Healthcare · Role definition and hiring
"Clinical coordinator" can mean a research coordinator running trial visits, a nurse coordinating a unit or program, or a school's clinical placement lead, and candidates rarely cross between them. Careerscape's healthcare recruiters work remotely nationwide and start every coordinator search by pinning down which of the three you need.
Definitions
Write the setting into the title. O*NET lists "Clinical Coordinator" as a reported title for clinical research coordinators, but hospitals and schools use the same words for different work.
Template
Research coordination is the most common meaning in searches and on job boards, so this template covers it. The duties follow O*NET's task list for clinical research coordinators. For a care delivery coordinator, swap the trial duties for scheduling, staffing and quality work.
We are hiring a clinical research coordinator to run day-to-day study activity for our investigators: screening and enrolling participants, completing protocol visits, keeping regulatory files audit-ready and reporting data on time.
Credential path
These are credentials, not licenses. They are the markers research sites screen for, in the order most coordinators earn them.
Under NIH policy effective January 1, 2017, investigators and staff on NIH-funded clinical trials, including those handling coordination and data, should be trained in Good Clinical Practice and refresh that training at least every three years.
Both major certifications require documented work on human-subject research. Internships and degree coursework do not count toward ACRP's hours.
ACRP's Certified Clinical Research Coordinator exam requires 3,000 hours of verifiable, paid clinical research work, with a possible one-time 1,500-hour waiver for approved education. The exam has 125 questions in 180 minutes, and certification is valid for two years.
SOCRA's Certified Clinical Research Professional has three eligibility categories. A degree in clinical research, or a clinical research certificate plus a science or health degree, qualifies with one year of full-time experience in the past two years; SOCRA says most candidates qualify under its first, experience-based category.
FDA published the final ICH E6(R3) GCP guideline in the Federal Register on September 9, 2025, without a formal U.S. compliance date. It stresses quality by design, risk-based oversight and validated systems, so ask how a candidate's site has adapted.
Interview
Ask for real examples. Strong coordinators describe documents, systems and people by name.
Listen for: Correct version control, time for questions, a plan for patients with limited English or capacity concerns, and documentation of the process, not just the signature.
Listen for: Ownership, prompt reporting to the PI and IRB as required, and a fix to the process so it does not repeat.
Listen for: A number that matches the complexity of your portfolio. Phase I oncology work is far more demanding per study than an observational registry.
Listen for: Named systems and how quickly they learned a new sponsor's platform. O*NET lists clinical trial management software among the core tools.
Listen for: A routine for reconciling source documents, logs and queries ahead of time, and a calm working relationship with monitors.
Approximate pay
BLS counts clinical coordinators and other clinical operations leads with medical and health services managers, so the national figures below cover a broader and more senior group than most coordinator roles. See our healthcare administrator salary guide for that group.
Middle half of all workers (25th to 75th percentile)
Read the lower end of the range for coordinators. The 10th to 25th percentile ($73,390 to $94,700) is closer to a lead coordinator or program coordinator with supervisory duties. The median ($123,860) and above reflect directors and executives. O*NET classifies clinical research coordinators separately, under natural sciences managers, which is another sign that the manager figures overstate typical research coordinator pay. Annual pay, all U.S. employers, BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), occupation: Medical and Health Services Managers. BLS does not publish this title separately; the figures are for medical and health services managers, the closest BLS occupation, which can include other job titles. Closest Salary Guide page: Healthcare Administrator.
29 metros
These are BLS metro numbers (May 2025) for the broader SOC 11-9111 manager occupation. Treat these as a guide to where clinical operations work is concentrated, not as coordinator pay. Our healthcare staffing pages describe each market.
