Clinical Research Coordinator.
Fargo.
$48,000
median salary, 17% below the national average
$38,000 to $61,000. Last updated August 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
The median Clinical Research Coordinator salary in Fargo is $48,000, 17% below the national average. Entry level starts near $38,000. Experienced professionals push past $61,000. Fargo has a surprisingly strong technology sector, home to companies like Microsoft's campus and a growing startup ecosystem tied to North Dakota State University. That spread is your negotiation window. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page.
Salary range.
Where do you fall?
Orbyt estimate for Clinical Research Coordinator in Fargo, modelled from national occupation wages adjusted for local cost of living. BLS does not publish this occupation for this metro area, so the national published benchmark is below.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $61,990 for Social Science Research Assistants (SOC 19-4061) across the United States, based on 30,640 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$38,090
25th percentile
$48,620
Median
$61,990
75th percentile
$77,760
90th percentile
$102,070
Workers surveyed
30,640
What BLS published in each release
May 2024 release
$58,040
May 2025 release
$61,990
These are two separate published estimates, not a time series. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not encourage the use of OEWS data for time-series analysis. Differences between releases reflect changes in occupational classification, survey methodology, and the three-year pooled sample as well as any change in pay, so the two figures should not be read as a rate of wage growth.
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Social Science Research Assistants (SOC 19-4061) rather than Clinical Research Coordinatorspecifically. The national range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 19-4061Salary by experience.
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $43,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$31,000
to $38,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$41,000
to $50,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$53,000
to $62,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$60,000
to $74,000
Total compensation.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $10,000 to the total package.
Base
$48,000
Equity
$5,000
Bonus
$4,000
Signing
$1,000
Estimated total: $58,000
How Fargo compares.
Fargo, ND
$48,000
Cost of living: 15% below average
National Average
$58,000
Fargo is $10,000 below
Clinical Research Coordinator salary by city.
Salary by role in Fargo.
What you should know.
Before you negotiate a Clinical Research Coordinator offer in Fargo, understand the terrain. Fargo has a surprisingly strong technology sector, home to companies like Microsoft's campus and a growing startup ecosystem tied to North Dakota State University. The city's extremely low cost of living and emerging tech scene make it an increasingly attractive option for professionals seeking affordability. Therapeutic area and trial phase drive the biggest pay differences. Oncology, gene therapy, and Phase I trials pay the most due to protocol complexity. ACRP or SoCRA certification adds 8 to 12% above non-certified coordinators. Academic medical centers and large CROs in biotech hubs offer the highest salaries.
Entry-level CRCs start at $48,000 to $55,000 with a science degree. Certified CRCs with three to five years of experience earn $65,000 to $80,000. Senior CRCs or clinical research managers can reach $85,000 to $110,000 overseeing multi-site trials and regulatory submissions. In Fargo, your dollars stretch further. Cost of living runs 15% below the national average, which means even a median salary buys a stronger lifestyle.
Base salary is not the full picture. CRCs receive benefits including tuition reimbursement, certification exam fees, and conference attendance stipends. CRO-employed coordinators may receive project completion bonuses of $2,000 to $5,000. Some pharmaceutical sponsors offer annual merit increases of 3 to 6%. And on the tax side: north Dakota has a very low income tax with a top rate of just 2.5%. Fargo has no city income tax. The minimal tax burden combined with low living costs creates excellent take home pay. When someone quotes you $48,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Highlight willingness to work on site. Fargo tech employers struggle to recruit talent to the region and reward candidates who commit to living locally. The range for Clinical Research Coordinators in Fargo runs from $38,000 to $61,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: BLS OES, H-1B LCA (DOL). COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified July 1, 2026. Full methodology
Common questions.
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