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Junior Clinical Research Associate Salary in the United States

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

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Junior Clinical Research Associate in the United States is $72,076 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $35.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $85,244
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $63,922 to $78,968
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $56,498
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View as table View as graph 25% $63,922 10% $56,498 90% $85,244 75% $78,968 $72,076 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Junior Clinical Research Associate Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $78,968 $6,581 $1,519 $38
Average $72,076 $6,006 $1,386 $35
25th Percentile $63,922 $5,327 $1,229 $31
Check out Junior Clinical Research Associate Job Openings in the United States
Clinical Research Associate

Medpace - Columbus, OH

Research Associate

Nationwide Childrens Hospital - Columbus, OH

Chief AI Officer

Confidential - Columbus, OH

Associate Vice President Internal Communications

Confidential - Columbus, OH

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Key Factors That Influence Junior Clinical Research Associate Salaries

A Junior Clinical Research Associate'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 Junior Clinical Research Associate Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Junior Clinical Research Associate'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): $97,013
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $62,777
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $72,642
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $103,164
  • Expert (over 8 years): $111,445
Levels Salary
Staff Nur... Level Junior Clinical Research Associate$97,013
Clinical ... Level Junior Clinical Research Associate$62,777
Junior Cl... Level Junior Clinical Research Associate$72,642
Scientist... Level Junior Clinical Research Associate$103,164
Clinical ... Level Junior Clinical Research Associate$111,445
$97,013 0 yr
$62,777 < 2 yrs
$72,642 2-4 yrs
$103,164 5-8 yrs
$111,445 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Junior Clinical Research Associates

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: $90,909
  • San Francisco: $89,914
  • Oakland: $88,019

What Skills Can Increase a Junior Clinical Research Associate's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Integrity (Mentioned in 5.06% 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.
  • Clinical Monitoring (Mentioned in 4.58% Job Postings): Clinical Monitoring refers to the observation of a disease, condition or one or several medical parameters over time.
  • Career Development (Mentioned in 2.19% Job Postings): Refers to the process an individual may undergo to evolve their occupational status. It is the process of making decisions for long term learning, to align personal needs of physical or psychological fulfillment with career advancement opportunities.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Integrity 5.06%
Clinical Monitoring 4.58%
Career Development 2.19%
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 Junior Clinical Research Associate's salary.
  • Drug Development: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
  • Insight: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • Clinical Operations: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Drug Development
 $80,725
12%
Insight
 $79,283
10%
Clinical Operations
 $77,121
7%
Innovation
 $76,400
6%
Collaboration
 $75,679
5%
Sense Of Urgency
 $75,679
5%
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Junior Clinical Research Associate Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Junior Clinical Research Associate 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 Pharmaceuticals sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Junior Clinical Research Associate positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Biotechnology typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Junior Clinical Research Associate as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Junior Clinical Research Associate

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$86,491$42.020%
Pharmaceuticals$79,283$38.010%

How Education impacts a Junior Clinical Research Associate's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Junior Clinical Research Associates 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 Junior Clinical Research Associate with a Bachelor's Degree is between $75,613 and $81,432).

Junior Clinical Research Associate Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Junior Clinical Research Associate
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.8%
High School 1.8%
Associates 4.3%
Bachelors 57.4%
Masters 29.4%
Doctorate 6.7%
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Junior Clinical Research Associate Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Junior Clinical Research Associate'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 August 01, 2026
$63,922
Average $72,076/year
$78,968
$5,327
Average $6,006/month
$6,581
$1,229
Average $1,386/week
$1,519
$31
Average $35/hour
$38
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $78,968 $6,581 $1,519 $38
Average $72,076 $6,006 $1,386 $35
25th Percentile $63,922 $5,327 $1,229 $31

Salaries of jobs related to Junior Clinical Research Associate

Salary Trends for Junior Clinical Research Associate

Salaries for a Junior Clinical Research Associate can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $69,161 in 2023 to around $69,045 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Junior Clinical Research Associate salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Junior Clinical Research Associate Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$69,161
2024
$69,277
2025
$69,045
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $69,161
2024 $69,277
2025 $69,045
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Junior Clinical Research Associate

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

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

Find Your Next Junior Clinical Research Associate Job

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

United States

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Vice President Credit Risk Strategy&Data Science

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President, Credit Risk Strategy & Data Science. About the Company. High-growth SMB lender building the next generation of credit decisioning. Industry... more

    19 Days Ago

  • KreilKamp Trucking

    Columbus, OH

    Regional Truck Driver Company

    KreilKamp Trucking | Columbus, OH

    Regional CDL A Drivers | NEW Grads Welcome | Earn $70,000+ Annually. We're proud to be a 4th generation family truck line, started in 1935, but even proude... more

    19 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Vice President Payments Engineering

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President, Payments Engineering. About the Company. Globally-recognized provider of corporate payment solutions. Industry. Financial Services. Type. P... more

    21 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Senior Vice President of Project Delivery

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Senior Vice President of Project Delivery. About the Company. A multi-billion-dollar construction organization with collaborative, servant-minded leadershi... more

    21 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Chief of Staff

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Chief of Staff. About the Company. Innovative travel platform for booking & managing work trips. Industry. Computer Software. Type. Privately Held, VC-back... more

    21 Days Ago

  • McDonalds

    Columbus, OH

    McDonalds

    McDonalds | Columbus, OH

    McDonald’s is seeking Crew Team Members to assist with daily restaurant operations including customer service, food preparation, and maintaining restaurant... more

    28 Days Ago

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FAQ about Junior Clinical Research Associate

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Junior Clinical Research Associate?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Junior Clinical Research Associate 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.

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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