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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 | Clinical Research Associate | |
| Yearly salary | $103,836 | $62,966 |
| Hourly rate | $49.92 | $30.27 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 128,555 | 94,336 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
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.
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 scientists and clinical research associates have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Clinical Research Scientist | Clinical Research Associate | |
| Average salary | $103,836 | $62,966 |
| Salary range | Between $67,000 And $159,000 | Between $43,000 And $91,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Abiomed | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Pharmaceutical |
There are a few differences between a senior clinical research scientist and a clinical research associate in terms of educational background:
| Senior Clinical Research Scientist | Clinical Research Associate | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Biology | Biology |
| Most common college | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between senior clinical research scientists' and clinical research associates' demographics:
| Senior Clinical Research Scientist | Clinical Research Associate | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 48.5% Female, 51.5% | Male, 28.3% Female, 71.7% |
| Race ratio | Black 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 Percentage | 9% | 9% |