clinical research associate salary per month

How much does a Clinical Research Associate make in the United States?

• Clinical Research Associate Salary The average Clinical Research Associate salary in the United States is $119,893 as of March 26, 2024. The range for our most popular Clinical Research Associate positions (listed below) typically falls between $58,136 and $181,651. Keep in mind that salary ranges can vary widely depending on many important factors, including position, education, certifications, additional skills, and the number of years you have spent in your profession. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.
• Clinical Research Associate II Participates in the design, administration and monitoring of clinical trials. Analyzes and evaluates clinical data gathered during research. Ensures compliance with protocol and overall clinical objectives. Knowledge of FDA regulatory requirements is required. May require ACRP or SOCRA Clinical Research Professional exam completion. Requires a master's degree in science or equivalent. Typically reports to a supervisor or manager. Occasionally directed in several aspects of the work. Gaining exposure to some of the complex tasks within the job function. Typically requires 2-4 years of related experience. View Clinical Research Associate II Salary Alternate Job Titles :Clinical Trails Research Associate II, Clinical Trials Data Analyst II, Clinical Research Associate II Categories : Pharmaceuticals , Biotechnology , Science and Research
• Clinical Research Associate I Participates in the design, administration and monitoring of clinical trials. Analyzes and evaluates clinical data gathered during research. Ensures compliance with protocol and overall clinical objectives. Knowledge of FDA regulatory requirements is required. May require ACRP or SOCRA Clinical Research Professional exam completion. Requires a bachelor's degree in Science or its equivalent. Typically reports to a supervisor or manager. Work is closely managed. Works on projects/matters of limited complexity in a support role. Typically requires 0-2 years of related experience. View Clinical Research Associate I Salary Alternate Job Titles :Clinical Trails Research Associate I, Clinical Trials Data Analyst I, Clinical Research Associate I Categories : Pharmaceuticals , Biotechnology , Entry Level , Science and Research
• Clinical Research Manager Manages the clinical monitoring process and the administration of clinical trials. Supervises CRAs in in-house and on-site monitoring, filing, and clinical trial administration. Oversees adherence to SOPs, Good Clinical Practice and FDA regulations. Helps with the development and implementation of clinical processes, procedures, and programs. May require a master's degree in nursing. May require ACRP or SOCRA Clinical Research Professional exam completion. Typically reports to a director. Manages subordinate staff in the day-to-day performance of their jobs. True first level manager. Ensures that project/department milestones/goals are met and adhering to approved budgets. Has full authority for personnel actions. Typically requires 5 years experience in the related area as an individual contributor. 1-3 years supervisory experience may be required. Extensive knowledge of the function and department processes. View Clinical Research Manager Salary Alternate Job Titles :Clinical Research Programs Manager, Clinical Research Manager Categories : Pharmaceuticals , Biotechnology
• Research and Development Associate I Participates in research and development activities. Utilizes established mathematical and scientific techniques to compile and analyze data. Writes technical reports detailing procedures, outcomes, and observations. Requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a supervisor or manager. Works on projects/matters of limited complexity in a support role. Work is closely managed. Typically requires 0-2 years of related experience. View Research and Development Associate I Salary Alternate Job Titles :R & D Support Associate I, Scientific Research Associate I, Research and Development Associate I Categories : Pharmaceuticals , Biotechnology , Energy and Utilities , Science and Research
• Research and Development Associate IV Participates in research and development activities. Utilizes established mathematical and scientific techniques to compile and analyze data. Writes technical reports detailing procedures, outcomes, and observations. May require a master's degree. Typically reports to a manager or head of a unit/department. Work is highly independent. May assume a team lead role for the work group. A specialist on complex technical and business matters. Typically requires 7+ years of related experience. View Research and Development Associate IV Salary Alternate Job Titles :R & D Support Associate IV, Scientific Research Associate IV, Research and Development Associate IV Categories : Pharmaceuticals , Biotechnology , Energy and Utilities , Science and Research
