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Study coordinator vs study director

The differences between study coordinators and study directors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a study coordinator and a study director. Additionally, a study director has an average salary of $82,066, which is higher than the $47,435 average annual salary of a study coordinator.

The top three skills for a study coordinator include patients, informed consent and IRB. The most important skills for a study director are toxicology, data collection, and study design.

Study coordinator vs study director overview

Study CoordinatorStudy Director
Yearly salary$47,435$82,066
Hourly rate$22.81$39.45
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs14,9296,789
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Average age4444
Years of experience22

What does a study coordinator do?

Study coordinators oversee the entire process of clinical research from its inception to its completion. The coordinators make certain that human subjects are safe and well-protected. They identify the eligibility of the subject through clinical record screening and medical information extracting. It is their responsibility to maintain the regulatory documents based on the requirements of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). They should develop skills and knowledge in clinical trials, study protocol, and patient care.

What does a study director do?

Technically, a study director carries out scientific responsibilities for protocol design or study plan and approval. Study directors supervise the gathering, analysis, interpretation, documentation, and reporting of data results. They handle the matriculation of students with regard to data management system development. Working with the computer systems team is part of their duties so they will be able to establish a data management system in tracking the study participants. They also support the toxicology team or group on different project teams.

Study coordinator vs study director salary

Study coordinators and study directors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Study CoordinatorStudy Director
Average salary$47,435$82,066
Salary rangeBetween $34,000 And $65,000Between $56,000 And $118,000
Highest paying CityOakland, CASacramento, CA
Highest paying stateConnecticutCalifornia
Best paying companyBloodworks NorthwestAbbVie
Best paying industryHealth CareHealth Care

Differences between study coordinator and study director education

There are a few differences between a study coordinator and a study director in terms of educational background:

Study CoordinatorStudy Director
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Most common majorNursingBiology
Most common collegeUniversity of Michigan - Ann Arbor-

Study coordinator vs study director demographics

Here are the differences between study coordinators' and study directors' demographics:

Study CoordinatorStudy Director
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 23.7% Female, 76.3%Male, 54.9% Female, 45.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 2.6% Unknown, 7.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.5% Asian, 8.9% White, 64.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%Black or African American, 2.5% Unknown, 7.5% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 12.0% White, 62.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between study coordinator and study director duties and responsibilities

Study coordinator example 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.
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Study director example responsibilities.

  • Design, conducts and manages studies for EPA and oce compliance, such as water solubility and partition coefficient studies.
  • Manage all outsource toxicology studies at contract research laboratories.
  • Establish and maintain strong community partnerships to achieve HIV prevention objectives.
  • Evaluate study design and toxicology data as needed.
  • Consult drug development scientists on data interpretation and study conclusions for FDA submission.
  • Participate on the ISO certification team.
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Study coordinator vs study director skills

Common study coordinator skills
  • Patients, 14%
  • Informed Consent, 9%
  • IRB, 7%
  • Data Collection, 5%
  • FDA, 5%
  • Clinical Trials, 4%
Common study director skills
  • Toxicology, 10%
  • Data Collection, 7%
  • Study Design, 7%
  • Project Management, 6%
  • Data Analysis, 6%
  • FDA, 6%

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