Clinical research coordinators play a critical role in medical research by coordinating clinical trials and ensuring regulatory compliance. At a prestigious institution like UCLA, clinical research coordinators enjoy competitive salaries and excellent benefits.
Quick Answer
The average salary for a Clinical Research Coordinator at UCLA is $67,500 per year. However, salaries can range from $55,000 on the low end to over $80,000 for more experienced coordinators.
Job Description
As a clinical research coordinator at UCLA, your responsibilities may include:
- Coordinating and managing day-to-day operations of clinical trials
- Recruiting, screening, and enrolling study participants
- Collecting and recording study data
- Maintaining regulatory binders and essential documents
- Ensuring protocols are being followed correctly
- Communicating with study sponsors and contract research organizations
- Providing general care and oversight of study participants
Clinical research coordinators collaborate closely with physicians, nurses, project managers, and other staff to ensure clinical trials are conducted properly. Strong attention to detail, organization, communication, and critical thinking skills are essential to succeed in this role.
Salary Details
Here is a breakdown of the average salaries for Clinical Research Coordinators at UCLA:
- Entry-level: $55,000 – $60,000
- Mid-career: $65,000 – $75,000
- Experienced: $75,000 – $85,000
- Late-career: $85,000+
Salaries can vary based on factors like:
- Years of experience
- Level of education
- Type of clinical trials worked on
- Job performance and tenure
Many coordinators start at an entry-level salary and earn raises as they gain more experience managing complex clinical trials. Top performers with many years of expertise can make over $90,000 at UCLA.
Salary Compared to National Average
Clinical research coordinators at UCLA tend to make more than the national average salary. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual pay for a clinical research coordinator across the country is $59,890 or $28.80 per hour.
Here is a comparison of average clinical research coordinator salaries:
| Organization | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| UCLA | $67,500 |
| National Average | $59,890 |
Major employers like UCLA tend to pay above average due to the high cost of living in cities like Los Angeles. Working for prestigious hospitals and universities also boosts pay potential.
Pay by Experience Level
Here is a comparison of clinical research coordinator pay by experience level at UCLA vs. national averages:
| Experience Level | UCLA Salary | National Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level (0-2 years) | $55,000 | $50,325 |
| Mid-career (3-5 years) | $70,000 | $59,534 |
| Experienced (6-10 years) | $80,000 | $64,452 |
| Late-career (10+ years) | $85,000 | $69,478 |
As shown above, UCLA offers higher pay at every experience level compared to the national averages. However, it’s worth noting that clinical research coordinators generally earn above-average salaries nationwide.
Benefits Package
In addition to competitive pay, UCLA provides clinical research coordinators with excellent benefits, including:
- Health insurance – Medical, dental and vision coverage
- Retirement plan – 403(b) and 457(b) retirement savings plans
- Paid time off – Vacation, sick days, and holidays
- Tuition reimbursement – Up to $15,000 per year
- Flexible scheduling – Options like telecommuting available
- Employee discounts – Reduced rates for services like fitness memberships, cell phone plans, etc.
UCLA also offers amenities like on-site childcare, fitness centers, transportation programs, and excellent professional development opportunities.
Job Outlook
Employment for clinical research coordinators is projected to grow 27% through 2026, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This is over 3 times faster than the average job growth rate.
Major factors driving growth include:
- Expanding elderly population requiring more medical research for age-related diseases
- Advances in biomedical technology and treatments like gene therapy
- High demand from pharmaceutical/biotech companies to develop new drugs
- Increasing focus on personalized medicine and targeted therapies
There is also high demand for experienced research coordinators who can take on leadership roles managing entire clinical trial programs and departments. Candidates with nursing backgrounds are especially sought-after.
Job Security
Clinical research coordinator roles have excellent job security for several reasons:
- Essential role in conducting medical research and getting new treatments to patients
- Specialized expertise from hands-on experience running trials
- Strong projected job growth in the field
- Opportunities across academic medical centers, hospitals, pharmaceutical/biotech companies, research organizations, and government agencies
As long as new medical research continues, there will be a need for knowledgeable coordinators to facilitate clinical trials. It is a relatively future-proof career path in healthcare.
Flexible Work Arrangements
Clinical research coordinators have options when it comes to work arrangements. Many coordinator roles involve the following schedules:
- Full-time – 40 hours per week, at least Monday to Friday with weekends off.
- Part-time – Less than 40 hours per week, usually with a set schedule.
- Per diem – As-needed, with flexibility in the number of hours and scheduling based on trial needs.
Some key benefits of part-time or per diem work include having a better work-life balance and the ability to schedule work around personal needs. The option to work remotely part or full-time is also becoming more common in this field.
Conclusion
In summary, clinical research coordinators earn competitive salaries at UCLA with average pay around $67,500 per year. Higher salaries are attainable with more years of experience managing complex trials. The total compensation package is excellent when factoring in UCLA’s generous benefits, growth opportunities, and work-life balance flexibility. Given the strong job outlook and security, it is one of the better paid and more rewarding coordinator career paths within the healthcare sector.