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Clinical researcher salary
Average clinical researcher salary
$55,453
Understanding Clinical Researcher Salaries
The average salary for a clinical researcher is approximately $55,453 annually, translating to about $27 per hour. Salaries can vary significantly depending on factors such as location, years of experience, and the specific industry in which one is employed. For instance, researchers in states like California and New York tend to earn higher wages due to the cost of living and demand for skilled professionals.
Moreover, clinical researchers working in pharmaceutical companies or biotechnology firms often receive better compensation compared to those in academic settings. As the demand for clinical trials continues to grow, opportunities for career advancement are abundant, offering pathways to positions with higher salaries.
Salary Trends by State
A comprehensive analysis reveals that states such as California, New York, and Massachusetts consistently rank among the highest paying for clinical researchers. These regions not only offer competitive salaries but also a vibrant job market, making them attractive locations for job seekers in this field.
Career Outlook
Overall, pursuing a career as a clinical researcher can be both rewarding and lucrative. Aspiring professionals should focus on gaining relevant experience and consider advanced degrees or certifications to enhance their earning potential and career prospects.
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Where can a Clinical Researcher earn more?
Clinical researcher salary estimates from across the web
Average clinical researcher salary by state
The average clinical researcher salary in California, Washington, and Arizona are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average clinical researcher salary states are Alabama, South Carolina, and Kentucky.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for clinical researchers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $73,183 | $35.18 |
| 2 | Washington | $68,147 | $32.76 |
| 3 | Arizona | $66,689 | $32.06 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $63,032 | $30.30 |
| 5 | New Mexico | $63,979 | $30.76 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $62,497 | $30.05 |
| 7 | Oregon | $58,901 | $28.32 |
| 8 | District of Columbia | $62,577 | $30.09 |
| 9 | Minnesota | $57,976 | $27.87 |
| 10 | Maine | $55,456 | $26.66 |
| 11 | New York | $59,574 | $28.64 |
| 12 | Vermont | $61,235 | $29.44 |
| 13 | New Hampshire | $65,942 | $31.70 |
| 14 | Rhode Island | $55,436 | $26.65 |
| 15 | Illinois | $58,111 | $27.94 |
| 16 | Nevada | $57,294 | $27.55 |
| 17 | Texas | $55,544 | $26.70 |
| 18 | Maryland | $57,056 | $27.43 |
| 19 | Georgia | $56,586 | $27.20 |
| 20 | Idaho | $56,408 | $27.12 |
| 21 | Montana | $52,361 | $25.17 |
| 22 | Delaware | $57,375 | $27.58 |
| 23 | Hawaii | $56,504 | $27.17 |
| 24 | South Dakota | $50,519 | $24.29 |
| 25 | Florida | $51,119 | $24.58 |
| 26 | Pennsylvania | $51,004 | $24.52 |
| 27 | Michigan | $50,460 | $24.26 |
| 28 | Connecticut | $51,708 | $24.86 |
| 29 | Missouri | $51,314 | $24.67 |
| 30 | North Carolina | $50,049 | $24.06 |
| 31 | Louisiana | $49,084 | $23.60 |
| 32 | Wyoming | $52,059 | $25.03 |
| 33 | Nebraska | $51,150 | $24.59 |
| 34 | Kansas | $48,866 | $23.49 |
| 35 | Tennessee | $48,689 | $23.41 |
| 36 | Mississippi | $51,400 | $24.71 |
| 37 | Virginia | $53,484 | $25.71 |
| 38 | North Dakota | $47,811 | $22.99 |
| 39 | Utah | $47,539 | $22.86 |
| 40 | Ohio | $47,491 | $22.83 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $48,227 | $23.19 |
| 42 | West Virginia | $46,277 | $22.25 |
| 43 | Colorado | $47,483 | $22.83 |
| 44 | Alaska | $49,539 | $23.82 |
| 45 | Wisconsin | $44,046 | $21.18 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $45,127 | $21.70 |
| 47 | Alabama | $45,831 | $22.03 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $45,943 | $22.09 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $45,721 | $21.98 |
| 50 | Indiana | $42,912 | $20.63 |
| 51 | Iowa | $42,852 | $20.60 |
Highest paying cities for clinical researchers
The highest-paying cities for clinical researchers are Santa Rosa, CA, Everett, WA, and Worcester, MA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Rosa, CA | $77,764 | $37.39 |
| 2 | Everett, WA | $68,456 | $32.91 |
| 3 | Worcester, MA | $62,930 | $30.25 |
| 4 | Hackensack, NJ | $62,914 | $30.25 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $62,666 | $30.13 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $59,615 | $28.66 |
| 7 | Chicago, IL | $58,226 | $27.99 |
| 8 | Rochester, MN | $57,965 | $27.87 |
| 9 | Newark, DE | $57,419 | $27.61 |
| 10 | Baltimore, MD | $57,392 | $27.59 |
| 11 | Corpus Christi, TX | $56,749 | $27.28 |
| 12 | Atlanta, GA | $56,480 | $27.15 |
| 13 | Providence, RI | $55,468 | $26.67 |
| 14 | Miami, FL | $52,432 | $25.21 |
| 15 | Middletown, CT | $51,910 | $24.96 |
| 16 | Philadelphia, PA | $51,772 | $24.89 |
| 17 | Kansas City, MO | $51,459 | $24.74 |
| 18 | Royal Oak, MI | $50,633 | $24.34 |
| 19 | Aurora, CO | $47,402 | $22.79 |
| 20 | Salt Lake City, UT | $47,251 | $22.72 |
Clinical researcher salary details
A clinical researcher's salary ranges from $38,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $79,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a clinical researcher's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $79,000 | $6,583 | $38 |
| 75th Percentile | $67,000 | $5,583 | $32 |
| Average | $55,453 | $4,621 | $27 |
| 25th Percentile | $45,000 | $3,750 | $22 |
| 10th Percentile | $38,000 | $3,167 | $18 |
Highest paying clinical researcher jobs
The highest paying types of clinical researchers are clinical project manager, clinical research manager, and senior clinical research associate.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Study Director | $82,066 | $6,839 | $39.45 | 6,789 |
| Study Coordinator | $47,435 | $3,953 | $22.81 | 14,929 |
| Research Project Coordinator | $48,683 | $4,057 | $23.41 | 67,800 |
| Research Administrator | $52,667 | $4,389 | $25.32 | 99,798 |
| Research Coordinator | $48,974 | $4,081 | $23.55 | 65,406 |
| Clinical Trial Coordinator | $50,720 | $4,227 | $24.38 | 64,859 |
Top companies hiring clinical researchers now:
Which companies pay clinical researchers the most?
