What is the salary and career path for a clinical research associate?
Clinical research associate falls under the broad Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists code (SOC 19-1042), an umbrella that does not break out trial monitors, so the OEWS May 2025 median is $103,410 a year ($49.72 an hour), from $64,800 at the 10th percentile to $177,780 at the 90th. CRAs who move from site to regional and in-house monitoring climb steadily within that band. BLS projects 8.7% growth over 2024–2034, faster than average, with roughly 9,600 openings a year. No license is required, but ICH-GCP training and monitoring experience, often backed by ACRP or SOCRA certification, define the role.
- Clinical Research Associates earn a national median $103,410/yr ($49.72/hr) (BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 19-1042); the top 10% clear $177,780.
- No license is required, but ICH-GCP training and monitoring experience, often with ACRP or SOCRA certification, define the role.
- BLS projects 8.7% growth for 2024–34 across the medical-scientist code, faster than average, with roughly 9,600 openings a year.
- The ladder runs from clinical trial assistant through senior CRA to lead CRA or clinical trial manager near $177,780.
Career Path
How do you become a clinical research associate?
Clinical Trial Assistant / CRA I
Supports site startup and documentation; pay near the BLS 10th percentile.
Clinical Research Associate
Monitors trial sites and verifies source data under GCP — around the $103,410 median.
Senior CRA
Handles complex studies and mentors monitors; earnings near the 75th percentile.
Lead CRA / Clinical Trial Manager
Leads monitoring teams or manages trials; top-decile pay near the 90th percentile.
BLS Salary Data
Which state pays clinical research associates the most in 2026?
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 19-1042. National median: $103,410. Full salary guide →
Pay Comparison
How does clinical research associate pay compare to related roles?
Head-to-head against the roles clinical research associates most often weigh against. BLS OEWS May 2025 medians.
Takeaway: clinical research associates rank 2 of 4 on median pay among the comparable roles above, with a projected +8.7% employment change 2024–34 (BLS Employment Projections). Pay position and projected demand together are what determine how quickly clinical research associates clear offers across the GlobalCybers placement network.
Methodology & Sources
How this guide is sourced and reviewed
Wages (BLS): All median and percentile figures are BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 19-1042 (clinical research associates) and the matching SOC codes for each comparison role. OEWS is sampled on a rolling 3-year basis and published ~10 months after collection, so treat it as a firm anchor rather than a spot rate.
Job growth: Projected 2024–34 employment change, and the average annual openings figure, are from the BLS Employment Projections program, by occupation. Openings are a per-year average over the projection decade, not a decade total.
Licensing & credentials:Requirements are drawn from the issuing state licensing boards and the certifying body behind each credential — not from third-party aggregators.
Demand signal:Any statement about how quickly this role clears offers reflects GlobalCybers placement request volume across the trailing 12 months — our own network data, offered as a directional real-world indicator alongside BLS, not a market-wide survey.
Credentials
What licences and certifications do clinical research associates need?
Clinical research certifications from ACRP or SOCRA that validate GCP monitoring competence. See all state licences →
Good Clinical Practice training required before monitoring human clinical trials.
A bachelor's in a health or life-science field is the standard educational base.
Tools & Software
What tools and software do clinical research associates use on the job?
⚙️ Core Tools & Equipment
📊 BLS Employment Data, SOC 19-1042
Salary Levers
How do clinical research associates earn above the $103,410 BLS median?
Monitoring experience and independence
Moving from in-house to independent site monitoring lifts pay from the $64,800 entry tier toward the $103,410 median.
Therapeutic-area and oncology specialization
Complex therapeutic areas push earnings toward the $139,380 upper-quartile mark.
Advancement to lead or trial manager
Leading monitoring teams or managing trials reaches toward the $177,780 top decile.
This Route vs. College
Is becoming a clinical research associate worth it vs. a 4-year degree?
The entry route into this role, set against a four-year degree. Same starting line, side by side.
Entry-level (10th percentile) and all-level median wages: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 19-1042. Student-debt figure: median federal borrower balance for bachelor's-degree completers. Starting-salary comparison is illustrative and varies by field and region.
FAQ
Clinical Research Associate Career, Frequently Asked Questions
Clinical Research Associate career research journey
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