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Contract administrator/contract specialist vs media buyer

The differences between contract administrator/contract specialists and media buyers 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 media buyer. Additionally, a media buyer has an average salary of $74,390, 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 media buyer are digital marketing, campaign performance, and media buying.

Contract administrator/contract specialist vs media buyer overview

Contract Administrator/Contract SpecialistMedia Buyer
Yearly salary$53,425$74,390
Hourly rate$25.69$35.76
Growth rate9%8%
Number of jobs61,76420,884
Job satisfaction-4
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 60%Bachelor's Degree, 87%
Average age4848
Years of experience66

What does a contract administrator/contract specialist do?

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.

What does a media buyer do?

Media Buyers are marketing professionals who manage the company's advertisements. They create the company's media plan to determine the advertising needs of the company. They negotiate with external providers to get the best advertisement placement values. To do this, Media Buyers are expected to conduct thorough research on the different advertising companies, networks, media, size of placement, and length of advertisement. Their research must consider the target market and determine the best media to reach their target market. Media Buyers should have good negotiation skills and must be able to maintain good working relationships with providers.

Contract administrator/contract specialist vs media buyer salary

Contract administrator/contract specialists and media buyers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Contract Administrator/Contract SpecialistMedia Buyer
Average salary$53,425$74,390
Salary rangeBetween $35,000 And $79,000Between $56,000 And $98,000
Highest paying CityAnnapolis, MDBurlington, VT
Highest paying stateMarylandVermont
Best paying companyJacobs Engineering GroupBloomberg
Best paying industryTechnologyProfessional

Differences between contract administrator/contract specialist and media buyer education

There are a few differences between a contract administrator/contract specialist and a media buyer in terms of educational background:

Contract Administrator/Contract SpecialistMedia Buyer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 60%Bachelor's Degree, 87%
Most common majorBusinessCommunication
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Contract administrator/contract specialist vs media buyer demographics

Here are the differences between contract administrator/contract specialists' and media buyers' demographics:

Contract Administrator/Contract SpecialistMedia Buyer
Average age4848
Gender ratioMale, 30.0% Female, 70.0%Male, 30.1% Female, 69.9%
Race ratioBlack 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, 8.9% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.2% Asian, 7.7% White, 66.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage7%7%

Differences between contract administrator/contract specialist and media buyer duties and responsibilities

Contract administrator/contract specialist example responsibilities.

  • Lead the projects through initial project execution at local CMO's.
  • Create operational efficiencies by effectively managing databases containing RFP library responses and approve responses to request revisions to form agreements.
  • Ensure refund to DLA from vendor if applicable.
  • Make recommendations to the ACO concerning property issues as required.
  • Monitor the contractor's purchase material and vendor QA controls.
  • Review and analyzes contractor or vendor QA data and adjusts receiving process.
  • Show more

Media buyer example responsibilities.

  • Manage both PPC and display buys across a network of clients.
  • Manage day to day performance expectation of SEO, SEM, and outside vendors.
  • Manage the client's Youtube page and report monthly on all social media platforms.
  • Manage the @ RCIHelp twitter account and provide RCI consumers with direct responses and posts.
  • Implement, alter and write algorithms using SQL in order to increase efficiency within the portfolios manage.
  • Negotiate, develop, monitor and manage delivery of book campaigns on CPA, CPC and CPM models.
  • Show more

Contract administrator/contract specialist vs media buyer skills

Common contract administrator/contract specialist skills
  • Contract Management, 13%
  • Purchase Orders, 12%
  • Contract Terms, 9%
  • Data Entry, 9%
  • Price Analysis, 6%
  • Defense Finance, 3%
Common media buyer skills
  • Digital Marketing, 18%
  • Campaign Performance, 9%
  • Media Buying, 8%
  • Facebook, 7%
  • Google Analytics, 6%
  • Media Planning, 5%

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