State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
Clinical Data Manager Salary (2026): Data, Outlook & How to Become One
Clinical Data Managers earn a median of $120,230 per year ($57.80/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 33.5% through 2034, with about 23,400 openings a year (BLS EP, 2024–2034). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
SOC 15-2051Computer and MathematicalLast updated August 15, 2026
- Median pay
- $120,230
- Projected growth
- +33.5%
- Openings a year
- 23,400
- Typical education
- Bachelor's
BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
Also advertised as: Clinical Data Management Director (CDM Director), Clinical Data Management Manager (CDM Manager), Clinical Data Manager, Clinical Informatics Manager, Data Deliverables Manager, Data Management Manager.
How much do Clinical Data Managers make?
10th percentile$67,240
Entry / lowest-paid tenth
25th percentile$85,660
Lower quartile
Median (50th)$120,230
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile$158,880
Upper quartile
90th percentile$199,130
Top-paid tenth
| Median annual wage | $120,230 |
|---|---|
| Median hourly wage | $57.80/hr |
| Mean annual wage | $126,800 |
| People employed | 262,440 |
Versus all US occupations
At $120,230, Clinical Data Managers earn 136% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $69,250 a year.
Versus computer and mathematical occupations
Inside the Computer and Mathematical group, where the middle occupation pays $116,580, this is 3% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $199,130 or more while the bottom 10% earn $67,240, a gap of 3.0×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 88% of the 923 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Washington pays the most at $163,350, and still leads at $152,645 once local prices are taken into account.
Which states pay Clinical Data Managers the most?
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $163,350 | $152,645 | 9,600 |
| California | $141,590 | $127,881 | 39,310 |
| Maryland | $136,370 | $129,927 | 3,340 |
| New Jersey | $135,280 | $124,333 | 6,430 |
| Massachusetts | $131,750 | $124,578 | 9,420 |
| New York | $130,460 | $120,885 | 23,970 |
| Minnesota | $128,800 | $130,601 | 4,020 |
| Vermont | $127,070 | $129,719 | 200 |
| District of Columbia | $126,490 | $115,094 | 2,680 |
| Virginia | $126,430 | $125,049 | 8,920 |
Is Clinical Data Manager a growing career?
Clinical Data Managers33.5%
All US occupations3.1%
+33.5% projected growth vs 3.1% for all occupations.
Much faster than average
BLS projects employment of Clinical Data Managers to change 33.5% over 2024–2034, roughly 10.8× the 3.1% projected for all occupations. That is 82,500 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 23,400 openings are projected each year, 9.5% of the 245,900 jobs that existed in 2024. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Employment growth for data scientists is expected to stem from an increased demand for data-driven decisions. The volume of data available and the potential uses for that data will increase over the projections decade. As a result, organizations will likely need more data scientists to mine and analyze the large amounts of information and data collected. Data scientists’ analysis will help organizations to make informed decisions and improve their business processes, to design and develop new products, and to better market their products.
How to become a Clinical Data Manager
Data scientists typically need at least a bachelor’s degree in mathematics, statistics, computer science, or a related field to enter the occupation. However, some employers require or prefer that candidates have a master’s or doctoral degree.
| Typical entry-level education | Bachelor's degree |
|---|---|
| Preparation needed (O*NET job zone) | Medium preparation |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | None |
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as clinical data managers.
- Bachelor's Degree85.0%
- Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)5.0%
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificate5.0%
- Master's Degree5.0%
What does a Clinical Data Manager do?
Apply knowledge of health care and database management to analyze clinical data, and to identify and report trends.
Data scientists use analytical tools and techniques to extract meaningful insights from data.
Day-to-day tasks
- Design and validate clinical databases, including designing or testing logic checks.
- Process clinical data, including receipt, entry, verification, or filing of information.
- Monitor work productivity or quality to ensure compliance with standard operating procedures.
- Confer with end users to define or implement clinical system requirements such as data release formats, delivery schedules, and testing protocols.
- Evaluate processes and technologies, and suggest revisions to increase productivity and efficiency.
- Write work instruction manuals, data capture guidelines, or standard operating procedures.
- Track the flow of work forms, including in-house data flow or electronic forms transfer.
- Read technical literature and participate in continuing education or professional associations to maintain awareness of current database technology and best practices.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Where clinical data managers work
| Computer systems design and related services | 11% |
|---|---|
| Insurance carriers and related activities | 10% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 10% |
| Management, scientific, and technical consulting services | 6% |
| Scientific research and development services | 5% |
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–2034 edition.
Core skills
- Critical Thinking4.0/5
- Reading Comprehension3.9/5
- Active Listening3.9/5
- Speaking3.9/5
- Writing3.8/5
- Active Learning3.6/5
- Monitoring3.6/5
- Mathematics3.5/5
Transferable skills
- Complex Problem Solving3.5/5
- Coordination3.4/5
- Time Management3.4/5
- Programming3.3/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.3/5
- Systems Analysis3.3/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.1/5
- Systems Evaluation3.1/5
Tools and software
- Analytical or scientific software · in demand
- Data base management system software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Development environment software · in demand
- Document management software · in demand
- Enterprise application integration software · in demand
- Medical software · in demand
- Object or component oriented development software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Process mapping and design software · in demand
- Project management software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
What personality type suits a Clinical Data Manager?
Interest profile: O*NET Occupational Interests, scored 1–7
Realistic1.3
Investigativeprimary5.7
Artistic1.3
Social2.8
Enterprisingprimary3.3
Conventionalprimary6.6
Day to day this is work built around organising, following procedures and working precisely with data, combined with investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data.
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Clinical Data Manager: frequently asked questions
How much do Clinical Data Managers make?
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.
Do you need a degree to become a Clinical Data Manager?
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 medium preparation. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 85.0% hold bachelor's degree.
Is Clinical Data Manager a growing career?
Yes, strongly. Employment is projected to grow 33.5% over 2024–2034, more than double the 3.1% projected for all occupations (BLS EP, 2024–2034). BLS still projects about 23,400 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Clinical Data Manager do?
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.
Which states pay Clinical Data Managers the most?
The highest state medians for Clinical Data Managers are Washington ($163,350), California ($141,590), Maryland ($136,370) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Clinical Data Manager?
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 923 occupations in the bank.