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The differences between research coordinators 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 research coordinator and a clinical research manager. Additionally, a clinical research manager has an average salary of $96,504, 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 research manager are patients, oversight, and FDA.
| Research Coordinator | Clinical Research Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $48,974 | $96,504 |
| Hourly rate | $23.55 | $46.40 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 65,406 | 100,000 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 55% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
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.
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.
Research coordinators and clinical research managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Research Coordinator | Clinical Research Manager | |
| Average salary | $48,974 | $96,504 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $68,000 | Between $66,000 And $140,000 |
| Highest paying City | Bothell, WA | South San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | California |
| Best paying company | BNP Paribas | Varian Medical Systems |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Pharmaceutical |
There are a few differences between a research coordinator and a clinical research manager in terms of educational background:
| Research Coordinator | Clinical Research Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 55% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Nursing |
| Most common college | Duke University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between research coordinators' and clinical research managers' demographics:
| Research Coordinator | Clinical Research Manager | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 29.1% Female, 70.9% | Male, 21.5% Female, 78.5% |
| Race ratio | Black 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, 9.3% White, 65.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |