Clinical Research Associate Salaries

Clinical Research Associate salaries in United Kingdom

Base pay
£32K - £44K/yr
£38K/yrAverage base pay
Additional salary
£2K/yrAverage
£1K - £4K/yrRange
About our data
Very High Confidence
Last updated 4 Jun 2026423 Salaries submitted
The “Most Likely Range” reflects values within the 25th and 75th percentile of all pay data available for this role. Glassdoor salaries are powered by our proprietary machine learning model, which utilises salaries collected from our users and the latest government data to make pay predictions.
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Recent salaries shared by Clinical Research Associate

Location

50 salaries

Job title | Years of Experience
Total Pay
Location
Date submitted
Job title | Years of Experience
Location
Date submitted
Total Pay
Base Additional pay
Clinical Research Associate
1-3 Years
£49K/yr
£49K • £0
London, England
£49K/yr
£49K • £0
Clinical Research Associate
1-3 Years
£29K - £33K/yr
Cambridge, England
£29K - £33K/yr
Clinical Research Associate
1-3 Years
£26K/yr
£26K • £0
London, England
£26K/yr
£26K • £0
Clinical Research Associate
7-9 Years
£55K/yr
£55K • £0
London, England
£55K/yr
£55K • £0
Clinical Research Associate
4-6 Years
£41K/yr
£41K • £0
Cambridge, England
£41K/yr
£41K • £0
Anonymously share your salary to help the community.
Clinical Research Associate
1-3 Years
£39K - £45K/yr
Newport, Newport, Wales
£39K - £45K/yr
Clinical Research Associate
1-3 Years
£44K - £50K/yr
Reading, England
£44K - £50K/yr
Clinical Research Associate
1-3 Years
£35K/yr
£35K • £0
Leeds, England
£35K/yr
£35K • £0
Clinical Research Associate
1-3 Years
£25K - £29K/yr
London, England
£25K - £29K/yr
Clinical Research Associate
1-3 Years
£50K/yr
£50K • £0
London, England
£50K/yr
£50K • £0

Viewing 1 - 10 of 50

Glassdoor Economist Pay Overview

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What is the pay outlook for Research & Science?
Jobs in research and science offer pay well above average and are expected to continue to grow in the future. Increasing reliance on data and technology means that demand -- and with it, the pay -- for STEM workers is increasing. However, jobs in these fields often require graduate education and/or specialised training. While domain-specific expertise gives workers in these fields access to very specialised jobs, many other types of employers also hire these employees for their data and technical skills.Show more

Frequently asked questions about Clinical Research Associate salaries

The average salary for a Clinical Research Associate is £40,033 per year or £19 per hour in United Kingdom, which is in line with the national average. Top earners have reported making up to £57,692 (90th percentile). However, the typical pay range in United Kingdom is between £33,435 (25th percentile) and £48,302 (75th percentile) annually. Salary estimates are based on 423 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by Clinical Research Associate employees in United Kingdom as of June 2026.
The highest salary for a Clinical Research Associate in United Kingdom is £48,302 per year, £4,025 per month or £23 per hour.
The lowest salary for a Clinical Research Associate in United Kingdom is £33,435 per year, £2,786 per month or £16 per hour.
The salary trajectory of a Clinical Research Associate ranges between locations and employers. The salary starts at £34,612 per year (estimate) and goes up to £59,173 per year (estimate) for the highest level of seniority.
Working as a clinical research associate (CRA) allows one to perform intellectually stimulating and impactful work with frequent travel. Starting salaries are slightly below or around the national average, but senior CRAs can earn higher salaries. Clinical research associates who have experience overseeing large-scale and successful trials are typically in the most demand. To improve their earning potential, CRAs can work towards becoming a director, manager, or other senior position.
Clinical research associate careers vary greatly due to the number of clinical trials offered. To become more competitive in the industry, you can pursue additional qualifications such as a postgraduate degree in clinical research to enhance your knowledge and skills. Another good strategy is to specialise in a particular area such as oncology or neurology, or search for a position that offers work in a wide variety of research areas. Build up relationships with others in the clinical research industry to help you learn about new opportunities and increase your visibility to potential employers. Look for high-paying employers in the industry such as large pharmaceutical companies and contract research organisations. Look into obtaining the Good Clinical Practice (GCP) certification, which may enhance your employability and earning potential in the clinical research field.
Find out the typical salary outlook for the position you're applying for before you get to the interview stage. Salaries can vary greatly depending on where you live in the country and even within your own area. Assess your skills and experience and explain to your potential employer how these attributes make you an excellent candidate for the clinical research associate position. Clinical research technologists should be fluent in research software programs, including ePRO, eCOA, or Telemedicine. Provide concrete examples of how your level of education and experience make you beneficial to the job you're applying for.
About 65.89% of Clinical Research Associate professionals feel satisfied with their salary, according to anonymous Glassdoor ratings. An additional £2,436 in potential pay per year, among other factors, can qualify the annual pay of a Clinical Research Associate in United Kingdom as a good salary.
Clinical Research Associate professionals in United Kingdom have a wide total pay range, between £28,571 and £57,692 depending on experience, with an estimated total pay of £40,033 following the average career path of a Clinical Research Associate.