• Research and Development Associate V Participates in research and development activities. Utilizes established mathematical and scientific techniques to compile and analyze data. Writes technical reports detailing procedures, outcomes, and observations. May require a master's degree. Typically reports to a manager or head of a unit/department. Works autonomously. Goals are generally communicated in "solution" or project goal terms. May provide a leadership role for the work group through knowledge in the area of specialization. Works on advanced, complex technical projects or business issues requiring state of the art technical or industry knowledge. Typically requires 10+ years of related experience. View Research and Development Associate V Salary Alternate Job Titles :R & D Support Associate V, Scientific Research Associate V, Research and Development Associate V Categories : Pharmaceuticals , Biotechnology , Energy and Utilities , Science and Research
• Research and Development Associate II Participates in research and development activities. Utilizes established mathematical and scientific techniques to compile and analyze data. Writes technical reports detailing procedures, outcomes, and observations. Requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a supervisor or manager. Gains exposure to some of the complex tasks within the job function. Occasionally directed in several aspects of the work. Typically requires 2 to 4 years of related experience. View Research and Development Associate II Salary Alternate Job Titles :R & D Support Associate II, Scientific Research Associate II, Research and Development Associate II Categories : Pharmaceuticals , Biotechnology , Energy and Utilities , Science and Research
• Research and Development Associate III Participates in research and development activities. Utilizes established mathematical and scientific techniques to compile and analyze data. Writes technical reports detailing procedures, outcomes, and observations. May require a master's degree. Typically reports to a supervisor or manager. Work is generally independent and collaborative in nature. Contributes to moderately complex aspects of a project. Typically requires 4-7 years of related experience. View Research and Development Associate III Salary Alternate Job Titles :R & D Support Associate III, Scientific Research Associate III, Research and Development Associate III Categories : Pharmaceuticals , Biotechnology , Energy and Utilities , Science and Research
• Scientist - Clinical Research Assumes lead role in various clinical research projects. Proposes, plans, organizes and executes experiments and research. Secures grants and funding for research and is responsible for controlling budgets. Summarizes findings in reports and communicates results. Interacts with other scientists within and outside of the organization. Provides recommendations that influence extensive clinical research activities. Requires an advanced degree. Typically reports to head of a unit/department. Work is generally independent and collaborative in nature. Contributes to moderately complex aspects of a project. Typically requires 4 -7 years of related experience. View Scientist - Clinical Research Salary Alternate Job Titles :Clinical Research Lead Scientist, Senior Clinical Researcher, Scientist - Clinical Research Categories : Science and Research , Biotechnology
• Clinical Research Director Directs and oversees the clinical research function for a healthcare organization. Develops research studies and creates standards and guidelines for clinical research services and programs. Ensures adherence to standard operating procedures, good clinical practice and FDA regulations. Requires an advanced degree. Typically reports to top management. Manages a departmental sub-function within a broader departmental function. Creates functional strategies and specific objectives for the sub-function and develops budgets/policies/procedures to support the functional infrastructure. Deep knowledge of the managed sub-function and solid knowledge of the overall departmental function. Typically requires 5+ years of managerial experience. View Clinical Research Director Salary Alternate Job Titles :Clinical Research Programs Director, Clinical Research Director Categories : Healthcare - Administrative , Science and Research