Clinical researcher salaries at Edwards Lifesciences and Thermo Fisher Scientific are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average clinical researcher salary at companies like Novo Nordisk and University of Maryland, Baltimore are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Edwards Lifesciences | $83,957 | $40.36 |
| 2 | Thermo Fisher Scientific | $68,967 | $33.16 |
| 3 | Novo Nordisk | $66,310 | $31.88 |
| 4 | University of Maryland, Baltimore | $59,157 | $28.44 |
| 5 | SGS | $59,007 | $28.37 |
| 6 | The Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute | $58,938 | $28.34 |
| 7 | InBody USA | $58,934 | $28.33 |
| 8 | Sound Physicians | $58,763 | $28.25 |
| 9 | Ascension Michigan | $58,700 | $28.22 |
| 10 | Medpace | $58,614 | $28.18 |
| 11 | Ncpa | $58,582 | $28.16 |
| 12 | Univ. Of Texas Cancer Ctr. | $58,561 | $28.15 |
| 13 | *n/a* | $58,552 | $28.15 |
| 14 | Catholic Health Initiatives - Colorado | $58,547 | $28.15 |
| 15 | Katalyst Surgical | $58,547 | $28.15 |
| 16 | CES | $58,547 | $28.15 |
| 17 | Biorasi | $58,546 | $28.15 |
| 18 | Fitness Centre At Celebration Health | $58,495 | $28.12 |
| 19 | CONNEXUS Incorporated | $58,370 | $28.06 |
| 20 | Children's Hospital Colorado | $58,359 | $28.06 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Clinical Researcher salary by industry
The average clinical researcher salary varies across industries:
- The average clinical researcher salary in the pharmaceutical industry is $58,800, the highest of any industry.
- The average clinical researcher salary in the finance industry is $53,851.
- Clinical researchers in the education industry earn an average salary of $48,344, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for clinical researchers
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pharmaceutical | $58,800 | $28.27 |
| 2 | Professional | $53,851 | $25.89 |
| 3 | Health Care | $53,121 | $25.54 |
| 4 | Non Profits | $52,148 | $25.07 |
| 5 | Manufacturing | $51,196 | $24.61 |
| 6 | Education | $48,344 | $23.24 |
High paying clinical researcher jobs
Clinical researcher salary trends
The average clinical researcher salary has risen by $9,315 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average clinical researcher earned $46,138 annually, but today, they earn $55,453 a year. That works out to a 15% change in pay for clinical researchers over the last decade.
Compare clinical researcher salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average clinical researcher salary over time
Compare clinical researcher salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Clinical researcher salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $55,500 | $26.66 | +6.4% |
| 2024 | $51,900 | $24.95 | +4.1% |
| 2023 | $49,800 | $23.94 | +3.9% |
| 2022 | $47,800 | $22.99 | -0.7% |
| 2021 | $48,200 | $23.16 | -0.3% |
Recently added clinical researcher salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cedars-Sinai | Clinical Research Assoc I/Cpt-Cheng Lab/Heart Institute | Los Angeles, CA | 06/30/2025 | $40,697 |
| University of Pennsylvania | Clinical Research Scholar (Department of Neurosurgery) | Noma, FL | 06/30/2025 | $46,500 |
| Rush University Medical Center | Assoc Clinical Research Coord | Chicago, IL | 06/26/2025 | $48,251 |
| Manpowergroup | Medical/Clinical Affairs Researcher | Lake Forest, IL | 06/18/2025 | $62,610 |
| Terumo Neuro | Clinical Research Assoc, SR. | Aliso Viejo, CA | 06/17/2025 | $100,064 |
| Ethos Veterinary Health | Clinical | Concord, CA | 06/12/2025 | $77,219 |
| University of Utah | PS Clinical Research Coord SR. | Salt Lake City, UT | 06/11/2025 | $47,600 |
| Medvacon | R&D Clinical Procurement | Santa Monica, CA | 06/10/2025 | $93,915 |
| Samsung Research America | Senior Researcher, Clinical Research | Mountain View, CA | 06/04/2025 | $117,000 |
| University of Rochester | Clinical Research Spec II | Wilmot, NH | 06/04/2025 | $51,987 |
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