Clinical Research Associate I Salary in the United States
How much does a Clinical Research Associate I make in the United States?
As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a Clinical Research Associate I in the United States is $61,340 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $29.
However, a Clinical Research Associate I's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Top Earners (90th percentile): $79,059
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $52,705 to $70,615
Key Factors That Influence Clinical Research Associate I Salaries
A Clinical Research Associate I's salary isn't a fixed number.
It's shaped by several important factors.
Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education, and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
How Experience Level Affects Clinical Research Associate Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a Clinical Research Associate I's salary.
As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases.
Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:
Staff Nurse - RN - Research (0-0 years): $94,800
Clinical Research Associate I (0-2 years): $61,340
Clinical Research Associate II (2-4 years): $70,983
Scientist - Clinical Research (4-7 years): $100,797
Clinical Research Manager (7+ years): $108,900
Job Role
Years of Experience
Average Salary
Staff Nurse - RN - Research
0-0 years
$94,800
Clinical Research Associate I
0-2 years
$61,340
Clinical Research Associate II
2-4 years
$70,983
Scientist - Clinical Research
4-7 years
$100,797
Clinical Research Manager
7+ years
$108,900
$94,800Staff Nur...
$61,340Clinical ...
$70,983Clinical ...
$100,797Scientist...
$108,900Clinical ...
View as Table
View as Graph
What Am I Worth?
How Do Clinical Research Associate I Salaries Vary from State to State?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work.
States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors
often pay more to attract Clinical Research Associate Is.
For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Top Paying Cities for Clinical Research Associate Is
Salaries can also vary between different cities.
Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay.
Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:
San Jose: $77,368
San Francisco: $76,521
Oakland: $74,908
San Jose, CA$77,368
San Francisco, CA$76,521
Oakland, CA$74,908
New York, NY$70,626
Paramus, NJ$69,768
Queens Village, NY$69,764
Passaic, NJ$69,706
Bergenfield, NJ$69,701
Stamford, CT$69,566
Huntington, NY$69,541
Newark, NJ$69,087
Bridgeport, CT$68,958
Vallejo, CA$68,836
New Brunswick, NJ$68,811
Petaluma, CA$68,774
Middlesex, NJ$68,658
Somerset, NJ$68,615
Santa Cruz, CA$68,535
Boston, MA$68,161
Monterey, CA$67,946
Seattle, WA$67,805
Santa Rosa, CA$67,793
Los Angeles, CA$67,775
Juneau, AK$67,615
Washington, DC$67,548
Orange, CA$67,329
Santa Ana, CA$67,167
Long Beach, CA$67,106
Anaheim, CA$67,094
Anchorage, AK$67,063
Santa Maria, CA$66,879
Everett, WA$66,867