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Clinical Research Associate Salary in The United States

The average Clinical Research Associate Salary in The United States is $74,100 per year . Salaries range from $65,400 to $97,300 . The average Clinical Research Associate Hourly Wage is $31.85 per hour . Hourly wages range from $25.25 to $45.00 . Salaries and wages depend on multiple factors including geographic location, experience, seniority, industry, education etc.

What is the Average Annual Salary of Clinical Research Associate in The United States ?

What is the average hourly wage of clinical research associate in the united states , where do clinical research associates earn more in the united states , other salaries, create a resume and cover letter in minutes with professional templates.

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Clinical Research Associate III Salaries in the United States

How much does a clinical research associate iii make.

• Connecticut
• District of Columbia
• Massachusetts
• Mississippi
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• New Hampshire
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• West Virginia
• Chicago, IL
• New York, NY
• San Francisco, CA
• Washington, DC

Individually reported data submitted by users of our website

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Frequently Asked Questions About a Clinical Research Associate III Salaries

What is the average of a clinical research associate iii in the united states, which location pays the highest clinical research associate iii salary in the united states, what kinds of reasons will influence the clinical research associate iii's salary, what is the growth rate of the clinical research associate iii's salary, recent salary report.

Below are the most recent Clinical Research Associate III salary reports. Employer name has been removed to protect anonymity.

Clinical Research Associate Average Salary in United States 2024

How much money does a person working as clinical research associate make in united states.

A person working as Clinical Research Associate in United States typically earns around 109,000 USD . Salaries range from 56,700 USD (lowest) to 167,000 USD (highest).

Salary Variance

This is the average salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Clinical Research Associate salaries in United States vary drastically based on experience, skills, gender, or location. Below you will find a detailed breakdown based on many different criteria.

Clinical Research Associate Pay Scale and Salaries in United States

Salary Structure and Pay Scale Comparison

Median salary, maximum and minimum salary, minimum wage, starting salary, and the salary range, salary range, minimum wage, and starting salary.

Salaries for the position Clinical Research Associate in United States range from 56,700 USD (starting salary) to 167,000 USD (maximum salary). It should be noted that the given figure is not the legally mandated minimum wage; rather, it represents the lowest figure reported in a salary survey that included thousands of participants and professionals from all regions of the country.

Median Salary

With a median salary of 99,100 USD , half of the professionals who work as Clinical Research Associate in United States earn less than this amount, and the other half earn more. The median salary denotes the middle value of salaries. Ideally, you would want to belong to the group earning more than the median salary, located on the right side of the salary distribution graph.

Percentiles and Salary Scale

The median is closely associated with two other values known as the 25th and 75th percentiles. By examining the salary distribution chart, it can be determined that 25% of professionals employed as Clinical Research Associate in United States earn less than 82,200 USD, while 75% earn more. Similarly, the chart shows that 75% earn less than 112,000 USD while 25% earn more.

Pay Scale Structure

To provide a better understanding of expected salaries, we categorized the frequently occurring salaries into different ranges. This approach provides a more precise representation of salary distribution for the job title Clinical Research Associate in United States compared to simply calculating the average. The majority of reported salaries, approximately 65%, fall within the range of 64,100 USD to 87,900 USD. About 20% of salaries are below the 64,100 USD mark, while 10% fall within the range of 87,900 USD to 98,700 USD. Only 5% of individuals have salaries exceeding 98,700 USD.

Salary Comparison by Years of Experience / Clinical Research Associate / United States

How do experience and age affect pay.

The experience level is the most important factor in determining the salary. Naturally, the more years of experience the higher the wage. We broke down salaries by experience level for people working as Clinical Research Associate and this is what we found.

Employees with less than two years of experience earn approximately 64,400 USD.

While someone with an experience level between two and five years is expected to earn 86,400 USD, 34% more than someone with less than two year's experience.

Moving forward, an experience level between five and ten years lands a salary of 112,000 USD, 30% more than someone with two to five years of experience.

Additionally, professionals whose expertise span anywhere between ten and fifteen years get a salary equivalent to 136,000 USD, 21% more than someone with five to ten years of experience.

If the experience level is between fifteen and twenty years, then the expected wage is 149,000 USD, 9% more than someone with ten to fifteen years of experience.

Lastly, employees with more than twenty years of professional experience get a salary of 156,000 USD, 5% more than people with fifteen to twenty years of experience.

Typical Salary Progress for Most Careers

Salary Comparison By Education / Clinical Research Associate / United States

How do education levels affect salaries, displayed below is the average salary variance between different education levels of professionals working as clinical research associate..

