Clinical Research for Physicians: Compensation & Getting Started
Based on data from 1 physician on OffCall
What Physicians Earn from Clinical Research
Typical Compensation: $45,000/year
Time Commitment: less than 40 hours per week
Data reflects 2025 responses from OffCall physicians
What Is Clinical Research Work?
Clinical research side gigs typically involve serving as a principal or sub-investigator on clinical trials, helping design protocols, recruit patients, and ensure regulatory compliance. Physicians may partner with Contract Research Organizations (CROs), academic centers, or private research sites to run studies evaluating new drugs, devices, or diagnostics.
The work often includes chart review, patient interviews, data entry, and collaboration with study coordinators and sponsors. It appeals to physicians interested in evidence generation, innovation, and the scientific process—often with minimal to no direct patient care.
Though sometimes viewed as rigid, clinical research offers structured work and exposure to cutting-edge therapies, especially for physicians in primary care or subspecialties.
Who This Side Gig Works Best For
Ideal Candidates:
- Physicians with experience in trials, GCP compliance, or academic medicine
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
- Interest in advancing therapeutics or working with novel interventions
- Willingness to manage documentation and regulatory processes
Less Ideal For:
- Physicians uncomfortable with administrative protocols or strict guidelines
- Clinicians seeking flexible hours or purely remote work
- Those uninterested in long timelines or repetitive data collection tasks
How to Get Started
To begin, partner with local research organizations, private trial sites, or academic centers. Sites often seek experienced clinicians to expand trial capacity or take on protocol-specific roles. Certifications in Good Clinical Practice (GCP) or clinical research management can help signal your readiness.
Platforms like ACRP, CenterWatch, or clinical trial networks often list open investigator roles. If you see trials in your therapeutic area, reach out to sponsors or CROs directly to express interest in becoming a site or investigator.
What to Charge
In this case, a 40-hour weekly commitment led to $45,000/year in compensation, likely reflecting early-stage or support-level research involvement. Compensation structures vary—some are salary-based, others per patient enrolled or milestone-driven.
Always clarify scope, administrative support, and payment timelines. Ensure contracts account for screening failures, documentation time, and sponsor requirements.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- Underestimating paperwork load: Research work is documentation-heavy—prepare for detailed regulatory and compliance tracking.
- Lack of patient flow: If trials require recruitment, ensure your practice has the right volume and demographics.
- Assuming all trials are equal: Some offer high compensation and low effort—others the reverse. Vet study feasibility before committing.
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