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The differences between contract administrator/contract specialists and contracts administration managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a contract administrator/contract specialist and a contracts administration manager. Additionally, a contracts administration manager has an average salary of $72,869, which is higher than the $53,425 average annual salary of a contract administrator/contract specialist.
The top three skills for a contract administrator/contract specialist include contract management, purchase orders and contract terms. The most important skills for a contracts administration manager are contract administration, proposal preparation, and contract management.
| Contract Administrator/Contract Specialist | Contracts Administration Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $53,425 | $72,869 |
| Hourly rate | $25.69 | $35.03 |
| Growth rate | 9% | -6% |
| Number of jobs | 61,764 | 10,694 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Average age | 48 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A Contract Administrator and Contract Specialist reviews all contracts of the company. They are responsible for reviewing every contract if it is for the company's benefit and if there are hidden risks. This person also helps draft future contracts and inspects new contracts during deals and negotiations. Contract Specialists update existing contracts, propose amendments if necessary, and advise the company on contracts that have risks that may affect the activities of the company.
Contracts administration managers are responsible for negotiating and administering government and commercial contracts, preparing proposals, and ensuring that they comply with all company policies and legal requirements. These managers report the progress of their projects to top management during meetings. They manage the performance of their staff daily. Their job involves participating in developing, formulating, and revising policies, procedures, and templates. They also support their finance and program teams in communicating with their clients to ensure that invoices are made timely and accurately.
Contract administrator/contract specialists and contracts administration managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Contract Administrator/Contract Specialist | Contracts Administration Manager | |
| Average salary | $53,425 | $72,869 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $79,000 | Between $46,000 And $114,000 |
| Highest paying City | Annapolis, MD | Arlington, VA |
| Highest paying state | Maryland | Virginia |
| Best paying company | Jacobs Engineering Group | Deloitte |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Utilities |
There are a few differences between a contract administrator/contract specialist and a contracts administration manager in terms of educational background:
| Contract Administrator/Contract Specialist | Contracts Administration Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between contract administrator/contract specialists' and contracts administration managers' demographics:
| Contract Administrator/Contract Specialist | Contracts Administration Manager | |
| Average age | 48 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 30.0% Female, 70.0% | Male, 42.9% Female, 57.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.8% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.2% Asian, 7.6% White, 66.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 12.5% Asian, 7.5% White, 66.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 11% |