Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between senior research coordinators 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 research coordinator and a clinical research associate. Additionally, a senior research coordinator has an average salary of $65,316, which is higher than the $62,966 average annual salary of a clinical research associate.
The top three skills for a senior research coordinator include patients, data collection and IRB. The most important skills for a clinical research associate are patients, informed consent, and CRA.
| Senior Research Coordinator | Clinical Research Associate | |
| Yearly salary | $65,316 | $62,966 |
| Hourly rate | $31.40 | $30.27 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 56,854 | 94,336 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Senior Research Coordinators assist the development of research data from laboratory investigations and clinical trials. The coordinators gather, handle, and analyze preliminary data through the SPSS statistical software. They coordinate training conferences to track IRB status, maintain study supplies, and for site recruitment. Part of their job is to lead cross-divisional initiatives to strengthen delivery system products. They take part in international conferences and investigator meetings. The skills and knowledge necessary for this job include research procedures and projects, study protocol, and data collection.
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 research coordinators and clinical research associates have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Research Coordinator | Clinical Research Associate | |
| Average salary | $65,316 | $62,966 |
| Salary range | Between $43,000 And $97,000 | Between $43,000 And $91,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Apple | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Pharmaceutical |
There are a few differences between a senior research coordinator and a clinical research associate in terms of educational background:
| Senior Research Coordinator | Clinical Research Associate | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Biology |
| Most common college | Duke University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between senior research coordinators' and clinical research associates' demographics:
| Senior Research Coordinator | Clinical Research Associate | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 30.5% Female, 69.5% | Male, 28.3% Female, 71.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 2.6% Unknown, 7.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.4% Asian, 10.8% White, 63.1% 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% |