Industry Statistics and Trends
Market size and recent performance (2015-2030)
Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 1.4 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $24.1bn in 2025.
Trends and Insights
Elevated interest rates curtail robust CRO growth, even as broader research and development inclines
- Contract research organizations (CROs) rely on macroeconomic stability to ensure consistent input from core clients and maintain profitable clinical trial operations. Inflationary spikes in 2022 and sharp inclines in national interest rates, which reached a 5.3% high in July 2023, curtailed CRO growth. The elevated cost of borrowing made it harder for pharmaceutical companies, medical device manufacturers and educational institutions to use credit to conduct large clinical trials. This resulted in a sharp 3.0% revenue contraction in 2022, forcing incumbent CRO companies to prioritize cost savings when pursuing new clinical trials.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2025-2030)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
An evolving economy and aging population will provide critical boosts to CRO growth
- Contract research organizations (CROs) will continue to face economic uncertainty fueled by elevated interest rates, an evolving tariff landscape and changes in the retiree population. Interest rate changes are already causing some CROs to pivot their strategy, with the Fed’s decision to institute a quarter-point rate cut in September 2025 providing greater borrowing capability for new clinical trial research and testing. Nonetheless, investors involved in clinical research will remain more risk-averse and private debt markets will lend at higher-than-average interest rates. This will cause CROs to prioritize clinical trial cost management, which is integral for long-term growth prospects and profit maintenance.
Biggest companies in the Contract Research Organizations in the US
| Company | Market Share (%)
2025 | Revenue ($m)
2025 | Profit ($m)
2025 | Profit Margin (%)
2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. | 8,427.1 | 1,404.9 | 16.7 | |
Iqvia Holdings Inc. | 4,166.1 | 995.1 | 23.9 | |
Icon Plc | 3,682.7 | 363.4 | 9.9 |
To view the market share and analysis for all 5 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.
Products & Services Segmentation
Source: IBISWorld
Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Clinical trials, Post-marketing surveillance and Preclinical trials. Clinical trials is the largest segment of the Contract Research Organizations in the US.
Trends and Insights
Clinical trials form the backbone of the contract research organization business
- Clinical trials involve research using human participants to test new medical products. Phase I involves basic safety and pharmacology testing in a small group of participants (20 to 80) to observe how the drug works, how it's affected by other drugs, where it goes in the body and how long it remains active.
- More insights available in the full report
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
This industry includes companies that provide research services on a contract basis to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Contract research organizations (CRO) offer biopharmaceutical development, preclinical research, clinical research and clinical trial management. Many CROs specifically provide clinical study and clinical trial support for drugs or medical devices.
What's included in this industry?
Products and services covered in the Contract Research Organizations industry in the United States include Conducting clinical trials, Conducting preclinical trials, Conducting post-marketing surveillance trials, Offering clinical trials management, Providing consulting services and Offering mitigation strategy services.Companies
Companies covered in the Contract Research Organizations industry in the United States include Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Iqvia Holdings Inc. and Icon Plc.Purchase this report to view all 5 major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
Related terms covered in the Contract Research Organizations industry in the United States include cro, biopharmaceuticals and preclinical.Industry Code
NAICS 541713 - Contract Research Organizations in the US
Performance
Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.
Analyst insights
Clinical trials have become more expensive amid high interest rates. Financing costs for clinical trials have spiked, with a decline in patient enrollments causing pharmaceut...
In this chapter (4)
- Current Performance
- Outlook
- Volatility
- Life Cycle
Key metrics
- Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
- Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
- Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
- Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business
Charts
- Revenue, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
- Employees, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
- Businesses, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
- Profit, including historical (2015-2025)
- Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
- Industry Life Cycle
Detailed analysis
- Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
- Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
- Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
- How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.
Products and Markets
Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.
Analyst insight
Rising costs from tariffs on imported supplies will strain CRO operations.Heightened tariffs on supplemental materials like steel, aluminum and lab equipment imports could dri...
In this chapter
- Products & Services
- Major Markets
Key metrics
- Largest market segment and value in 2025
- Product innovation level
Charts
- Products & services segmentation in 2025
- Major market segmentation in 2025
Detailed analysis
- Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
- Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
- Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
- Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
Geographic Breakdown
Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.
Analyst insights
Several states with significant saturation of educational entities boost CRO demand. Key research hubs in states such as California, Massachusetts and New Jersey support phar...
In this chapter (1)
- Business Locations
Charts
- Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each state
- Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2025
Tables
- Number and share of establishments in each state in 2025
- Number and share of revenue each state accounts for in 2025
- Number and share of wages each state accounts for in 2025
- Number and share of employees in each state in 2025
Detailed analysis
- Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
- Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage
Competitive Forces
Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.
