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The differences between research coordinators and research administrators 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 research administrator. Additionally, a research administrator has an average salary of $52,667, 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 research administrator are research administration, customer service, and principal investigators.
| Research Coordinator | Research Administrator | |
| Yearly salary | $48,974 | $52,667 |
| Hourly rate | $23.55 | $25.32 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 65,406 | 99,798 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 2 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| 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 research administrator oversees the progress of research programs, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. Their responsibilities mostly revolve around devising strategies to optimize processes, coordinating different departments, setting goals and objectives, managing the schedule and budgets, and maintaining records of all transactions. There are also instances when a research administrator must produce progress reports, participate in gathering surveys and feedbacks, and resolve issues promptly and professionally. Furthermore, as a research administrator, it is essential to lead and encourage team members to reach goals while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
Research coordinators and research administrators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Research Coordinator | Research Administrator | |
| Average salary | $48,974 | $52,667 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $68,000 | Between $41,000 And $67,000 |
| Highest paying City | Bothell, WA | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | BNP Paribas | Kronos Incorporated |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a research coordinator and a research administrator in terms of educational background:
| Research Coordinator | Research Administrator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Business |
| Most common college | Duke University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between research coordinators' and research administrators' demographics:
| Research Coordinator | Research Administrator | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 29.1% Female, 70.9% | Male, 30.6% Female, 69.4% |
| 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, 15.5% Asian, 8.8% White, 65.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |