National Avg. Salary
$136,570 More Salary Data →Job Growth Rate
3.3% More Growth Data →Recommended Degree
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Learn MoreAs a clinical research associate (CRA), your chief responsibility is to collect and organize data from research and field-studies. In this role, you would be running clinical trials to ensure the performance and safety of drugs before they are accessible in the market.
What is a Clinical Research Associate (CRA)?
Duties
There will be several tasks allotted to a CRA depending on the company, but some of them are presented here:
- Collaborates with investigators and research staff to successfully implement clinical trials in accordance with regulatory requirements and protocols.
- Evaluates that quality of materials and collected data, including supporting the on-site personnel with internal audits and inspection.
- Identifying and assessing sites as potential facilities for conducting clinical trials.
- Verifying the integrity of data entered on case report forms or (CRFs) in comparison with clinical notes of a patient.
- Preparing reports, research manuscripts for publication and other documents for record filing and collation.
Day In The Life
A day in the life of a CRA can differ greatly. Clinical trials are carried out at various stages and are conducted on healthy humans or patients suffering from a particular disease. Generally, your work schedule revolves around establishing secure trial sites, monitoring each and every trial and maintaining records of the procedure for study documentation.
Once trials are completed, you are also part of the team that closes down the site in compliance with industry standards and ensures that all unused trial supplies are flagged. Further, recruitment of efficient investigators or consultants for conducting clinical trials might be part of your work day.
If you are in a field-based role, you are likely to travel often – 3 to 4 days a week – and be on the road. Your day involves working alongside doctors and research nurses at trial centres or hospitals to supervise and evaluate duties regarding clinical trials. On the other hand, your role can be in-house at an office environment, where you will mostly verify trial correspondence such as reports and manage projects.
Work Schedule And Typical Hours
Work locations for these roles can be few and far between – often located in select areas of the country. This can require extensive commuting and longer hours at work. Working hours can vary, with overtime, weekend and holiday work days being fairly common. There will be many tight deadlines which will result in a fast-paced work environment among teams.
Positions in the field are also an option whereby you are based in a specific area and working at a study centre to compile relevant research. Short-term contracts of 6-12 months with a private company is another flexible work option, rather than becoming a full-time employee. A position with international companies will lead to arranging for clinical trials in other countries, such that overseas travel is required.
Growth Of The Job
The US Bureau of Labour Statistics (BLS) projects faster than average growth of around 18% for clinical and medical lab technicians. Working as a clinical research associate leads to career opportunities in a growing sector – pharmaceutical research and development. There is a rise in employment potential of this sector due to companies looking for accurate ways to verify medical products prior to distribution, in order to safeguard against legal proceedings or irregularities.
Typical Employers
Clinical Research Associate positions are frequently offered by research-based medical drug and device companies like Phoenix Medical Systems, Medpace, etc. Clinical research institutes are also interested in recruiting for CRA positions, such as the Sarah Cannon Research Institute, focusing on providing advanced therapies for cancer patients, and the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, which conducts basic and applied research in biomedical science.
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How To Become a Clinical Research Associate (CRA)
A relevant college degree is required to find job opportunities in this field. For instance, you could get a college nursing diploma or complete a bachelor’s degree in biomedical science, health science, pharmacology or pharmacy. Some employers also prefer a master’s degree, demonstrating a technical specialty. Having a grasp over multiple languages gives aspiring candidates a competitive edge as they would be comfortable in international positions.
Further, clinical research associates are expected to be very organized and possess superior analytical and statistical skills. They should be great at solving complicated problems with an evidence-based approach and collect accurate data. Part of the job involves coordinating with professionals from various walks of life, including doctors, research nurses, clinical trial sponsors and participants. Thus, you must have solid communication skills to succeed in this demanding field.
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Recommended Min. Degree
Bachelor's
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Clinical Research Associate (CRA) Salary Data
We've provided you the following to learn more about this career. The salary and growth data on this page comes from recently published Bureau of Labor Statistics data while the recommendations and editorial content are based on our research.
National Annual Salary
Low Range
$91,990
Average
$136,570
High Range
---
National Hourly Wage
Low Range
$44/hr
Average
$66/hr
High Range
---
How do Clinical Research Associate (CRA) salaries stack up to other jobs across the country? Based on the latest jobs data nationwide, Clinical Research Associate (CRA)'s can make an average annual salary of $136,570, or $66 per hour. On the lower end, they can make $91,990 or $44 per hour, perhaps when just starting out or based on the state you live in.
Salary Rankings And Facts
#20 Nationally for All Careers
Above Average Salary Nationally
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Programs and Degrees
Here are the most common degrees for becoming a Clinical Research Associate (CRA). a Bachelor's is usually recommended and specifically a degree or coursework that prepares you for the particular field, see below.
Highest Education Among Clinical Research Associate (CRA)
- 27.2% Doctorate
- 31.4% Masters
- 33.2% Bachelors
- 2.3% Associates
- 4% College
- 1.4% High School
- 0.6% Less than High School
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Job Growth Projections and Forecast
2014 Total Jobs
55,1002024 Est. Jobs
56,900Job Growth Rate
3.3%Est. New Jobs
1,800How does Clinical Research Associate (CRA) job growth stack up to other jobs across the country? By 2024, there will be a change of 1,800 jobs for a total of 56,900 people employed in the career nationwide. This is a 3.3% change in growth over the next ten years, giving the career a growth rate nationwide of Above Average.
Growth Rankings And Facts
#510 Nationally for All Careers
Above Avg. Growth Nationally
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What Companies Employ The Most Clinical Research Associate (CRA)s
Industry | Current Jobs | New Jobs Needed | % Increase |
---|---|---|---|
Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences | 15,500 | 1,100 | 1% |
Federal government, excluding postal service | 10,600 | -1,000 | -1% |
Pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing | 4,800 | --- | --- |
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