Other Management Occupations

How to become a Clinical Research Coordinator

Official title: Clinical Research Coordinators

Also called: Clinical Coordinator, Clinical Program Coordinator, Clinical Program Manager, Clinical Research Administrator, Clinical Research Coordinator, Clinical Research Manager, Clinical Research Nurse Coordinator, Clinical Trial Coordinator, Clinical Trial Manager, Research Coordinator

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.

Main tasks

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 one

Natural sciences managers typically need at least a bachelor's degree in a natural science or related field. Most work as scientists before becoming managers.

Typical education to start: Bachelor's degree

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

College: Science degrees, Offered by 36 universities in the US

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $167,220 a year The middle half earn $119,430 to $221,540.
About 112,200 people work in this job now, and about 121,500 are projected by 2035. (+8.2%)
People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Questions people ask

How do I become a Clinical Research Coordinator?

Natural sciences managers typically need at least a bachelor's degree in a natural science or related field. Most work as scientists before becoming managers.

How much does a Clinical Research Coordinator earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $167,220 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $119,430 to $221,540.

Is a Clinical Research Coordinator a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 8% by 2035, from about 112,200 to about 121,500 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Clinical Research Coordinator?

Usually. 91% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a Clinical Research Coordinator?

People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.