| Market | Jobs | Median pay · vs. U.S. | Concentration |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York City | 35,260 | $167,580+35% | 0.97 |
| Los Angeles | 23,740 | $134,230+8% | 0.99 |
| Dallas | 17,140 | $121,640−2% | 1.10 |
| Chicago | 16,680 | $123,090−1% | 0.96 |
| Philadelphia | 14,060 | $122,920−1% | 1.26 |
| Boston | 12,990 | $136,760+10% | 1.25 |
| Houston | 12,410 | $124,400±0% | 0.98 |
| Miami | 12,290 | $128,770+4% | 1.14 |
| San Francisco | 11,980 | $166,310+34% | 1.31 |
| Washington, DC | 11,730 | $140,670+14% | 0.97 |
| Phoenix | 8,370 | $130,070+5% | 0.92 |
| Baltimore | 8,060 | $124,990+1% | 1.55 |
| Minneapolis | 7,350 | $126,880+2% | 0.98 |
| Detroit | 7,110 | $114,340−8% | 0.97 |
| Tampa | 7,000 | $124,980+1% | 1.26 |
| San Diego | 6,980 | $138,080+11% | 1.18 |
| Atlanta | 6,300 | $137,260+11% | 0.57 |
| Pittsburgh | 5,990 | $101,570−18% | 1.40 |
| Nashville | 5,510 | $116,480−6% | 1.30 |
| Austin | 5,160 | $126,110+2% | 1.04 |
| Denver | 4,700 | $137,760+11% | 0.76 |
| Seattle | 4,600 | $160,100+29% | 0.57 |
| Providence | 4,150 | $119,260−4% | 1.51 |
| Charlotte | 3,630 | $111,080−10% | 0.70 |
| Portland | 3,210 | $151,260+22% | 0.69 |
| Hartford | 2,980 | $128,810+4% | 1.29 |
| Raleigh-Durham | 2,070 | $113,710−8% | 0.72 |
| Albany | 1,880 | $121,470−2% | 1.09 |
| Buffalo | 1,380 | $132,720+7% | 0.67 |
Baltimore (1.55), Providence (1.51) and Pittsburgh (1.40) have the highest concentrations, followed by San Francisco (1.31) and Nashville (1.30). Academic medical centers and research hospitals in metros like these tend to post many research coordinator jobs. Boston (1.25) and Philadelphia (1.26) are also above average. Seattle and Atlanta (both 0.57) are the thinnest. Pittsburgh's median ($101,570) is the lowest on the table, while New York City ($167,580) and San Francisco ($166,310) are the highest. Medical and Health Services Managers, by metro area, sorted by jobs. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; U.S. median $123,860. Concentration is the BLS location quotient: above 1.0 means the job is a bigger share of local employment than nationally.
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Tell us which kind of coordinator you need (research, care delivery or education), the setting, any license or certification required, and the hiring model you prefer.
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FAQ
It depends on the setting. In research, a clinical coordinator screens and enrolls study participants, obtains informed consent, runs protocol visits and keeps regulatory records. In a hospital or clinic, the title usually means coordinating a unit or specialty program: scheduling, staffing, quality and patient flow. In nursing and allied health schools, it means arranging and overseeing students' clinical placements. Job postings should say which one.
No license or certification is legally required, but many sites prefer ACRP's CCRC or SOCRA's CCRP. NIH-funded trials expect investigators and coordination staff to complete Good Clinical Practice training and refresh it at least every three years. For newer coordinators, current GCP training plus documented research experience is the realistic bar; certification usually follows a year or two of paid work.
Only if the job needs nursing judgment or procedures. Many research coordinators are not nurses. Unit and transplant coordinators in hospitals often are RNs, because they triage, educate patients and work under nursing protocols. If the role involves assessments or medication administration, require an RN license; if it is mostly scheduling, documentation and regulatory work, a non-nurse coordinator is usually a better match.
Yes. Sites use contract staffing to cover a study start-up, a leave or a spike in enrollment, and contract-to-hire to test fit with investigators. For a long-term portfolio, direct hire keeps knowledge of your studies in-house. Careerscape's recruiters check GCP training dates and certification status before you see a candidate.
Entry roles such as research assistant or study assistant at a site often lead to coordinator jobs. Complete GCP training, then build paid research hours toward ACRP's or SOCRA's certification. Careerscape's job seeker services are free and confidential; browse open jobs or submit your resume.
Describe the work and a healthcare recruiter will help you title and scope the role before the search starts. That one step avoids most mismatched applicants.
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