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Medical research scientist vs clinical research associate

The differences between medical research scientists and clinical research associates can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a medical research scientist, becoming a clinical research associate takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a medical research scientist has an average salary of $78,125, which is higher than the $62,966 average annual salary of a clinical research associate.

The top three skills for a medical research scientist include PCR, research findings and GMP. The most important skills for a clinical research associate are patients, informed consent, and CRA.

Medical research scientist vs clinical research associate overview

Medical Research ScientistClinical Research Associate
Yearly salary$78,125$62,966
Hourly rate$37.56$30.27
Growth rate17%6%
Number of jobs129,65394,336
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 51%Bachelor's Degree, 65%
Average age4144
Years of experience42

Medical research scientist vs clinical research associate salary

Medical research scientists and clinical research associates have different pay scales, as shown below.

Medical Research ScientistClinical Research Associate
Average salary$78,125$62,966
Salary rangeBetween $47,000 And $129,000Between $43,000 And $91,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateRhode IslandCalifornia
Best paying companyOak Ridge National LaboratoryMeta
Best paying industryPharmaceuticalPharmaceutical

Differences between medical research scientist and clinical research associate education

There are a few differences between a medical research scientist and a clinical research associate in terms of educational background:

Medical Research ScientistClinical Research Associate
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 51%Bachelor's Degree, 65%
Most common majorBiologyBiology
Most common collegeUniversity of Southern CaliforniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Medical research scientist vs clinical research associate demographics

Here are the differences between medical research scientists' and clinical research associates' demographics:

Medical Research ScientistClinical Research Associate
Average age4144
Gender ratioMale, 40.0% Female, 60.0%Male, 28.3% Female, 71.7%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.5% Asian, 27.2% White, 52.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%Black or African American, 2.5% Unknown, 7.4% Hispanic or Latino, 13.7% Asian, 13.0% White, 62.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage8%9%

Differences between medical research scientist and clinical research associate duties and responsibilities

Medical research scientist example responsibilities.

  • Manage sample inventory via in-house laboratory information management system (LIMS) and implement additional systems for sample and chemical organization.
  • Experience working in a GMP regulate environment.
  • Experience with``firefight"responses and working with FDA.
  • Mouse colony maintenance are paramount, mouse genotyping, data organization.
  • Evaluate total tissue proteins and serum responses by ELISA, fluorescent and clotting assays.
  • Design and execute experiments to test the anti-allergic effect of CMP against grass, tree and ragweed pollen allergies.
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Clinical research associate example responsibilities.

  • Manage, schedule and train up to 15 CRAs.
  • Recruit patients, attain patient inform consent form, educate subjects on compliance, and ensure patient safety per ICH guidelines.
  • Manage site TMF to ensure communication requirements adherence
  • Manage CRO and regional monitor to complete close out activities, including device accountability management.
  • Manage regional academic and community base oncology practices as the primary contact for all communications and support.
  • Manage the monitoring CRO and the data clean-up efforts for a 510k submission and interim/annual study reports by effectively collaborating cross-functionally.
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Medical research scientist vs clinical research associate skills

Common medical research scientist skills
  • PCR, 21%
  • Research Findings, 20%
  • GMP, 17%
  • Genotyping, 15%
  • Elisa, 13%
  • Extraction, 7%
Common clinical research associate skills
  • Patients, 9%
  • Informed Consent, 7%
  • CRA, 6%
  • Clinical Trials, 6%
  • Clinical Trial Management, 5%
  • Oncology, 4%

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