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Research coordinator vs clinical project manager

The differences between research coordinators 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 research coordinator and a clinical project manager. Additionally, a clinical project manager has an average salary of $100,510, which is higher than the $48,974 average annual salary of a research coordinator.

The top three skills for a research coordinator include patients, informed consent and data collection. The most important skills for a clinical project manager are manage cross, patients, and clinical research.

Research coordinator vs clinical project manager overview

Research CoordinatorClinical Project Manager
Yearly salary$48,974$100,510
Hourly rate$23.55$48.32
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs65,406153,837
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Average age4444
Years of experience22

What does a research coordinator do?

A research coordinator is responsible for assisting the development of research data from clinical trials and laboratory investigations under the supervision of a lead researcher or a research supervisor. In some cases, research coordinators conduct field investigations and analyze existing research materials upon understanding the scope and limitations of the study. They enter their findings and useful resources on the research database for reference to the research team. A research coordinator must have excellent communication skills, both written and oral, especially on gathering data and coordinating with other researchers for the progress and updates of the study.

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.

Research coordinator vs clinical project manager salary

Research coordinators and clinical project managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Research CoordinatorClinical Project Manager
Average salary$48,974$100,510
Salary rangeBetween $35,000 And $68,000Between $74,000 And $136,000
Highest paying CityBothell, WASouth San Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateConnecticutCalifornia
Best paying companyBNP ParibasIntuitive Surgical
Best paying industryHealth CarePharmaceutical

Differences between research coordinator and clinical project manager education

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

Research CoordinatorClinical Project Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Most common majorPsychologyNursing
Most common collegeDuke UniversityUniversity of Pennsylvania

Research coordinator vs clinical project manager demographics

Here are the differences between research coordinators' and clinical project managers' demographics:

Research CoordinatorClinical Project Manager
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 29.1% Female, 70.9%Male, 32.5% Female, 67.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 2.6% Unknown, 7.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 10.2% White, 64.1% 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 research coordinator and clinical project manager duties and responsibilities

Research coordinator example responsibilities.

  • Manage participant's records ensuring confidentiality as well as NIH specifications.
  • Manage all IRB submissions, sponsor communications, participate in monitoring visits, drug reconciliation and dispensing.
  • Recruit, screen, conduct psychometric examinations and collect data for pharmaceutical clinical trials in patients diagnose with Alzheimer's disease.
  • Maintain confidential information and appropriate ethical professionalism with highly sensitive personal health information; take part in IRB human subjects training.
  • Assist in preparation of grants, NIH progress reports, presentations, and manuscripts.
  • Ensure and maintain confidentiality, privacy and compliance of patient rights in accordance with HIPAA regulations and NVCI policies.
  • 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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Research coordinator vs clinical project manager skills

Common research coordinator skills
  • Patients, 11%
  • Informed Consent, 8%
  • Data Collection, 8%
  • IRB, 7%
  • Research Projects, 6%
  • Patient Care, 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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