Human Subjects Research Coordinator

Career Guide

A Human Subjects Research Coordinator supports clinical and behavioral studies that involve people as participants. The role focuses on participant safety, ethical compliance, accurate documentation, and smooth day to day study operations.

Browse All Roles

Key Responsibilities

Support study start up activities such as site readiness and document collection
Help prepare and maintain ethics review submissions and updates
Screen potential participants against study criteria
Coordinate participant visits, scheduling, and follow up
Guide participants through consent discussions and documentation
Collect study data using approved forms and systems
Maintain secure study files and version controlled documents
Report safety events and protocol issues to the right parties
Coordinate with clinicians, investigators, and study sponsors
Support monitoring visits and audit readiness activities
Track study progress, enrollment, and key milestones
Assist with training study staff on protocol procedures

Top Skills for Success

Attention to Detail

Written Communication

Empathy

Time Management

Stakeholder Communication

Research Ethics Knowledge

Informed Consent Process

Protocol Adherence

Participant Recruitment

Participant Retention

Source Documentation

Regulatory Documentation

Data Entry Accuracy

Safety Event Reporting

Confidentiality Practices

Career Progression

Can Lead To

Clinical Research Coordinator

Research Compliance Specialist

IRB Coordinator

Research Program Coordinator

Transition Opportunities

Clinical Trial Manager Research Project Manager Clinical Research Associate Regulatory Affairs Specialist Quality Assurance Specialist Research Operations Manager

Common Skill Gaps

Often Missing Skills

Ethics Submission WritingInformed Consent FacilitationClinical Research Regulations KnowledgeData Quality ControlSafety Event TriageAudit Readiness PracticesParticipant Recruitment Strategy

Development SuggestionsAsk to shadow an experienced coordinator during consent and ethics submissions. Use structured checklists for study binders and visit workflows. Take a formal course in human subjects protections and good clinical practice. Practice writing clear ethics updates and deviation reports using templates reviewed by your supervisor.

Market Intelligence Report

Human Subjects Research Coordinator is part of the Clinical Research category.Explore our market intelligence report to see how AI and hiring demand are shifting for these roles.

See the market intelligence report

Salary & Demand

Median Salary Range

Entry LevelUSD 45,000 to 60,000

Mid LevelUSD 60,000 to 80,000

Senior LevelUSD 80,000 to 105,000

Growth Trend

Steady demand driven by ongoing clinical research, public health studies, and increased focus on participant protections and data quality.

Companies Hiring

Major Employers

Academic Medical CentersUniversitiesHospital SystemsResearch InstitutesContract Research OrganizationsPublic Health AgenciesNonprofit Research OrganizationsBiotechnology CompaniesPharmaceutical Companies

Industry Sectors

HealthcareHigher EducationLife SciencesGovernmentNonprofit

Recommended Next Steps

Complete a recognized human subjects protections training program

Build a personal checklist for consent, visits, and document filing

Practice explaining studies in plain language and confirm participant understanding

Strengthen documentation habits by doing same day note completion and file reconciliation

Learn the core metrics your team tracks such as enrollment, retention, and query rates

Request exposure to monitoring visits and audit preparation activities

Create a results based resume section that highlights enrollment numbers, data quality improvements, and compliance achievements