We all know that higher education equals a bigger salary, but how much more money can a degree add to your income? We broke down salaries by education level for the position Clinical Research Associate in order to make a comparison.

Level 1: Bachelor's Degree

Employees at this education level have an average salary of 90,800 USD.

Level 2: Master's Degree

At this level, the average salary becomes 126,000 USD, 39% more than the previous level.

Is a Master's degree or an MBA worth it? Should you pursue higher education?

A Master's degree program or any post-graduate program in United States costs anywhere from 39,600 USD to 119,000 USD and lasts approximately two years. That is quite an investment. You can't really expect any salary increases during the study period, assuming you already have a job. In most cases, a salary review is conducted once education is completed and the degree has been attained. Many people pursue higher education as a tactic to switch to a higher-paying job. The numbers seem to support the theory. The average increase in compensation while changing jobs is approximately 10% more than the customary salary increment. If you can afford the costs of higher education, the return on investment is definitely worth it. You should be able to recover the costs in roughly a year or so.

Typical Salary Difference by Education for Most Careers

Salary and Compensation Comparison By Gender / Clinical Research Associate / United States

Though gender should not have an effect on pay, in reality, it does. So who gets paid more: men or women? For the people who work as Clinical Research Associate in United States, the average difference between the salary of male and female employees is 5%.

Salary Comparison By Gender in United States for all Careers

43 Careers That Pay Women More Than Men!

Average Annual Salary Increment Percentage / Clinical Research Associate / United States

How much are annual salary increments in united states for individuals working as clinical research associate how often do employees get salary raises.

Individuals working as Clinical Research Associate in United States are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately 11% every 16 months. The national average annual increment for all professions combined is 8% granted to employees every 16 months.

United States / All Professions

The term Annual Salary Increase usually refers to the increase in 12 calendar month period, but because it is rare that people get their salaries reviewed exactly on the one-year mark, it is more meaningful to know the frequency and the rate at the time of the increase.

How to calculate the salary increment percentage?

The annual salary Increase in a calendar year (12 months) can be easily calculated as follows: Annual Salary Increase = Increase Rate x 12 / Increase Frequency

Worldwide Salary Raises: All Countries and All Jobs

Salary Packages and Schemes

Not all compensation increases are reflected directly in the salary. Some companies offer upgraded packages to their staff instead of cash money. The figures displayed here account only for direct increments to the base salary.

Bonus and Incentive Rates / Clinical Research Associate / United States

How much and how often are bonuses being awarded share this chart    tweet          get chart link http://www.salaryexplorer.com/charts/united-states/pharmaceutical-and-biotechnology/clinical-research-associate/annual-salary-bonus-rate-united-states-clinical-research-associate.jpg 45% of surveyed staff reported that they haven't received any bonuses or incentives in the previous year while 55% said that they received at least one form of monetary bonus. those who got bonuses reported rates ranging from 3% to 5% of their annual salary. received bonus 55% no bonus 45% types of bonuses considered.

The most standard form of bonus, where the employee is awarded based on their exceptional performance.

Occasionally, some companies like to celebrate excess earnings and profits with their staff collectively in the form of bonuses that are granted to everyone. The amount of the bonus will probably be different from person to person depending on their role within the organization.

Granted upon achieving an important goal or milestone.

These types of bonuses are given without a reason and usually resemble an appreciation token.

Bonuses Are Not Commissions!

People tend to confuse bonuses with commissions. A commission is a prefixed rate at which someone gets paid for items sold or deals completed while a bonus is in most cases arbitrary and unplanned.

What makes a position worthy of good bonuses and a high salary?

Revenue generators usually get more and higher bonuses, higher salaries, and more frequent salary increments. The reason is quite simple: it is easier to quantify your value to the company in monetary terms when you participate in revenue generation.

Bonus Comparison by Seniority Level

Top management personnel and senior employees naturally exhibit higher bonus rates and frequencies than juniors. This is very predictable due to the inherent responsibilities of being higher in the hierarchy. People in top positions can easily get double or triple bonus rates than employees down the pyramid.

