Clinical Research Associate salary — what the postings actually say.
From the 822 live clinical research associate postings we index right now, advertised pay runs $50k–$272k, with a mid-range around $145k. Ranges below are by seniority, straight from the postings — not survey data, and not inflated.
Entry level
$75k–$115k
Mid-level
$50k–$180k
Senior
$67k–$272k
The honest footnote: this is a small live sample, re-checked several times a day — read it as direction, not census. Location moves the number (biotech metros pay more, then take it back in rent), and titles compound faster than raises: the coordinator-to-CRA and CTA-to-regulatory-ops moves are where pay really jumps.
What the community reports adds texture the postings can't: site-side pay tending to run below CRO and sponsor pay for similar experience, remote roles compressing the band, and the title-change raise beating the annual one. The discussions people actually share live on Reddit — r/clinicalresearch for the clinical side, r/pharma and r/regulatoryaffairs for the regulatory side.