Clinical Research Coordinators
SOC code 11-9121 · O*NET-SOC 11-9121.01 · Considerable preparation needed
Clinical Research Coordinators pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$167,220
a year
Hourly
$80.39
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$180,250
$86.66 per hour
Middle 50%
$119,430 – $221,540
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$79,710 – $316,850
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
108,690
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
These pay and employment figures are for the broader BLS group “Natural Sciences Managers”, not this job alone.
- 10th percentile
- $79,710
- $38.32/hr
- 25th percentile
- $119,430
- $57.42/hr
- Median percentile
- $167,220
- $80.39/hr
- 75th percentile
- $221,540
- $106.51/hr
- 90th percentile
- $316,850
- $152.33/hr
Job outlook · federal projection 2024–34
+4%
Growing faster than average
104,300
jobs in 2024
108,200
projected for 2034
About 3,900 more jobs
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projections, 2024–34. Projections describe the broader occupation group and are estimates, not guarantees.
What does a clinical research coordinator do?
Plan, direct, or coordinate clinical research projects. Direct the activities of workers engaged in clinical research projects to ensure compliance with protocols and overall clinical objectives. May evaluate and analyze clinical data.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Schedule subjects for appointments, procedures, or inpatient stays as required by study protocols.
- Perform specific protocol procedures such as interviewing subjects, taking vital signs, and performing electrocardiograms.
- Assess eligibility of potential subjects through methods such as screening interviews, reviews of medical records, or discussions with physicians and nurses.
- Prepare study-related documentation, such as protocol worksheets, procedural manuals, adverse event reports, institutional review board documents, or progress reports.
- Inform patients or caregivers about study aspects and outcomes to be expected.
- Record adverse event and side effect data and confer with investigators regarding the reporting of events to oversight agencies.
- Monitor study activities to ensure compliance with protocols and with all relevant local, federal, and state regulatory and institutional polices.
- Oversee subject enrollment to ensure that informed consent is properly obtained and documented.
How to become a clinical research coordinator
Most people in this role hold bachelor's degree — 60% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.
Preparation level: zone 4 — Considerable preparation needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Education reported by people doing this job
- Bachelor's Degree60%
- Post-Secondary Certificate12%
- Some College Courses9%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)7%
Common questions
How much does a clinical research coordinator earn?
The national median is $167,220 a year. The full range runs from $79,710 at the 10th percentile to $316,850 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a clinical research coordinator without a degree?
Not usually — this occupation sits in preparation zone 4, where the typical entry route is most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not. The education breakdown above shows what people in the role actually reported.
Is clinical research coordinator in demand?
Federal projections expect employment to grow by about 4% between 2024 and 2034 — growing faster than average. Openings also come from people retiring or changing jobs, which the growth figure does not count.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Reading Comprehension4.0/5
- Active Listening4.0/5
- Writing4.0/5
- Speaking3.9/5
- Critical Thinking3.8/5
- Monitoring3.6/5
Knowledge areas
- Customer and Personal Service4.3/5
- English Language3.8/5
- Administrative3.7/5
- Medicine and Dentistry3.2/5
- Administration and Management3.0/5
- Biology3.0/5
- Computers and Electronics2.9/5
- Mathematics2.9/5
Transferable strengths: Coordination, Social Perceptiveness, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making.