Clinical Data Manager Salary (2026), outlook and how to become one

Clinical Data Managers earn a median of $120,230 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 136% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $57.80/hr. The middle half earn between $85,660 and $158,880. The top 10% earn $199,130 or more.

The median hourly wage for clinical data managers is $57.80 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). On a full-year basis the $120,230 annual median works out to about $10,020 a month before tax.

BLS does not publish a starting salary. The nearest measure is the low end of the pay range: the lowest-paid 10% of clinical data managers earn less than $67,240 a year and the bottom quarter less than $85,660 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). New workers often start near that end, but where a particular job starts depends on the employer, the state and the credentials you bring, so read these as the bottom of the range rather than a guaranteed entry wage.

Yes, more often than not. The median is $120,230, so more than half of clinical data managers earn over $100,000 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). In 31 states the median itself is above $100,000: Washington ($163,350), California ($141,590), Maryland ($136,370), New Jersey ($135,280), and 27 more.

The highest state medians for Clinical Data Managers are Washington ($163,350), California ($141,590), Maryland ($136,370) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

BLS does not split clinical data managers' pay by specialty or employer, but its range shows how far the top end runs: the highest-paid 10% earn more than $199,130, against a median of $120,230 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Location moves pay the most in the published data: the best-paying states are Washington ($163,350), California ($141,590), Maryland ($136,370).

Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Clinical Data Managers, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as considerable preparation. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 85.0% hold bachelor's degree.

BLS does not publish a fixed length; it depends on the route. What it does publish: the typical way in for clinical data managers is a bachelor's degree. O*NET classes the work as needing considerable preparation.

Yes, strongly. Employment is projected to grow 34.6% over 2025–2035, more than double the 3.5% projected for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 24,800 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.

Data scientists use analytical tools and techniques to extract meaningful insights from data. A core O*NET task: design and validate clinical databases, including designing or testing logic checks. Employers most often ask for Analytical or scientific software, Data base management system software, Data base user interface and query software.

Yes, for most. In O*NET's survey of people in the job, 30% of clinical data managers usually work more than 40 hours a week, 70% work exactly 40 and 0% work fewer. 85% say their schedule is regular and 10% irregular, and 5% work seasonally. Source: O*NET 31.0 Database, Work Context.

O*NET scores Clinical Data Managers highest on the Conventional, Investigative and Enterprising interest areas, so the work mixes organising, following procedures and working precisely with data with investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ISTJ, ESTJ. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.

Women make up 41.8% of clinical data managers, against 47.1% of all employed people: more men than in the workforce as a whole. Only 12.6% are 55 or older (23.2% across all jobs): a young workforce. The median worker is 38.4 years old (all workers: 42.1). Source: BLS Current Population Survey, 2025 annual averages, for the Census group "Other mathematical science occupations".