. sites in accordance with ICH and GCP guidelines.
  • Maintain investigators and subjects files, review investigators files for compliance with GCP and FDA regulations, review drug utilization records.
  • Verify informed consent procedures and protocol requirements base on applicable regulatory requirements to ensure protection of study patients.
  • Provide site management for both therapeutic and supportive care oncology protocols that are complex and require knowledge in advance therapeutic areas.
  • Show more

Clinical trials specialist vs senior clinical research associate skills

Common clinical trials specialist skills
  • Patients, 13%
  • Clinical Research, 10%
  • Clinical Trials, 9%
  • Informed Consent, 8%
  • FDA, 5%
  • Consent Forms, 4%
Common senior clinical research associate skills
  • Patients, 11%
  • Informed Consent, 6%
  • Oncology, 5%
  • CRA, 5%
  • Site Management, 5%
  • Field Training, 4%

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