Clinical Research Associate Vs Senior Clinical Research Associate

The differences between clinical research associates and senior 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 clinical research associate and a senior clinical research associate. Additionally, a senior clinical research associate has an average salary of $95,878, which is higher than the $62,966 average annual salary of a clinical research associate.

The top three skills for a clinical research associate include patients, informed consent and CRA. The most important skills for a senior clinical research associate are patients, informed consent, and oncology.

Clinical research associate vs senior clinical research associate overview

Clinical Research AssociateSenior Clinical Research Associate
Yearly Salary$62,966$95,878
Hourly rate$30.27$46.10
Growth Rate6%6%
Number Of Jobs94,33694,045
Job Satisfaction--
Most Common DegreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Average Age4444
Years Of Experience22

What does a Clinical Research Associate do?

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.

What does a senior clinical research associate do?

A Senior Clinical Research Associate performs and coordinates all aspects of the clinical monitoring and site management process. They design, implement, and monitor clinical trials.

Clinical research associate vs senior clinical research associate salary

Clinical research associates and senior clinical research associates have different pay scales, as shown below.

Clinical Research AssociateSenior Clinical Research Associate
Average Salary$62,966$95,878
Salary RangeBetween $43,000 And $91,000Between $64,000 And $142,000
Highest Paying CitySan Francisco, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest Paying StateCaliforniaWashington
Best Paying CompanyMetaAcorda Therapeutics
Best Paying IndustryPharmaceuticalPharmaceutical

Differences between clinical research associate and senior clinical research associate education

There are a few differences between a clinical research associate and a senior clinical research associate in terms of educational background:

Clinical Research AssociateSenior Clinical Research Associate
Most Common DegreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Most Common MajorBiologyBiology
Most Common CollegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaDuke University

Clinical research associate vs senior clinical research associate demographics

Here are the differences between clinical research associates' and senior clinical research associates' demographics:

Clinical Research AssociateSenior Clinical Research Associate
Average Age4444
Gender RatioMale, 28.3% Female, 71.7%Male, 28.2% Female, 71.8%
Race RatioBlack 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%Black or African American, 2.6% Unknown, 7.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.0% Asian, 11.6% White, 62.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between clinical research associate and senior clinical research associate duties and responsibilities

Clinical Research Associate Example Responsibilities.

  • Manage, schedule and train up to 15 CRAs.
  • Recruit patients, attain patient inform consent form, educate subjects on compliance, and ensure patient safety per ICH guidelines.
  • Manage site TMF to ensure communication requirements adherence
  • Manage CRO and regional monitor to complete close out activities, including device accountability management.
  • Manage regional academic and community base oncology practices as the primary contact for all communications and support.
  • Manage the monitoring CRO and the data clean-up efforts for a 510k submission and interim/annual study reports by effectively collaborating cross-functionally.
  • Show More

Senior Clinical Research Associate Example Responsibilities.

  • Manage a consultant to review scientific support and create dossiers on each product that make health claims in the EU.
  • Interact with FDA and other regulatory authorities to manage and facilitate approval of regulatory submissions.
  • Monitor U.S. sites in accordance with ICH and GCP guidelines.
  • Maintain investigators and subjects files, review investigators files for compliance with GCP and FDA regulations, review drug utilization records.
  • Verify informed consent procedures and protocol requirements base on applicable regulatory requirements to ensure protection of study patients.
  • Provide site management for both therapeutic and supportive care oncology protocols that are complex and require knowledge in advance therapeutic areas.
  • Show More

Clinical research associate vs senior clinical research associate skills

Common Clinical Research Associate Skills
  • Patients, 9%
  • Informed Consent, 7%
  • CRA, 6%
  • Clinical Trials, 6%
  • Clinical Trial Management, 5%
  • Oncology, 4%
Common Senior Clinical Research Associate Skills
  • Patients, 11%
  • Informed Consent, 6%
  • Oncology, 5%
  • CRA, 5%
  • Site Management, 5%
  • Field Training, 4%

Browse executive management jobs