Career paths

Twelve clinical research careers, mapped end-to-end

Salary bands, day-in-the-life detail, certifications that actually pay back, and the next role up — for every core function in clinical research.

Function

operationsmid

Clinical Research Associate

The traveling auditor who keeps trial sites compliant and data clean.

$85k–$130k·£45k–£75k

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operationsentry

Clinical Research Coordinator

The site-side operator who runs the trial day-to-day with patients and PI.

$55k–$85k·£30k–£45k

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leadershipsenior

Clinical Trial Manager

End-to-end owner of a trial: timeline, budget, vendors, regions.

$130k–$190k·£75k–£115k

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datamid

Clinical Data Manager

Owns the data pipeline from eCRF to clean, locked dataset.

$95k–$145k·£50k–£85k

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regulatorymid

Regulatory Affairs Specialist

Builds and submits the dossiers regulators read — IND, CTA, NDA.

$95k–$155k·£55k–£95k

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safetymid

Pharmacovigilance Specialist

Detects, processes and reports adverse events across a product's life.

$80k–$135k·£40k–£80k

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datasenior

Biostatistician

Designs the trial's statistical analysis and answers what the data really mean.

$120k–$185k·£65k–£110k

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writingmid

Medical Writer

Turns trial data into protocols, CSRs, manuscripts and submission-ready prose.

$95k–$155k·£50k–£90k

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leadershipsenior

Clinical Project Manager

Runs a portfolio of studies or a single global program.

$140k–$200k·£85k–£125k

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qualitysenior

Clinical Quality Assurance / Auditor

Independent eyes on GCP compliance — sites, vendors, internal processes.

$110k–$175k·£60k–£105k

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operationsmid

Study Start-Up Specialist

Compresses the months between protocol final and first-patient-in.

$80k–$125k·£40k–£70k

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leadershipsenior

Clinical Research Physician

The medical authority on a trial — protocol design, safety calls, data interpretation.

$240k–$380k·£140k–£220k

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