Clinical Research Liaison Salary in the United States

How much does a Clinical Research Liaison make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Clinical Research Liaison in the United States is $69,721 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $34.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $85,845
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $61,266 to $78,161
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $53,568
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View as table View as graph 25% $61,266 10% $53,568 90% $85,845 75% $78,161 $69,721 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Clinical Research Liaison Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $78,161 $6,513 $1,503 $38
Average $69,721 $5,810 $1,341 $34
25th Percentile $61,266 $5,106 $1,178 $29
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Key Factors That Influence Clinical Research Liaison Salaries

A Clinical Research Liaison'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 Liaison Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Clinical Research Liaison'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): $67,959
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $70,308
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $75,453
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $75,453
  • Expert (over 8 years): $75,859
Levels Salary
Entry Level Clinical Research Liaison$67,959
Intermediate Level Clinical Research Liaison$70,308
Senior Level Clinical Research Liaison$75,453
Specialist Level Clinical Research Liaison$75,453
Expert Level Clinical Research Liaison$75,859
$67,959 0 yr
$70,308 < 2 yrs
$75,453 2-4 yrs
$75,453 5-8 yrs
$75,859 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Clinical Research Liaison 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 Liaisons. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $77,195.
  • California: $76,902.
  • Massachusetts: $75,877.

Top Paying Cities for Clinical Research Liaisons

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: $87,939
  • San Francisco: $87,074
  • Oakland: $85,143

What Skills Can Increase a Clinical Research Liaison's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 13.44% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Technical Sales (Mentioned in 1.75% Job Postings): Promoting and selling products to demonstrate the product's advanced technical functions and specifications to customers.
  • Quotations (Mentioned in 1.3% Job Postings): A quotation is the repetition of a sentence, phrase, or passage from speech or text that someone has said or written. In oral speech, it is the representation of an utterance that is introduced by a quotative marker, such as a verb of saying.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 13.44%
Technical Sales 1.75%
Quotations 1.3%
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 Liaison's salary.
  • Commitment: Can increase your salary by up to 28%.
  • Work Ethic: Can increase your salary by up to 28%.
  • Technical Sales Support: Can increase your salary by up to 26%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Commitment
$89,242
28%
Work Ethic
$89,242
28%
Technical Sales Support
$87,848
26%
Chemistry
$85,059
22%
Sales Support
$83,665
20%
Collaboration
$82,270
18%
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How Education impacts a Clinical Research Liaison's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Clinical Research Liaisons enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate 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 Liaison with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $60,514 and $66,012).

Clinical Research Liaison Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Clinical Research Liaison
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 8.5%
High School 8.5%
Associates 13.2%
Bachelors 62.8%
Masters 14.7%
Doctorate 0.8%
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Clinical Research Liaison Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Clinical Research Liaison'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 January 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Clinical Research Liaison

Salaries for a Clinical Research Liaison can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $59,854 in 2023 to around $59,366 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Clinical Research Liaison salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Clinical Research Liaison Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$59,854
2024
$59,525
2025
$59,366
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $59,854
2024 $59,525
2025 $59,366
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Clinical Research Liaison

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Clinical Research Liaison

Here are companies hiring for Clinical Research Liaison and their salaries, click below for more details.

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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.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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