Clinical Research Coordinator: Salary, Job Description and Requirements

Medical innovations continue to transform health care. Groundbreaking clinical research evaluates the safety and effectiveness of new medications and therapeutic procedures. While medical researchers focus on the clinical goals of research, clinical research coordinators focus on the daily operations.

Clinical research coordinators are administrative managers who work closely with participants and researchers to ensure that clinical trials operate smoothly. They recruit trial participants, record clinical data and monitor trial procedures. Drawing on their medical and public health knowledge, clinical research coordinators prioritize the safety of clinical trial participants.

What Does a Clinical Research Coordinator Do?

Clinical research coordinators manage day-to-day administrative and clinical tasks for clinical trials. By coordinating between medical researchers and clinical trial participants, they keep clinical trials on schedule. However, their responsibilities go beyond daily operations. Clinical research coordinators also ensure that research studies follow patient safety regulations.

The job duties of a clinical research coordinator include the following:

Collecting and reporting clinical research data
Maintaining regulatory documents
Enforcing privacy and safety guidelines
Performing quality control checks
Recruiting and informing clinical trial participants

Some clinical research coordinators bring clinical training to their role. For example, clinical research nurse coordinators typically hold an active registered nurse (RN) license. However, many clinical research coordinator jobs don’t require medical training.

Clinical Research Coordinator Skills

What skills does a clinical research coordinator need? The role requires both medical knowledge and administrative strengths. The core competencies for clinical research coordinators include the following:

Clinical Knowledge: Clinical research coordinators need to understand medical terminology, clinical practices and research methodologies to manage clinical trials. Specific knowledge of physiology, disease pathology, treatment protocols and patient care also benefits clinical research coordinators.
Data Management: Coordinators record and manage clinical research data. They need strong attention to detail and data accuracy to keep clinical trials operating smoothly. Technical expertise with electronic data capture systems and clinical trial management software also benefits clinical research coordinators.
Project Management: Strong project management skills allow clinical research coordinators to manage operations and ensure compliance. Key abilities include coordinating schedules, overseeing budgets and allocating resources.
Regulatory Compliance: Clinical trials must follow laws and regulations related to patient privacy, clinical practice and reporting. Clinical research coordinators need a strong understanding of regulatory compliance and ethics to protect patient safety and contribute to the success of clinical trials.

Requirements to Become a Clinical Research Coordinator

The success of clinical trials depends on the ability of clinical research coordinators to obtain informed consent from participants, maintain regulatory documents and manage daily operations. To become a clinical research coordinator, candidates typically need a bachelor’s degree plus experience for entry-level roles.

Education

A bachelor’s degree represents the most common entry-level education requirement for clinical research coordinators. Typical majors include public health, life science, health sciences or a related field.

Undergraduate programs that strengthen research and laboratory skills prepare graduates for clinical research careers. Coursework in health systems, biomedical statistics and health informatics build the clinical knowledge and skills required to work in the field.

A master’s degree in public health or a similar field can also help clinical research coordinators advance their careers.

Experience

Clinical research coordinators often need experience in clinical research settings such as hospitals, health centers, pharmaceutical companies and research laboratories.

Prospective clinical research coordinators can begin gaining experience during their undergraduate program. Laboratory courses and clinical internships develop clinical knowledge and public health skills. Volunteer or paid work in health care, customer service or sales can also provide valuable experience.

Career Advancement

Clinical research coordinators can advance their careers through experience, certification and education. Professional certification helps clinical research professionals showcase their expertise. Offered by the Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP), the Certified Clinical Research Coordinator (CCRC) is a popular certification.

After gaining experience as a clinical research coordinator, professionals can advance into roles such as clinical research associate or clinical research manager. Earning a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree can also help individuals develop the skills necessary for roles with additional responsibilities. During an MPH program, graduate students expand their knowledge of public health research, epidemiology, public health nutrition and more.

Clinical research associates take on additional administrative tasks compared with clinical research coordinators. They document research data, present findings and ensure the safety of participants. Clinical research associates need experience in clinical settings, including experience with regulatory compliance.

Clinical research managers oversee research studies, including supervising clinical research associates. They ensure proper compliance and documentation while also training clinical employees. Prospective clinical research managers benefit from a master’s degree.

Clinical Research Coordinator Salary

Clinical research coordinators earn a median annual salary of around $57,830 as of August 2025, according to the compensation website Payscale.

Experience plays a significant role in the salary of clinical research coordinators. Professionals with less than one year of experience earn around $49,000, while those with one to four years of experience earn around $56,500. By midcareer, clinical research coordinators with five to nine years of experience earn around $62,800. Those with 20 years of experience or more earn around $70,700.

Clinical research associates and clinical research managers can earn higher salaries. Clinical research associates earn a median annual salary of around $78,000, while clinical research managers earn a median annual salary of $90,000, according to Payscale.

Earn a Master of Public Health at Augusta University

Current and prospective clinical research coordinators benefit from advancing their education. An MPH from Augusta University Online can develop the clinical and administrative skills for careers in this growing field. Graduate students can specialize their coursework for medical research careers by choosing a concentration in health management, health informatics, or social and behavioral sciences.

AU Online’s MPH program uses a flexible online format designed for busy students. The program also incorporates practical learning through internships, fieldwork and a capstone research experience. Reach out to AU Online today to learn more about the MPH program.

Sources:
Association of Clinical Research Professionals, ACRP Hiring Guidelines for Entry Level Clinical Research Coordinators
National Institutes of Health, Clinical Research Coordinator
Oregon Medical Research Center, Clinical Research Coordinator Job Description
Payscale, Average Clinical Research Associate (CRA) Salary
Payscale, Average Clinical Research Coordinator Salary
Payscale, Average Clinical Research Manager Salary
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Natural Sciences Managers