Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz
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Clinical Data Managers
Clinical Data Managers apply knowledge of health care and database management to analyze clinical data, and to identify and report trends.
Table of contents
What they do
Clinical Data Managers apply knowledge of health care and database management to analyze clinical data, and to identify and report trends.
- Design and validate clinical databases, including designing or testing logic checks.
- Process clinical data, including receipt, entry, verification, or filing of information.
- Generate data queries, based on validation checks or errors and omissions identified during data entry, to resolve identified problems.
- Develop project-specific data management plans that address areas such as coding, reporting, or transfer of data, database locks, and workflow processes.
Typical day
On a daily basis, Clinical Data Managers monitor work productivity or quality to ensure compliance with standard operating procedures. They process clinical data, including receipt, entry, verification, or filing of information.
- Supervise the work of data management project staff.
- Generate data queries, based on validation checks or errors and omissions identified during data entry, to resolve identified problems.
- Track the flow of work forms, including in-house data flow or electronic forms transfer.
- Analyze clinical data using appropriate statistical tools.
- Design forms for receiving, processing, or tracking data.
Other responsibilities
Besides their typical day, Clinical Data Managers also prepare data analysis listings and activity, performance, or progress reports. They may also develop technical specifications for data management programming and communicate needs to information technology staff.
On a weekly to monthly basis, Clinical Data Managers provide support and information to functional areas such as marketing, clinical monitoring, and medical affairs. They might also develop or select specific software programs for various research scenarios.
In addition, they design and validate clinical databases, including designing or testing logic checks.
Although specific duties may vary, many of them confer with end-users to define or implement clinical system requirements such as data release formats, delivery schedules, and testing protocols.
To some Clinical Data Managers, it is also their responsibility to track the flow of work forms, including in-house data flow or electronic forms transfer.
What is the job like
Job satisfaction
Is this job meaningful
70% said they were satisfied with their job and 46% said they found their job meaningful.
I’m a Senior Manager, Clinical Data Management at MMS Holdings based in South Africa.
A typical day in Data Management in the pharmaceutical industry can vary considerably based on the status of the clinical study and whether it is in the start-up, conduct, or closeout stage.
During the conduct stage, there are routine tasks which are usually done in the morning such as actioning of study e-mails, query management, vendor data cleaning, and overall data review. Outside of these routine tasks, there are also protocol reviews for clinical database updates, database design, resource planning, and much more that keeps me busy during the afternoons.
Pros
I can name many great aspects of Data Management. We are central to the running of the clinical trial and we interact with all the key functional areas. Our environment is continuously evolving and provides for immense personal and professional growth. This evolution has jumped greatly in recent years, from paper clinical trials to electronic data capture (EDC) and now to fully decentralized clinical trials.. There is always something new to learn, and data management is a key role in the set-up and conduct of a virtual clinical trial – an area of clinical research that is the future for our industry.
Cons
In terms of challenges, those seeking a career in data management will need to be able to balance managing expectations of all the different study functions, working on global clinical studies across various time zones, and keeping up in this constantly changing environment.
Pros
Suitable for people who like to follow routines.
Suitable for people who value achievements and are results-oriented.
This career is perfect for people who love to work indoors.
Very high salary (top 25% highest paid careers).
Normal working hours (40 hours per week).
Cons
Not suitable for people who like to work with designs.
It is hard to get into this career. A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.
How much do they make
Average salary
Average hourly wage
Entry-level Clinical Data Managers with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $52,700 to $68,810 per year or $25 to $33 per hour.
| Salary by experience | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Highest (Top 10%) | $150,840 | $73 |
| Senior (Top 25%) | $121,800 | $59 |
| Median | $92,270 | $44 |
| Junior (Bottom 25%) | $68,810 | $33 |
| No experience (Bottom 10%) | $52,700 | $25 |
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What is the work day like
Working hours
Working schedule
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Telephone
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
Group discussions
How often do you have group discussions in this job?
Public speaking
How often does this job require you to do public speaking?
Level of competition
How much competitive pressure is in this job?
What is the work environment like
Office-style environment
Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition
Warehouse-style environment
Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse
Outdoors
Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions
Outdoors – Under Cover
Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)
How to become one
Difficulty to become one
Required level of education
What level of education do you need to perform the job?
Relevant majors
Relevant work experience
How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?
On The Job Training
How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?
Should you become one
Best personality type for this career
People with this personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.
People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.
People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.
People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.
People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.
People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.
You can read more about these career personality types here.
People who are suitable for this job tend to like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.
They also like working with ideas and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.
Work Values
Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?
You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.
You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.
You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.
You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.
You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.
You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.
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