Clinical Research Associate Salary in Pune
Clinical Research Associate (CRA) is one of the highest-paid entry roles in clinical research, with the strongest long-term ceiling among field-based roles. CTC scales rapidly with therapeutic area exposure, monitoring volume, and protocol complexity handled.
CRA salary in Pune by level
| Level | CTC range (Pune) | Common titles |
|---|---|---|
| Level I (0-2 yrs) | ₹4.0–5.5 LPA | CRA, Junior CRA, CRA Trainee |
| Level II (2-4 yrs) | ₹7.0–10.0 LPA | CRA II, Site Monitor |
| Level III / Senior (4-7 yrs) | ₹12.0–18.0 LPA | Senior CRA, Lead Site Monitor |
| Lead / CPM (7+ yrs) | ₹18.0–30.0+ LPA | Lead CRA, Clinical Project Manager |
Ranges are aggregated from active job postings, recruiter conversations, and our placement data across Pune's clinical research employer base. Adjusted from the Pune baseline using city multipliers.
The CRA market in Pune
Pune is one of India's strongest pharma cities, with the Hinjewadi-Wakad-Bhosari corridor housing major operations of Cipla, Sun Pharma, Lupin, Glenmark, Wockhardt, Mylan, and Emcure, alongside CROs Syngene, Veeda, Lambda, IQVIA, ICON, and Parexel.
Pune is the baseline reference for these figures. Cost of living is moderate relative to Mumbai and Bangalore, so the same CTC stretches further here, and the dense CRO cluster means job-switching between employers to accelerate pay growth is unusually practical.
Top employers hiring CRAs
- Syngene International
- Veeda Clinical Research
- Lambda Therapeutic Research
- IQVIA
- ICON plc
- Parexel
- Cipla
- Sun Pharma
- Lupin
- Glenmark
CRA salary in other cities
CRA salary in Pune — FAQs
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Ask on WhatsApp →What is the starting salary for a CRA in Pune?
A fresher Clinical Research Associate (Level I (0-2 yrs)) in Pune typically earns ₹4.0–5.5 LPA CTC in 2026. Pune pays broadly in line with the Pune baseline for CRA roles. Actual offers vary by employer, therapeutic area, and portfolio strength.
How much does a senior CRA earn in Pune?
At the Lead / CPM (7+ yrs) level, a Clinical Research Associate in Pune earns around ₹18.0–30.0+ LPA CTC. Sponsor-side roles typically pay more than CRO-side at the same level.
Which employers hire CRAs in Pune?
Top employers include Syngene International, Veeda Clinical Research, Lambda Therapeutic Research, IQVIA, ICON plc, among others across Pune's clinical research ecosystem.
Want to start a CRA career?
Our CRA career guide is designed to take you from graduate to CRA-ready in months, with the platform skills and portfolio that Pune hiring managers screen for.