Danbury, CT$66,651
Bremerton, WA$66,566
Tacoma, WA$66,345
New Suffolk, NY$66,344
Sacramento, CA$66,327
Santa Barbara, CA$66,259
Trenton, NJ$66,192
San Diego, CA$66,192
Brockton, MA$66,125
Fairbanks, AK$65,974
Lompoc, CA$65,818
Lowell, MA$65,768
Ventura, CA$65,756
Nashua, NH$65,744
Stockton, CA$65,738
Modesto, CA$65,290
Poughkeepsie, NY$65,155
Olympia, WA$65,039
Kennewick, WA$65,039
New Haven, CT$65,014
Lawrence, MA$64,793
Hartford, CT$64,732
Riverside, CA$64,720
New Bedford, MA$64,658
Richland, WA$64,658
Bakersfield, CA$64,573
San Bernardino, CA$64,548
New Britain, CT$64,542
Atlantic City, NJ$64,542
New London, CT$64,517
Norwich, CT$64,499
Portsmouth, NH$64,487
Boulder, CO$64,357
Portland, OR$64,272
Worcester, MA$64,266
Minneapolis, MN$64,076
Philadelphia, PA$63,990
Honolulu, HI$63,787
Saint Paul, MN$63,758
Vineland, NJ$63,745
Providence, RI$63,567
Chicago, IL$63,389
Bellingham, WA$63,315
Springfield, MA$63,266
Baltimore, MD$63,248
Chico, CA$63,094
Pittsfield, MA$62,929
Manchester, NH$62,812
Spokane, WA$62,542
Denver, CO$62,536
Albany, NY$62,248
Troy, NY$62,223
Nassau, NY$62,158
Schenectady, NY$62,094
Wilmington, DE$62,045
Burlington, VT$61,960
Salem, OR$61,935
Portland, ME$61,745
Yakima, WA$61,684
Rochester, MN$61,493
Reno, NV$61,463
Fresno, CA$61,463
Milwaukee, WI$61,407
Detroit, MI$61,346
Ann Arbor, MI$61,336
Allentown, PA$61,328
Colorado Springs, CO$61,223
Syracuse, NY$61,193
Carson City, NV$61,193
Houston, TX$61,107
Eugene, OR$61,076
Gary, IN$61,003
Springfield, OR$60,954
Bismarck, ND$60,941
Galveston, TX$60,898
Medford, OR$60,806
Fort Collins, CO$60,782
Concord, NH$60,751
Austin, TX$60,733
Mesa, AZ$60,604
Reading, PA$60,598
Phoenix, AZ$60,592
Dallas, TX$60,573
Saint Cloud, MN$60,514
Madison, WI$60,432
Utica, NY$60,267
Rochester, NY$60,168
Des Moines, IA$60,162
Raleigh, NC$60,156
Atlanta, GA$60,064
Battle Creek, MI$60,046
Salt Lake City, UT$60,027
Lancaster, PA$59,935
Harrisburg, PA$59,849
Kansas City, MO$59,788
Champaign, IL$59,776
Kansas City, KS$59,776
Fort Worth, TX$59,770
Columbus, OH$59,759
Boca Raton, FL$59,745
Pittsburgh, PA$59,721
Richmond, VA$59,696
Indianapolis, IN$59,684
Cleveland, OH$59,678
Las Vegas, NV$59,604
Cincinnati, OH$59,604
Petersburg, VA$59,512
Huntsville, AL$59,420
Lansing, MI$59,379
Lebanon, PA$59,371
Pueblo, CO$59,365
Appleton, WI$59,346
Buffalo, NY$59,322
Dayton, OH$59,304
Racine, WI$59,291
Charlotte, NC$59,285
Saint Louis, MO$59,267
York, PA$59,230
Elkhart, IN$59,230
Gastonia, NC$59,218
Billings, MT$59,204
Beaumont, TX$59,187
Lorain, OH$59,175
Benton Harbor, MI$59,162
Toledo, OH$59,150
Binghamton, NY$59,119
Rock Hill, SC$59,113
Rockford, IL$59,083
Springfield, IL$59,058
Elyria, OH$59,052
Fargo, ND$59,052
Flagstaff, AZ$59,009
Fort Lauderdale, FL$58,972
Duluth, MN$58,935
Miami, FL$58,935
Cheyenne, WY$58,893
Grand Forks, ND$58,893
Bangor, ME$58,758
Cedar Rapids, IA$58,690
Durham, NC$58,664
Louisville, KY$58,659
Grand Rapids, MI$58,647
Hialeah, FL$58,641
Casper, WY$58,555
Scranton, PA$58,482
New Orleans, LA$58,463
