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Senior clinical research associate vs clinical research manager

The differences between senior clinical research associates 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 senior clinical research associate and a clinical research manager. Additionally, a clinical research manager has an average salary of $96,504, which is higher than the $95,878 average annual salary of a senior clinical research associate.

The top three skills for a senior clinical research associate include patients, informed consent and oncology. The most important skills for a clinical research manager are patients, oversight, and FDA.

Senior clinical research associate vs clinical research manager overview

Senior Clinical Research AssociateClinical Research Manager
Yearly salary$95,878$96,504
Hourly rate$46.10$46.40
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs94,045100,000
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 66%Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Average age4444
Years of experience22

What does a senior clinical research associate do?

A Senior Clinical Research Associate performs and coordinates all aspects of the clinical monitoring and site management process. They design, implement, and monitor clinical trials.

What does a clinical research manager do?

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.

Senior clinical research associate vs clinical research manager salary

Senior clinical research associates and clinical research managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Senior Clinical Research AssociateClinical Research Manager
Average salary$95,878$96,504
Salary rangeBetween $64,000 And $142,000Between $66,000 And $140,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CASouth San Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateWashingtonCalifornia
Best paying companyAcorda TherapeuticsVarian Medical Systems
Best paying industryPharmaceuticalPharmaceutical

Differences between senior clinical research associate and clinical research manager education

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

Senior Clinical Research AssociateClinical Research Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 66%Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Most common majorBiologyNursing
Most common collegeDuke UniversityUniversity of Pennsylvania

Senior clinical research associate vs clinical research manager demographics

Here are the differences between senior clinical research associates' and clinical research managers' demographics:

Senior Clinical Research AssociateClinical Research Manager
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 28.2% Female, 71.8%Male, 21.5% Female, 78.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 2.6% Unknown, 7.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.0% Asian, 11.6% White, 62.8% 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 Percentage9%9%

Differences between senior clinical research associate and clinical research manager duties and responsibilities

Senior clinical research associate example responsibilities.

  • Manage a consultant to review scientific support and create dossiers on each product that make health claims in the EU.
  • Interact with FDA and other regulatory authorities to manage and facilitate approval of regulatory submissions.
  • Monitor U.S. sites in accordance with ICH and GCP guidelines.
  • Maintain investigators and subjects files, review investigators files for compliance with GCP and FDA regulations, review drug utilization records.
  • Verify informed consent procedures and protocol requirements base on applicable regulatory requirements to ensure protection of study patients.
  • Provide site management for both therapeutic and supportive care oncology protocols that are complex and require knowledge in advance therapeutic areas.
  • Show more

Clinical research manager example responsibilities.

  • Launch and manage a regional CRA monitoring group that grow to 100 plus staff in two years.
  • Manage all planning and execution of oncology clinical trials, domestic and international, including decision impact and companion diagnostic trials.
  • Prepare applications to have studies approve by hospital's institutional review board (IRB) and help present study to IRB.
  • Develop an open access communication method for patients to discuss their questions and/or concerns with the principal investigators.
  • Major contributor to the NDA for both Depo-Provera contraceptive as well as Caverject for erectile dysfunction.
  • Interview, select, train, and monitor all clinical sites; negotiate site and CRO budgets.
  • Show more

Senior clinical research associate vs clinical research manager skills

Common senior clinical research associate skills
  • Patients, 11%
  • Informed Consent, 6%
  • Oncology, 5%
  • CRA, 5%
  • Site Management, 5%
  • Field Training, 4%
Common clinical research manager skills
  • Patients, 9%
  • Oversight, 8%
  • FDA, 5%
  • IRB, 5%
  • Project Management, 5%
  • Data Management, 4%

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