Clinical Data Managers
Machines can already do 56% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 82%. Most of the work is changing now.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Clinical Data Managers in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 56% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 46% of them.
- Forecast: machines can already do half of its tasks, and 82% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 262,440 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $120,230 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 63% for contact with people.
- Also called: Clinical Data Management Director (CDM Director), Clinical Data Management Manager (CDM Manager), Clinical Data Manager, Clinical Informatics Manager.
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design and validate clinical databases, including designing or testing logic checks | 10% | 52% to 80% | |
| Generate data queries, based on validation checks or errors and omissions identified during data entry, to resolve identified problems | 9% | 60% to 90% | |
| Process clinical data, including receipt, entry, verification, or filing of information | 8% | 85% to 97% | |
| Develop project-specific data management plans that address areas such as coding, reporting, or transfer of data, database locks, and work flow processes | 6% | 50% to 85% | |
| Design forms for receiving, processing, or tracking data | 6% | 77% to 97% | |
| Confer with end users to define or implement clinical system requirements such as data release formats, delivery schedules, and testing protocols | 6% | 30% to 60% | |
| Perform quality control audits to ensure accuracy, completeness, or proper usage of clinical systems and data | 6% | 70% to 95% | |
| Monitor work productivity or quality to ensure compliance with standard operating procedures | 5% | 40% to 80% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills clinical data managers use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
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- Information Security Engineers67% of tasks by 2035 · US median $116,580
- Web Administrators78% of tasks by 2035 · US median $116,580
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Clinical Data Managers?
Machines can already do half of its tasks. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of clinical data managers?
Machines can do 56% of the tasks of clinical data managers today and 82% by 2035. Most of the routine work moves to machines, and the people in the job move to oversight, judgement and client work.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 15-2051.02 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Clinical Data Managers: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/clinical-data-managers/