Virginia Beach, VA$58,457
Akron, OH$58,426
Peoria, IL$58,347
Sarasota, FL$58,334
Nashville, TN$58,291
Omaha, NE$58,291
Green Bay, WI$58,291
Baton Rouge, LA$58,261
Charleston, SC$58,248
Jamestown, NY$58,218
Davenport, IA$58,218
Tucson, AZ$58,187
Saint Petersburg, FL$58,150
Tampa, FL$58,138
Evansville, IN$58,101
Port Arthur, TX$58,101
Bradenton, FL$58,077
Santa Fe, NM$57,966
Orlando, FL$57,856
Clearwater, FL$57,837
Canton, OH$57,709
La Crosse, WI$57,709
Albuquerque, NM$57,672
Newport News, VA$57,666
High Point, NC$57,647
Ogden, UT$57,623
Corpus Christi, TX$57,574
Norfolk, VA$57,537
Laramie, WY$57,537
Rock Island, IL$57,500
Saginaw, MI$57,488
Jacksonville, FL$57,482
Salisbury, NC$57,469
Boise, ID$57,457
Moline, IL$57,427
Fort Myers, FL$57,408
Memphis, TN$57,396
Tulsa, OK$57,365
Waterloo, IA$57,328
Spartanburg, SC$57,267
Lincoln, NE$57,236
Fort Wayne, IN$57,224
Provo, UT$57,218
Cedar Falls, IA$57,144
San Antonio, TX$57,120
Greensboro, NC$57,095
South Bend, IN$57,089
Savannah, GA$57,022
Muskegon, MI$56,997
Birmingham, AL$56,991
Winston Salem, NC$56,961
Lake Charles, LA$56,813
Anderson, IN$56,801
Lexington, KY$56,782
Augusta, GA$56,764
Greenville, SC$56,764
Lima, OH$56,715
Wichita, KS$56,709
Tuscaloosa, AL$56,709
Columbia, SC$56,654
Springfield, OH$56,641
Asheville, NC$56,543
Bloomington, IN$56,500
Knoxville, TN$56,279
Shreveport, LA$56,273
Wilmington, NC$56,194
Roanoke, VA$56,194
Topeka, KS$56,083
Frankfort, KY$56,076
Oklahoma City, OK$56,034
Chillicothe, OH$56,010
Longview, TX$56,003
Melbourne, FL$55,997
Sioux Falls, SD$55,899
Mobile, AL$55,893
Terre Haute, IN$55,868
Altoona, PA$55,832
Amarillo, TX$55,789
Killeen, TX$55,770
Fayetteville, AR$55,721
Chattanooga, TN$55,703
Sioux City, IA$55,648
Idaho Falls, ID$55,635
Lynchburg, VA$55,586
Gainesville, FL$55,507
Portsmouth, OH$55,476
Little Rock, AR$55,464
Lafayette, LA$55,439
Youngstown, OH$55,439
Daytona Beach, FL$55,402
Clarksville, TN$55,396
Pensacola, FL$55,390
Temple, TX$55,386
Hopkinsville, KY$55,206
Erie, PA$55,194
Florence, SC$55,169
Charleston, WV$55,071
Great Falls, MT$55,040
Macon, GA$54,955
Tallahassee, FL$54,948
Fayetteville, NC$54,936
Waco, TX$54,924
Helena, MT$54,881
Pine Bluff, AR$54,858
Vincennes, IN$54,783
Lubbock, TX$54,758
Alamogordo, NM$54,721
Twin Falls, ID$54,666
Rapid City, SD$54,648
Jackson, MS$54,537
Huntington, WV$54,533
Greenville, MS$54,531
Parkersburg, WV$54,469
Montgomery, AL$54,458
Wichita Falls, TX$54,396
Springfield, MO$54,396
Biloxi, MS$54,366
Monroe, LA$54,304
Johnstown, PA$54,261
Sumter, SC$54,237
Columbus, GA$54,231
Pascagoula, MS$54,114
Abilene, TX$54,114
Kingsport, TN$53,955
Albany, GA$53,955
Gulfport, MS$53,936
Alexandria, LA$53,734
Fort Smith, AR$53,580
El Paso, TX$53,415
Las Cruces, NM$53,139
Harlingen, TX$52,983
Pocatello, ID$52,973
Florence, AL$52,893
Brownsville, TX$52,881
Mcallen, TX$52,752
Dothan, AL$52,667
Columbus, MS$52,302
Altus, OK$52,016
Lawton, OK$51,900
Pierre, SD$51,679
What Skills Can Increase a Clinical Research Associate I's Salary?
