Clinical Research Coordinator Salary.
Across 81 U.S. cities.
$58,000
national median salary
$46,000 to $73,000. Last updated August 2026.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $61,990 for Social Science Research Assistants (SOC 19-4061) across the United States, based on 30,640 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$38,090
25th percentile
$48,620
Median
$61,990
75th percentile
$77,760
90th percentile
$102,070
Workers surveyed
30,640
What BLS published in each release
May 2024 release
$58,040
May 2025 release
$61,990
These are two separate published estimates, not a time series. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not encourage the use of OEWS data for time-series analysis. Differences between releases reflect changes in occupational classification, survey methodology, and the three-year pooled sample as well as any change in pay, so the two figures should not be read as a rate of wage growth.
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Social Science Research Assistants (SOC 19-4061) rather than Clinical Research Coordinatorspecifically. The national range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 19-4061Highest Paying
$80,000
San Jose, CA
Best Purchasing Power
$61,000
Boston, MA
Lowest Paying
$44,000
Charleston, WV
The salary figures on this page are computed estimates, not observed wages. Each one is a national role baseline scaled by a Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parity cost-of-living multiplier (2025 index) and rounded to the nearest $1,000. No published wage percentile is consulted and no wage survey response enters the calculation, so an Orbyt estimate must not be cited as a Bureau of Labor Statistics figure or as measured pay. The published wage data Orbyt holds is Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, and Department of Labor H-1B Labor Condition Application filings, which record a filed minimum visa base wage rather than market pay. Where BLS publishes a wage for the occupation a role maps to, it is shown on that role's page as a separate benchmark, labelled with its occupation code, metro area and the number of employed workers it covers. Last updated August 2026. This role maps to BLS occupation code 19-4061. Full methodology.
Orbyt estimates the average Clinical Research Coordinator salary in the United States at $58,000 in 2026, within a range of $46,000 to $73,000. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page. San Jose is the highest of the 81 cities at $80,000, while Boston offers the best purchasing power after cost-of-living adjustments. Therapeutic area and trial phase drive the biggest pay differences.
Clinical Research Coordinator salary by city.
Skills that increase Clinical Research Coordinator pay.
The skills below command measurable salary premiums for Clinical Research Coordinators based on job posting data. Learning the top skill here could add $8,120 to your annual compensation.
≈ +$8,120 per year
≈ +$7,540 per year
≈ +$6,960 per year
≈ +$6,380 per year
≈ +$6,380 per year
≈ +$5,800 per year
≈ +$5,800 per year
≈ +$5,220 per year
What you should know.
Therapeutic area and trial phase drive the biggest pay differences. Oncology, gene therapy, and Phase I trials pay the most due to protocol complexity. ACRP or SoCRA certification adds 8 to 12% above non-certified coordinators. Academic medical centers and large CROs in biotech hubs offer the highest salaries.
Entry-level CRCs start at $48,000 to $55,000 with a science degree. Certified CRCs with three to five years of experience earn $65,000 to $80,000. Senior CRCs or clinical research managers can reach $85,000 to $110,000 overseeing multi-site trials and regulatory submissions.
CRCs receive benefits including tuition reimbursement, certification exam fees, and conference attendance stipends. CRO-employed coordinators may receive project completion bonuses of $2,000 to $5,000. Some pharmaceutical sponsors offer annual merit increases of 3 to 6%.
Total compensation breakdown.
Salary by company size
Remote salary adjustment
Remote Clinical Research Coordinators typically earn $49,000 (15% less than on-site). This reflects location-adjusted pay policies at companies using geographic salary bands. Some companies pay flat national rates regardless of location.
Are you a Clinical Research Coordinator?
Share your real compensation anonymously. Help build the most accurate salary dataset for this role. Your data is never individually exposed.
Common questions about Clinical Research Coordinator pay.
Related tools