Clinical Research Associate Job Description, Duties, Salary and More

What is a Research Associate/Clinical Research Associate/CRA?

Clinical Research Associates (CRAs) are tasked with carrying out medical studies and clinical trials. They're usually employed by pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, contract agencies, universities, or non-profit organizations. They may work on any or all parts of the clinical research process, such as finding and signing up study participants, conducting procedures, training other staff members, and documenting the results. Clinical Research Associates work on research in the clinical medicine industry specifically and are included under the broader title of Research Associate, which might describe someone who contributes to research in medicine or in another field of study.

What are the usual duties and responsibilities of a Research Associate/Clinical Research Associate/CRA?

Typical tasks in the Clinical Research Associate job description may include:

• Find and recruit participants for research studies
• Educate study participants regarding risks, study parameters, and practices
• Schedule patient appointments
• Conduct study procedures with patients
• Ensure that studies are being conducted properly and according to ethical, medical, legal, and scientific standards
• Hire and/or train other staff members to help facilitate the study
• Document study protocols and procedures
• Track and document the data collected by the study

What is the average Research Associate/Clinical Research Associate/CRA salary?

Indeed.com reports that the average annual salary for a Clinical Research Associate in the United States is $79,824.

Glassdoor.com reports the average annual base pay for Clinical Research Associates at about $68,689 per year, with an estimated total pay of $104,207. They estimate that the average total pay usually ranges between $67 and $185k per year. They estimate total compensation for new Clinical Research Associates in their first year of experience to average around $106k.

These numbers will vary based on locale, experience, industry, the type of employer, and other factors.

Top Cities to work in as Research Associate/Clinical Research Associate/CRA

While by no means a comprehensive or definitive list, Indeed.com reports some of the highest salaries for Clinical Research Associate jobs in the following cities. Also included is the cost of living index and city populations as reported by Numbeo and World Population Review.

Raleigh, NC

Average Clinical Research Associate salary: $124,534 per year (based on 101 reported salaries).

Cost of living index: 65.84

Population: 480,419

Houston, TX

Average Clinical Research Associate salary: $114,527 per year (based on 6 reported salaries).

Cost of living index: 66.85

Population: 2,345,606

Atlanta, GA

Average Clinical Research Associate salary: $101,349 per year (based on 26 reported salaries).

Cost of living index: 73.35

Population: 514,457

Philadelphia, PA

Average Clinical Research Associate salary: $97,938 per year (based on 16 reported salaries).

Cost of living index: 76.89

Population: 1,619,355

New York, NY

Average Clinical Research Associate salary: $97,862 per year (based on 12 reported salaries).

Cost of living index: 100

Population: 8,930,002

Boston, MA

Average Clinical Research Associate salary: $87,486 per year (based on 15 reported salaries).

Cost of living index: 84.59

Population: 687,257

Memphis, TN

Average Clinical Research Associate salary: $82,291 per year (based on 31 reported salaries).

Cost of living index: 61.30

Population: 630,348

Austin, TX

Average Clinical Research Associate salary: $54,574 per year (based on 8 reported salaries).

Cost of living index: 69.46

Population: 996,147

Chapel Hill, NC

Average Clinical Research Associate salary: $54,529 per year (based on 6 reported salaries).

Cost of living index: Not listed

Population: 62,906