Demanded Skills for the Role:
Integrity (Mentioned in 5.09% Job Postings): Is about having strong principles and values, which you demonstrate through your conduct in the work environment. A common integrity definition states that people with integrity do the right thing even when nobody is watching.
Oncology (Mentioned in 2.46% Job Postings): Designing, constructing, and repairing dental prosthetics and restorative and orthodontic devices to help patients correct dental conditions.
Data Collection (Mentioned in 1.46% Job Postings): Data collection is the process of gathering and measuring information on targeted variables in an established system, which then enables one to answer relevant questions and evaluate outcomes. Data collection is a component of research in all fields of study including physical and social sciences, humanities, and business. While methods vary by discipline, the emphasis on ensuring accurate and honest collection remains the same. The goal for all data collection is to capture quality evidence that allows analysis to lead to the formulation of convincing and credible answers to the questions that have been posed.
See More Skills
Skills
Demand Percentage
Integrity
5.09%
Oncology
2.46%
Data Collection
1.46%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay.
Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Clinical Research Associate I's salary.
Line Management: Can increase your salary by up to 33%.
Dedication: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
Patient Safety: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill
Salary
Salary % Increase
Line Management
$81,582
33%
Dedication
$66,861
9%
Patient Safety
$65,634
7%
Accountability
$65,020
6%
Communicates Effectively
$65,020
6%
Communication Skills
$64,407
5%
Get Latest Data
Clinical Research Associate I Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise
Clinical Research Associate I salary potential scales significantly with company size.
Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $69,000.
While startup companies pay approximate $58,589.
Clinical Research Associate I Salary by Company Size
Company Size
Employees
Average Salary
Startup
1~50
$58,589
Growth Stage
51~500
$61,902
Established
501~5000
$66,695
Enterprise
5000+
$69,000
Clinical Research Associate I Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Clinical Research Associate I roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential
by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries).
Data shows that the Healthcare and Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average.
In contrast, Clinical Research Associate positions in Pharmaceuticals or Biotechnology typically offer lower base pay,
as these industries often view Clinical Research Associate I as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industries for a Clinical Research Associate I
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare
$73,608
$35.0
20%
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
$67,474
$32.0
10%
How Education impacts a Clinical Research Associate I's Salary?
Your level of education can impact your salary potential.
While many Clinical Research Associate Is enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree,
higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.
According to our 100% employer-reported salary data,
the median salary for a Clinical Research Associate I with a Bachelor's Degree is between
$64,284
and $68,801).
Clinical Research Associate I Salaries by Degree Level
Typical Education for Clinical Research Associate I
No Diploma0.3%
High School2.7%
Associates1.9%
Bachelors61.9%
Masters26.5%
Doctorate6.6%
view as table
Degree Level
% of user with this level of education
No Diploma
0.3%
High School
2.7%
Associates
1.9%
Bachelors
61.9%
Masters
26.5%
Doctorate
6.6%
view as graph
Clinical Research Associate I Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how a Clinical Research Associate I's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting.
Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role.
Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
Hourly
Monthly
Weekly
Yearly
Table View
Last Updated on July 01, 2026
$52,705
Average$61,340/year
$70,615
$4,392
Average$5,112/month
$5,885
$1,014
Average$1,180/week
$1,358
$25
Average$29/hour
$34
Annual Salary
Monthly Pay
Weekly Pay
Hourly Wage
75th Percentile
$70,615
$5,885
$1,358
$34
Average
$61,340
$5,112
$1,180
$29
25th Percentile
$52,705
$4,392
$1,014
$25
Clinical Research Associate I Salary Growth & Career Path
Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings.
