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Clinical research associate: Salary and conditions

• Range of typical starting salaries: £18,000 - £23,000 (salary data collected Oct 08).
• Salaries with five years' or more experience: £25,000 - £35,000 (salary data collected Oct 08).
• Salaries vary from company to company. Those working freelance could earn up to £50,000. Benefits, including a car, are generally provided, and bonuses may be paid.
• Working conditions vary between companies. Extra hours are worked regularly, although weekend or shift work is uncommon. Field-based clinical research associates (CRAs) are mainly on the road, dealing with doctors and research nurses in trial centres, GP practices or hospitals. CRAs mainly work alone, although they may also work in teams. Some companies have in-house, office-based CRA roles with virtually no site visit responsibilities; these CRAs focus on document review and management.
• Self-employment or freelance work is possible with experience (usually four years or more). Some contract houses employ CRAs on a freelance basis.
• Part-time work may be possible but is more likely in a contract house. Career breaks are possible.
• Men are currently under-represented in this profession. Women make up 70 - 80% of the profession.
• Jobs are found in restricted locations. Some work, for example in a company laboratory, is localised, and some is regionally based. Most UK pharmaceutical companies are located in the south of England. Field-based positions are generally found in key locations throughout the UK.
• Work requires a smart dress code.
• Time deadlines can make the work stressful.
• The job can involve a lot of travelling, and you may be out of the office three or four days a week, possibly including overnight stays. Some companies operate a system whereby the CRA specialises in a specific disease area and covers the whole of the UK. Others operate their CRAs on a regional basis.
• Working for an international company may involve coordinating trials abroad, so a considerable amount of overseas travel would be necessary.

AGCAS

Written by Eleanor Stanley, The College of Law

Last updated:

November 2008

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