Average Hourly Wage / Clinical Research Associate / United States

The average hourly wage (pay per hour) for individuals working as clinical research associate in united states is 52 usd.this is the rate they get paid for every worked hour., about the hourly pay rate.

The hourly wage is the salary paid in one worked hour. Usually, jobs are classified into two categories: salaried jobs and hourly jobs. Salaried jobs pay a fixed amount regardless of the hours worked. Hourly jobs pay per worked hour. To convert salary into hourly wage the above formula is used (assuming 5 working days in a week and 8 working hours per day which is the standard for most jobs). The hourly wage calculation may differ slightly depending on the worked hours per week and the annual vacation allowance. The figures mentioned above are good approximations and are considered to be the standard. One major difference between salaried employees and hourly paid employees is overtime eligibility. Salaried employees are usually exempt from overtime as opposed to hourly paid staff.

What is the minimum hourly rate of pay?

The minimum pay rate per hour for people working as Clinical Research Associate in United States is 27 USD. This is the minimum as per the gathered data in the salary survey not the minimum hourly rate mandated by law.

Salary comparison with similar jobs

Salary Comparison By City

Salary comparison by state, government vs private sector salary comparison.

Where can you get paid more, working in a private company or the government? The difference between the public or government sector salaries and the private sector salaries in United States is 5% on average across all career fields.

Improve the data by anonymously submitting your salary details

Salary Statistics and Calculation Guide

What is considered to be a good and competitive salary for the job title clinical research associate in united states.

A good and competitive compensation would range anywhere between 99,100 USD and 112,000 USD. This is a very rough estimate. Experience and education play a very huge part in the final earnings.

Gross Salary (before tax) and Net Salary (after tax)

All salary and compensation figures displayed here are gross salary figures, that is the salary before tax deductions. Because taxes may differ across sectors and locations, it is difficult to accurately calculate the net salary after tax for every career.

Base / Basic Salary

The base salary for a careers like Clinical Research Associate in United States ranges from 56,700 USD to 82,200 USD. The base salary depends on many factors including experience and education. It is not easy to provide a figure with very little information, so take this range with a grain of salt.

What is the difference between the median and the average salary?

Both are indicators. If your salary is higher than both the average and the median then you are doing very well. If your salary is lower than both, then many people earn more than you and there is plenty of room for improvement. If your wage is between the average and the median, then things can be a bit complicated. We wrote a guide to explain all about the different scenarios. How to compare your salary

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How to Become a Clinical Research Associate

A clinical research associate acts as a liaison between research sponsors and the clinics conducting research. Here’s how you can become one.

Every pill, vaccine, procedure, therapy, or medical device that might be prescribed or used to improve physical or mental health undergoes clinical research trials. During these trials, a drug or a medical device might get approved for consumer or hospital use. 

Clinical research associates (CRA) play a critical role in the health care industry and in improving public health. They liaise between those who sponsor research and those who facilitate clinical research. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, rising population density and international travel have increased the spread of new and existing diseases. Clinical research is necessary to gain evidence-based insights on how well a drug or vaccine does.

A career as a clinical research associate can be rewarding for individuals who are excited by the prospect of a dynamic role overseeing many different kinds of clinical trials. Here’s how to get started.

What is a clinical research associate?

Clinical research associates act as liaisons between the institutions that sponsor and fund the clinical research trials and the clinics that conduct the research. They're in charge of ensuring the clinical trials run smoothly, monitoring all the procedures, processes, and results, and ensuring the researchers follow established guidelines and protocols at every step. 

A clinical research associate works on behalf of the sponsor (pharmaceutical company, university, or health organization) or for a contract research organization (CRO) that funds the research. Clinical trials are the long, scientific process of ensuring that certain drugs, therapies, and devices are safe and effective for public consumption and use. CRAs guide the trials forward following ethics and safety regulations.

