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What is a contract administrative assistant and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted expert
Anne McConnell Ph.D.
introduction image

A contract administrative assistant helps in the effective enforcement of contracts made with the government, contractors, employees, suppliers, or clients. They are very often tasked with the following responsibilities: closely reviewing contract documents closely for accuracy, preparing and distributing contract documents for execution, reviewing incoming and outgoing correspondence, maintaining and organizing physical and electronic contract files, preparing reports for both prime contracts and subcontract files.

The role of a contract administrative assistant best fits individuals with an acute eye for details as well as organizational skills. The most common pathway to becoming an entry-level contract administrative assistant is pursuing at least an associate degree in contract management or acquisition. A more advanced role would require one to earn a bachelor's degree. In exchange for their expertise, contract administrative assistants in the United States earn an average annual salary of $32,190.

What general advice would you give to a contract administrative assistant?

Anne McConnell Ph.D.

Professor, West Virginia State University

I would say it's important to be very attentive to the way you communicate with your employers, managers, and co-workers. Even sending an e-mail can be an opportunity to demonstrate your professionalism and communication skills. Some people think that no one knows how to write anymore, or how to communicate in a professional way. I don't think that's true. But we don't always think about how our writing can be a tool to communicate our competence and seriousness. If you know how to write and communicate professionally-which college grads do-then make sure to demonstrate that in the workplace.
ScoreContract Administrative AssistantUS Average
Salary
3.1

Avg. Salary $39,073

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
6.0

Growth rate -8%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
3.1
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.73%

Asian 3.84%

Black or African American 9.35%

Hispanic or Latino 16.35%

Unknown 3.87%

White 65.86%

Gender

female 89.83%

male 10.17%

Age - 52
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 52
Stress level
6.0

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level
4.4

Complexity level is basic

7 - challenging

Work life balance
7.6

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Contract administrative assistant career paths

Key steps to become a contract administrative assistant

  1. Explore contract administrative assistant education requirements

    Most common contract administrative assistant degrees

    Bachelor's

    50.8 %

    Associate

    27.2 %

    High School Diploma

    9.6 %
  2. Start to develop specific contract administrative assistant skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Data Entry15.63%
    Purchase Orders9.37%
    PowerPoint8.53%
    Expense Reports4.59%
    SharePoint4.29%
  3. Complete relevant contract administrative assistant training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New contract administrative assistants learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a contract administrative assistant based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real contract administrative assistant resumes.
  4. Gain additional contract administrative assistant certifications

    Contract administrative assistant certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific contract administrative assistant certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for contract administrative assistants include Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) and Medical Assistant.

    More About Certifications
  5. Research contract administrative assistant duties and responsibilities

    • Manage and develop the daily clinical schedule for the in-patient rehabilitation staff taking into consideration Medicare guidelines and staffing ratios.
    • Orchestrate and design all RFP and RFQ proposals.
    • Issue RFQ's for subcontracts, evaluate proposals, award contracts and oversee through closeout.
    • Streamline staff scheduling through team management software (SharePoint) by coordinating schedules, meetings, and travel arrangements.
  6. Prepare your contract administrative assistant resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your contract administrative assistant resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a contract administrative assistant resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable contract administrative assistant resume templates

    Build a professional contract administrative assistant resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your contract administrative assistant resume.
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    Contract Administrative Assistant Resume
  7. Apply for contract administrative assistant jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a contract administrative assistant job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first contract administrative assistant job

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Average contract administrative assistant salary

The average contract administrative assistant salary in the United States is $39,073 per year or $19 per hour. Contract administrative assistant salaries range between $31,000 and $48,000 per year.

Average contract administrative assistant salary
$39,073 Yearly
$18.79 hourly

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How do contract administrative assistants rate their job?

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Contract administrative assistant reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2024
Pros

Depending on the org & boss, can be a nice variety & challenges

Cons

Depending on the org & boss, position can become stale & boxed in


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A zippia user wrote a review on Dec 2022
Pros

Writing a message,Organizing receipts and expenses and sending them out when needed

Cons

Failure to comply with working hours, theft and fraud,


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A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2020
Pros

It my passion to help people in need. It makes me feel good to see people the Youth do well in the life

Cons

I don't like to see anyone stuck in between and not being helped.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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