Analyst insights
Mergers and acquisitions continue to be a staple of CROs, reinforcing the dominance of top companies. Leading CROs are leveraging their resources to find efficient research m...
In this chapter (4)
- Concentration
- Barriers to Entry
- Substitutes
- Buyer & Supplier Analysis
Key metrics
- Industry concentration level
- Industry competition level and trend
- Barriers to entry level and trend
- Substitutes level and trend
- Buyer power level and trend
- Supplier power level and trend
Charts
- Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2020-2025
- Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart
Detailed analysis
- Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
- Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
- Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
- Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
- Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
- Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
- Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
- Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
- Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.
Companies
Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.
Analyst insights
Publicly traded companies dominate the CRO market, holding nearly a third of market share. Strategic acquisitions and key partnerships are driving this concentration, with la...
In this chapter
- Market Share Concentration
- Companies
- Company Spotlights
Charts
- Industry market share by company in 2021 through 2025
- Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2025
- Overview of Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
- Overview of Iqvia Holdings Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
- Overview of Icon Plc's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
- Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 2 additional companies
Detailed analysis
- Description and key data for Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Iqvia Holdings Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Icon Plc, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description, key data and performance trends for 2 additional companies
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
Most assistance stems from privately funded associations and programs. CROs have access to resources, educational opportunities and certifications via private associations li...
In this chapter
- External Drivers
- Regulation & Policy
- Assistance
Key metrics
- Regulation & policy level and trend
- Assistance level and trend
Charts
- Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2015-2030)
- Assistance historical data and forecast (2015-2030)
Detailed analysis
- Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
- Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
- Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.
Financial Benchmarks
View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time.
Analyst insights
Decentralized trials create a lucrative profit accelerant. Clients have greater propensity to make large investments if CROs can effectively cut costs and accelerate trial ti...
In this chapter
- Cost Structure
- Financial Ratios
- Key Ratios
Key metrics
- Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
- Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
- Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
- Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio
Charts
- Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
- Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
- Investment vs. share of economy
Data tables
- Industry Multiples (2018-2023)
- Industry Tax Structure (2018-2023)
- Income Statement (2018-2023)
- Balance Sheet (2018-2023)
- Liquidity Ratios (2018-2023)
- Coverage Ratios (2018-2023)
- Leverage Ratios (2018-2023)
- Operating Ratios (2018-2023)
- Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2015-2030)
- Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
- Revenue per Enterprise (2015-2030)
- Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
- Employees per Enterprise (2015-2030)
- Average Wage (2015-2030)
- Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Establishments per Enterprise (2015-2030)
- IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
- Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)
Detailed analysis
- Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability
Key Statistics
Industry Data
Data Tables
Including values and annual change:
- Revenue (2015-2030)
- IVA (2015-2030)
- Establishments (2015-2030)
- Enterprises (2015-2030)
- Employment (2015-2030)
- Exports (2015-2030)
- Imports (2015-2030)
- Wages (2015-2030)
Top Questions Answered
Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.
What is the market size of the Contract Research Organizations industry in the United States in 2025?
The market size of the Contract Research Organizations industry in the United States is $24.1bn in 2025.
How many businesses are there in the Contract Research Organizations industry in the United States in 2025?
There are 4,523 businesses in the Contract Research Organizations industry in the United States, which has grown at a CAGR of 3.4 % between 2020 and 2025.
How may import tariffs affect the Contract Research Organizations industry in the United States?
The Contract Research Organizations industry in the United States is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
How may export tariffs affect the Contract Research Organizations industry in the United States?
The Contract Research Organizations industry in the United States is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
Has the Contract Research Organizations industry in the United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Contract Research Organizations industry in the United States has been growing at a CAGR of 1.4 % between 2020 and 2025.
What is the forecast growth of the Contract Research Organizations industry in the United States over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Contract Research Organizations industry in the United States is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Contract Research Organizations industry in the United States?
The biggest companies operating in the Contract Research Organizations industry in the United States are Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Iqvia Holdings Inc. and Icon Plc
What does the Contract Research Organizations industry in the United States include?
Conducting clinical trials and Conducting preclinical trials are part of the Contract Research Organizations industry in the United States.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Contract Research Organizations industry in the United States?
The company holding the most market share in the Contract Research Organizations industry in the United States is Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc..
How competitive is the Contract Research Organizations industry in the United States?
The level of competition is high and steady in the Contract Research Organizations industry in the United States.
Methodology
How are IBISWorld reports created?
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Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.
IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.
What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?
Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.
Key data sources in the US include:
- US Census Bureau
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics
- US International Trade Commission
Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.
These sources include:
- Industry and trade associations
- Industry federations or regulators
- Major industry players annual or quarterly filings
Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.
How does IBISWorld forecast its data?
IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.
IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.
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