As a Clinical Research Associate I, you have the following paths for advancement.
The table below compares the salary raises for common next-step roles.
By comparing these figures, you can choose the career path that best meets your financial goals.
Clinical Research Associate I Salary Growth and Career Path
Next Step Role
Estimate Salary
Projected Raise
Clinical Research Monitor II
$77,406
26%
Clinical Research Associate II
$70,983
16%
Salaries of jobs related to Clinical Research Associate I
Salaries for a Clinical Research Associate I can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary increased from $56,713 in 2023
to around $56,724 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Clinical Research Associate I salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Clinical Research Associate I Over Time
2022
$???
2023
$56,713
2024
$56,824
2025
$56,724
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$56,713
2024
$56,824
2025
$56,724
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Clinical Research Associate I
Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Clinical Research Associate I
Here are companies hiring for Clinical Research Associate I and their salaries, click below for more details.
C
$128,509/per year
C R Bard Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
H
$124,697/per year
Henry Schein Canada
Biotechnology
the United States
N
$123,899/per year
Nordex Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
N
$120,416/per year
Nipro Corp
Biotechnology
the United States
E
$115,870/per year
Enovis
Biotechnology
the United States
A
$114,553/per year
Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy
Biotechnology
the United States
M
$112,110/per year
MiniMed Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
L
$111,500/per year
Labcorp Drug Development
Biotechnology
the United States
L
$110,229/per year
Life Technologies Corp
Biotechnology
the United States
Z
$106,224/per year
Zimmer Biomet
Biotechnology
the United States
P
$103,077/per year
Promontory Therapeutics
Biotechnology
the United States
S
$102,181/per year
Steris PLC
Biotechnology
the United States
G
$97,274/per year
Gavin Conferences Pty Ltd
Biotechnology
the United States
E
$94,764/per year
Endeavor BioMedicines
Biotechnology
the United States
R
$94,402/per year
Replay Holdings LLC
Biotechnology
the United States
P
$94,235/per year
Pleno Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
S
$93,666/per year
Simulaids Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
N
$88,880/per year
NOIRLab/CAS
Biotechnology
the United States
O
$86,468/per year
Onward Technology
Biotechnology
the United States
L
$84,895/per year
LED Medical Diagnostics Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
E
$84,682/per year
Eyeco Ltd
Biotechnology
the United States
P
$84,523/per year
Paerosol
Biotechnology
the United States
I
$83,525/per year
IONIQ Sciences Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
S
$82,815/per year
Stateside PPE
Biotechnology
the United States
D
$82,041/per year
Digi Bio
Biotechnology
the United States
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FAQ about Clinical Research Associate I
1. Where can a Clinical Research Associate I earn the most?
A Clinical Research Associate I's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer.
According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Clinical Research Associate I earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Clinical Research Associate I is $77,368.
2. What is the highest pay for Clinical Research Associate I?
The highest pay for Clinical Research Associate I is $79,059.
3. What is the lowest pay for Clinical Research Associate I?
The lowest pay for Clinical Research Associate I is $44,843.
4. What are the responsibilities of Clinical Research Associate I?
Participates in the design, administration, and execution of clinical research trials. Conducts standard tests in accordance with established policies and procedures. Analyzes and evaluates clinical data gathered during research. Ensures compliance with protocol and overall clinical objectives. Possesses knowledge of FDA regulatory requirements, Good Clinical Practice (GCP) research standards, and JCAHO and International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) guidelines. Requires a bachelor's degree. May require ACRP or SOCRA certification. Typically reports to a manager. Work is closely managed. Works on projects/matters of limited complexity in a support role. Typically requires 0-2 years of related experience.
5. What industry pays the highest salary for Clinical Research Associate I?
The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Clinical Research Associate I roles,
with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.
Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?
Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.
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