How to hire a study coordinator

How to hire a study coordinator, step by step

Here's a step-by-step study coordinator hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a study coordinator job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new study coordinator
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a study coordinator do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The study coordinator hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

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   Hiring the perfect study coordinator also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   Here's a comparison of study coordinator salaries for various roles:

   Type of Study Coordinator	Description	Hourly rate
   Study Coordinator	Natural sciences managers supervise the work of scientists, including chemists, physicists, and biologists. They direct activities related to research and development, and coordinate activities such as testing, quality control, and production.	$16-31
   Research Nurse	A research nurse specializes in conducting studies and scientific research for healthcare and medical development. They may work for medical facilities, private clinics, learning institutions, and government agencies... Show more	$18-35
   Clinical Research Manager	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... Show more	$31-67

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Patients
   • Informed Consent
   • IRB
   • Data Collection
   • FDA
   • Clinical Trials
   • Data Entry
   • GCP
   • Research Data
   • Data Management
   • Patient Care
   • Excellent Interpersonal
   • Institutional Review
   • Medical History

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage and analyze EKG and sleep data collect from subjects in confidential database.
   • Establish and maintain strong community partnerships to achieve HIV prevention objectives.
   • Conduct consent discussions and other study procedures per protocol and CFR and GCP guidelines.
   • Maintain strict patient confidentiality according to HIPPA regulations, GCP and ICH , 21 CFR and other regulatory documentation.
   • Maintain accurate IRB, regulatory and study documentation to insure compliance with protocol and good clinical practice guidelines.
   • Coordinate day-to-day study activities including data collection and statistical analysis, protocol development/implementation, IRB relations, and staff development.

   More study coordinator duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your study coordinator job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A study coordinator salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a study coordinator in Missouri may be lower than in Connecticut, and an entry-level study coordinator usually earns less than a senior-level study coordinator. Additionally, a study coordinator with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average study coordinator salary

   $47,435yearly

   $22.81 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level study coordinator salary

   $34,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 21, 2026

   Average study coordinator salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$59,794	$29
   2	Connecticut	$59,135	$28
   3	New Jersey	$56,619	$27
   4	New York	$54,964	$26
   5	Massachusetts	$54,559	$26
   6	Ohio	$52,711	$25
   7	South Carolina	$49,776	$24
   8	Washington	$48,162	$23
   9	Colorado	$48,152	$23
   10	Pennsylvania	$48,106	$23
   11	Michigan	$47,778	$23
   12	Florida	$47,583	$23
   13	Texas	$47,464	$23
   14	Oregon	$47,389	$23
   15	North Carolina	$46,943	$23
   16	Illinois	$45,911	$22
   17	Minnesota	$45,710	$22
   18	Nebraska	$45,527	$22
   19	Maryland	$44,207	$21
   20	Georgia	$43,386	$21

   Average study coordinator salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Bloodworks Northwest	$61,186	$29.42
   2	North Shore High School	$58,416	$28.08
   3	Arrowhead Regional Medical Center	$57,027	$27.42
   4	Battelle	$56,523	$27.17
   5	Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings	$54,858	$26.37	4
   6	Arkansas Children's Hospital	$53,843	$25.89
   7	CVS Health	$53,624	$25.78	8
   8	New York University	$53,181	$25.57
   9	Champions Oncology	$53,153	$25.55
   10	Boston College	$53,097	$25.53
   11	Children's Hospital Colorado	$52,572	$25.27	3
   12	HDR	$52,404	$25.19	5
   13	HealthTrust	$52,183	$25.09
   14	Stanford University	$52,039	$25.02	64
   15	Brooklyn Botanic Garden	$52,032	$25.02
   16	Moffitt Cancer Center	$51,996	$25.00	7
   17	LA State University Continuing	$51,543	$24.78	29
   18	University of California	$50,760	$24.40	106
   19	University of Maryland, Baltimore	$50,759	$24.40	4
   20	Northwestern University	$50,509	$24.28	39

4. Writing a study coordinator job description

   A study coordinator job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a study coordinator job description:

   Study coordinator job description example

   This is an integral position on our team. Successful candidate will handle multiple protocols, planning and coordinating patient participation in a drug trial. Regular status updates for the rest of the team is critical. In addition the Study Coordinator will assist in the maintenance of all study related Case Report Forms (paper or electronic) and will understand the ethical issues involved in human subject research, adhering to the Federal Regulations governing research.
   Some of the Study Coordinator responsibilities include,
   
   Will have regular communication with each CRA (Clinical Research Assistant) involved with assigned protocols.
   Monitor the overall day-to-day conduct of assigned studies in accordance with the specified protocol requirements, Standard Operating Procedures, and Good Clinical Practice to ensure integrity regarding all aspects of the study.
   Reviews forms created or revised for assigned trials to assure protocol compliance.
   Maintains files using standardized study document labeling and filing procedures.
   Implement initial protocol and amendments, train staff who will be involved in patient treatment and management.
   Maintains an up to date contact list.
   Assists with patient screening and determination of eligibility.
   Facilitates the informed consent process ensuring that consent is appropriately completed.
   Prepares and manages source documents according to standard operating procedures.
   Recognize deviations to the protocol and work with management and staff to address corrective actions.
   Will assist CRA with case report form completion and query resolution.
   Will work with the Principal Investigator to complete and submit Serious Adverse Event reports.
   Closeout related activities in conjunction with the CRA.
   Will provide documentation for all deviations whether related to the protocol or SOP.
   Ensure that all team members involved understand and adhere to assigned protocols.
   Bachelors degree - preferred, in life sciences. Additional demonstration of clinical research knowledge as evidenced by the use of either CCRP or CCRC credentials is highly desirable.
   Knowledge and training in general office administration skills, including computer applications, filing systems, etc. Familiarity with medical terminology desirable.
   Demonstrated ability to accurately and efficiently complete assignments in Clinical Investigations and demonstrated capability to perform the data review and CRF completion in its entirety with minimal direction.
   Prior experience in clinical trials coordination.
   Ability to communicate ideas in a non-confrontational manner to multiple audiences and forums.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find study coordinators for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any study coordinators they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level study coordinators with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your study coordinator job on Zippia to find and recruit study coordinator candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with study coordinator candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new study coordinator

   Once you've selected the best study coordinator candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new study coordinator. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a study coordinator?