Clinical Research Associate Early Phase Salary in California

How much does a Clinical Research Associate Early Phase make in California?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Clinical Research Associate Early Phase in California is $75,068 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $36.

However, a Clinical Research Associate Early Phase's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $93,063
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $65,485 to $84,487
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $56,760
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View as table View as graph 25% $65,485 10% $56,760 90% $93,063 75% $84,487 $75,068 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Clinical Research Associate Early Phase Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $84,487 $7,041 $1,625 $41
Average $75,068 $6,256 $1,444 $36
25th Percentile $65,485 $5,457 $1,259 $31
Check out Clinical Research Associate Early Phase Job Openings in California
Clinical Research Associate

Personalis, Inc - Fremont, CA

Clinical Research Associate

ICON - Long Beach, CA

Clinical Research Associate II

City of Hope - Duarte, CA

Clinical Research Associate II

Imperative Care - Campbell, CA

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Key Factors That Influence Clinical Research Associate Early Phase Salaries

A Clinical Research Associate Early Phase'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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Clinical Research Associate Early Phase Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Clinical Research Associate Early Phase'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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $101,840
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $65,901
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $76,256
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $108,297
  • Expert (over 8 years): $116,990
Levels Salary
Staff Nur... Level Clinical Research Associate Early Phase$101,840
Clinical ... Level Clinical Research Associate Early Phase$65,901
Clinical ... Level Clinical Research Associate Early Phase$76,256
Scientist... Level Clinical Research Associate Early Phase$108,297
Clinical ... Level Clinical Research Associate Early Phase$116,990
$101,840 0 yr
$65,901 < 2 yrs
$76,256 2-4 yrs
$108,297 5-8 yrs
$116,990 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Clinical Research Associate Early Phases

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:

  • Los Angeles: $75,197
  • West Hollywood: $75,142
  • Dodgertown: $75,196

Clinical Research Associate Early Phase Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Clinical Research Associate Early Phase 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 Early Phase positions in Pharmaceuticals or Biotechnology typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Clinical Research Associate Early Phase as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Clinical Research Associate Early Phase

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$90,081$43.020%
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit$82,574$40.010%

Clinical Research Associate Early Phase Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Clinical Research Associate Early Phase'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.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026

Find Your Next Clinical Research Associate Early Phase Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Clinical Research Associate Early Phase job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States
  • Stanford

    Stanford, CA

    Stanford | Stanford, CA

    Clinical Research Coordinator Associate. Stanford University's Department of Neurosurgery is seeking a Clinical Research Coordinator Associate (CRCA) to pe... more

    3 Days Ago

  • Epicrispr Biotechnologies

    South San Francisco, CA

    Epicrispr Biotechnologies | South San Francisco, CA

    Senior Clinical Research Associate. South San Francisco, CA. Our company is based on the science of our founder, Stanley Qi, one of the original CRISPR co-... more

    3 Days Ago

  • Careers Integrated Resources Inc

    San Jose, CA

    Careers Integrated Resources Inc | San Jose, CA

    Clinical Research Associate. Candidate with Academic CRO experience would also be fine, leading the study(3-4 studies) Understands data management and docu... more

    5 Days Ago

  • ICON Plc

    Los Angeles, CA

    ICON Plc | Los Angeles, CA

    Senior Clinical Research Associate - Orthopedics - Western USICON plc is a world-leading healthcare intelligence and clinical research organization. We're ... more

    6 Days Ago

  • Stanford University

    Stanford, CA

    Stanford University | Stanford, CA

    Clinical Research Coordinator AssociateSchool of Medicine, Stanford, California, United StatesResearchJan 29, 2026 Post Date108109 Requisition #The Clinica... more

    6 Days Ago

  • Intuitive

    Sunnyvale, CA

    Intuitive | Sunnyvale, CA

    Company DescriptionIt started with a simple idea:what if surgery could be less invasive and recovery less painful. Nearly 30 years later, that question sti... more

    6 Days Ago

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