Undergraduate students in the Mid-Atlantic region (NC & VA) are poised to enter a booming clinical research job market. North Carolina and Virginia in particular are experiencing high growth in clinical research roles, thanks to vibrant biotech hubs (like RTP in NC) and expanding hospital research programs in VA. Below is a comprehensive outlook on entry-level clinical research roles, including demand forecasts, in-demand positions, top employers, salaries, growth potential, and resources for taking the next steps in this field.

Jobs Forecast & Demand in NC and VA

Both North Carolina and Virginia are seeing growth in clinical research employment. In North Carolina, the workforce for clinical research roles (e.g., coordinators and associates) is projected to increase by about 19% statewide by 2026. Virginia is close behind with an 18% growth forecast in research positions. This growth far outpaces the average for many other fields (for context, nationally the clinical research field was growing ~6% over the last decade). The driver is the surge in clinical trials and biotech investment: NC’s Research Triangle Park alone hosts hundreds of trials and companies, while Virginia’s health systems (e.g., VCU, UVA) and biotech firms are expanding research in oncology, neurology, and more.

Why the high demand? The U.S. has more clinical trials than ever, and the talent supply hasn’t kept up. From 2016–2019, clinical trial activity grew ~12% annually, but the clinical research workforce grew only ~9% – creating a talent gap. This means entry-level opportunities are abundant for those with the right skills. Turnover is also high in some positions (e.g., traveling CRA roles have >25% turnover), so organizations continuously hire for these roles. In short, if you have interest and some training, you’ll find multiple job openings in NC and VA.