Clinical research associate job description

As a clinical research associate, these are the typical tasks and responsibilities:

Monitor the clinical research process, including managing supplies and coordination

Oversee data collection and documentation and input data into systems databases

Outline the trial objectives and present the trial protocols to a committee

Coordinate with an ethics committee that protects trial subject confidentiality

Prepare post-trial reports and manage the creation of publications

Where you’ll work

Field-based CRAs travel to different locations to deal with medical professionals in clinics or hospitals. Some CROs hire in-house CRAs to focus only on document review and management, making only occasional site visits.

Skills needed

Clinical research associates need certain skills to get hired and be successful in their roles. Whether or not you currently possess these skills, you can learn and acquire them through online courses or on the job. Some important skills you’ll need include: 

Administrative skills, including the ability to document important information accurately

IT and computer skills, such as databases and systems management

Written and oral communication skills

Keen attention to detail and organization

Ability to manage and coordinate with several stakeholders

Strong understanding of the clinical research trials and health care space, along with medical terminology

Clinical research associate salary and job outlook

The salary for a clinical research associate can vary depending on the organization you work for and your experience level. According to Glassdoor, clinical research associates in Canada earn an average salary of $ 73,209 [ 1 ]. The job outlook for clinical research associates is projected to be moderate to good in nearly all provinces and territories in Canada through 2026, according to the Job Bank [ 2 ].

How to become a clinical research associate.

A CRA career can be fulfilling because you are essentially part translator, part project manager, and part administrator for trials that have the potential to save lives. Here’s how to get started as a clinical research associate.

1. Qualify for certification.

You can take several paths to becoming a certified CRA in Canada. One path is to earn a high school diploma and clock 3,000 to 3,500 part-time hours of work experience in the field. At least one of those years of part-time work must be in Canada and must have been within the past five years. This work is typically in a supporting role, helping experienced CRAs. Your tasks will likely start mundane, but you will get more advanced assignments as you gain experience. 

Another path is to graduate high school and gain two years of qualifying experience—again, typically in a support role—in the last five years. 

The third path is to earn a post-graduate certificate in clinical research and then earn at least one year of Canadian clinical research working experience in the last two years. 

To enrol in a post-graduate certificate program, you will need a bachelor’s degree in health sciences or to be a registered nurse or registered in another regulated health profession. You can also qualify with a certification with a recognized body in health technology or if you’re currently employed in clinical research. 

2. Get certified.

After qualifying, you are eligible to sit for the Certified Clinical Research Professionals Society (CCRPS) CRA certification exam. The CRA course and exam costs USD$450. 

3. Apply for jobs.

You can start applying for jobs when you have the necessary qualifications to become a CRA. Visit job sites such as Indeed or LinkedIn and type in “clinical research associate” to search for entry- or junior-level positions.

Enhance your resume with any health-care-related experiences you may have, including volunteer activities and internships. You’ll want to quantify your accomplishments with statements such as “I managed clinical trials in seven different states in 2020.”

Prepare for interviews by researching the company and preparing your best answers. Don’t forget to write a list of questions to ask your interviewer. 

4. Continue learning.

Earning a master’s degree can help you land a managerial position or salary boost as a CRA. Many types of organizations need clinical research associates, so pursuing higher education can lead to more interesting and dynamic job opportunities. 

Start your health care career with Coursera.

Launch your career in the health care industry by honing your skills in medical terminology. You’ll be able to identify parts of words commonly used in medicine, understand health records, and more with the Medical Terminology specialization from Rice University.

Article sources

Glassdoor. " Clinical Research Associate Salaries in Canada , https://www.glassdoor.ca/Salaries/canada-clinical-research-associate-salary-SRCH_IL.0,6_IN3_KO7,34.htm" Accessed April 23, 2024.

Government of Canada Job Bank. " Clinical Research Associate in Canada , https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/marketreport/outlook-occupation/23070/ca." Accessed April 23, 2024.

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