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Senior clinical research scientist vs clinical research associate

The differences between senior clinical research scientists and clinical research associates 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 scientist and a clinical research associate. Additionally, a senior clinical research scientist has an average salary of $103,836, which is higher than the $62,966 average annual salary of a clinical research associate.

The top three skills for a senior clinical research scientist include clinical operations, informed consent and clinical development. The most important skills for a clinical research associate are patients, informed consent, and CRA.

Senior clinical research scientist vs clinical research associate overview

Senior Clinical Research ScientistClinical Research Associate
Yearly salary$103,836$62,966
Hourly rate$49.92$30.27
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs128,55594,336
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 57%Bachelor's Degree, 65%
Average age4444
Years of experience22

What does a senior clinical research scientist do?

A senior clinical research scientist has to identify various diseases among their patients and conduct clinical investigations. Once they identify a disease and its cause, they assist physicians in the treatment of patients. They also have to analyze clinical data and health tests. They should have the ability to develop new research methods.

What does a clinical research associate do?

A clinical research associate is responsible for assisting medical professionals in clinical trials and conducting research studies on medications and medical procedures. Clinical research associates monitor the research materials, ensuring its safety and reliability through trial procedures, writing comprehensive reports of results, and disseminating information across the concerned parties. They also provide recommendations on improving clinical processes, reiterating protocol requirements, and maintaining strict confidentiality of the trial subjects. A clinical research associate must have extensive knowledge of the medical industry, including its disciplines and principles, to perform duties accurately under minimal supervision.

Senior clinical research scientist vs clinical research associate salary

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

Senior Clinical Research ScientistClinical Research Associate
Average salary$103,836$62,966
Salary rangeBetween $67,000 And $159,000Between $43,000 And $91,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companyAbiomedMeta
Best paying industryHealth CarePharmaceutical

Differences between senior clinical research scientist and clinical research associate education

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

Senior Clinical Research ScientistClinical Research Associate
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 57%Bachelor's Degree, 65%
Most common majorBiologyBiology
Most common collegeUniversity of Michigan - Ann ArborUniversity of Pennsylvania

Senior clinical research scientist vs clinical research associate demographics

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

Senior Clinical Research ScientistClinical Research Associate
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 48.5% Female, 51.5%Male, 28.3% Female, 71.7%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 2.5% Unknown, 7.4% Hispanic or Latino, 13.9% Asian, 13.3% White, 62.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%Black or African American, 2.5% Unknown, 7.4% Hispanic or Latino, 13.7% Asian, 13.0% White, 62.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

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

Senior clinical research scientist example responsibilities.

  • Supervise and manage planning, implementation, conduct and reporting of assign early phase international clinical studies in oncology.
  • Contribute to the development of templates for protocols and clinical study reports following FDA, GCP and ICH guidelines.
  • Authore and review abstracts, manuscripts, slide decks and posters in collaboration with internal and external (CRO) stakeholders.
  • Lead feasibility and identification of CRO selection for pediatric program.
  • Recruit investigators perform pre-study visits, negotiate budgets, initiate and monitor studies and verify data for accuracy and completeness.
  • Manage clinical monitors in successful completion of large international hypertension study.

Clinical research associate example responsibilities.

  • Manage, schedule and train up to 15 CRAs.
  • Recruit patients, attain patient inform consent form, educate subjects on compliance, and ensure patient safety per ICH guidelines.
  • Manage site TMF to ensure communication requirements adherence
  • Manage CRO and regional monitor to complete close out activities, including device accountability management.
  • Manage regional academic and community base oncology practices as the primary contact for all communications and support.
  • Manage the monitoring CRO and the data clean-up efforts for a 510k submission and interim/annual study reports by effectively collaborating cross-functionally.
  • Show more

Senior clinical research scientist vs clinical research associate skills

Common senior clinical research scientist skills
  • Clinical Operations, 8%
  • Informed Consent, 7%
  • Clinical Development, 7%
  • Clinical Trials, 6%
  • Clinical Data, 6%
  • Consent Forms, 5%
Common clinical research associate skills
  • Patients, 9%
  • Informed Consent, 7%
  • CRA, 6%
  • Clinical Trials, 6%
  • Clinical Trial Management, 5%
  • Oncology, 4%

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