Clinical Research Coordinator: career path and pay in the US
Where a Clinical Research Coordinator goes next, what each step typically pays in the United States, and how exposed the path is to AI replacement. 3 steps, from Clinical Research Coordinator to Clinical Research Manager / Director of Clinical Research.
Also for the United Kingdom: Clinical Research Coordinator in the UK
The path
Step 1 · 0 to 3 years
Clinical Research Coordinator
$45K to $70K
Typical US pay for this job title, retrieved September 2026.
What this step adds
Credentials that help: CCRC (Certified Clinical Research Coordinator) (optional) - US, GCP (Good Clinical Practice) - Global.
Step 2 · 3 to 8 years
Clinical Research Coordinator / Senior CRC
$55K to $80K
Typical US pay for this job title, retrieved September 2026.
What this step adds
Credentials that help: CCRC - US, GCP - Global, Specialty Certification (optional) - Global.
Step 3 · 8+ years
Clinical Research Manager / Director of Clinical Research
$70K to $110K
Typical US pay for this job title, retrieved September 2026.
What this step adds
Credentials that help: CCRC - US, GCP - Global, Specialty Certification - Global, MS/PhD (optional) - Global.
Exposure and pay along the path
Exposure to AI, now to later
52% → 24%
Falls 28 points. Each step is harder to automate than the last. Lower is better.
Typical pay, now to later
$45K to $70K → $70K to $110K
US estimates by job title, Glassdoor, Indeed and PayScale US. Indeed publishes a hourly average for Clinical Research Coordinator ($27.98); this band converts it at 40 hours a week.
What the work involves
Assist social scientists in laboratory, survey, and other social science research. May help prepare findings for publication and assist in laboratory analysis, quality control, or data management.
Skills that matter most
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Critical Thinking
- Speaking
- Science
Knowledge areas
- English Language
- Computers and Electronics
- Administrative
- Mathematics
- Customer and Personal Service
- Education and Training
Education people bring
- Bachelor's Degree: 53%
- Master's Degree: 37%
- Some College Courses: 9%
Job Zone 4, job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed. 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.
Other paths from here
- Clinical Research Manager
- Director of Clinical Research
- Regulatory Affairs Manager
- Research Director
More Healthcare paths in the US
Related occupations in O*NET: Data Scientists, Clinical Data Managers, Survey Researchers, Clinical Research Coordinators, Statisticians.
Your own role
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SourcesSalary bands: Glassdoor, Indeed and PayScale US, US national averages by job title, retrieved September 2026Skills, knowledge and education: O*NET 31.0 Database
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. CC BY 4.0
Salary estimates by job title from Glassdoor, Indeed and PayScale, retrieved September 2026. Each band runs from 20% below to 20% above the reported average, rounded to $5K. Exposure percentages and the skills listed under each step are this app's own editorial ratings, not published data.