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The differences between contract administrator/contract specialists and procurement agents 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 procurement agent. Additionally, a procurement agent has an average salary of $72,384, 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 procurement agent are supply chain, strategic sourcing, and supplier performance.
| Contract Administrator/Contract Specialist | Procurement Agent | |
| Yearly salary | $53,425 | $72,384 |
| Hourly rate | $25.69 | $34.80 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 11% |
| Number of jobs | 61,764 | 45,198 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 2 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| 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.
A procurement agent develops profitable measures to save the client money and ensure the quality of goods supplied. Procurement agents obtain the purchased items through suppliers, monitor them, and expedite the orders. They oversee the activities and performance of the suppliers for compliance. Their duties include the verification of item receipts, resolving shipment-related problems, and authorizing purchase payments through documentation. The necessary skills for this job include being accomplished, decisive, and strong communication skills.
Contract administrator/contract specialists and procurement agents have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Contract Administrator/Contract Specialist | Procurement Agent | |
| Average salary | $53,425 | $72,384 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $79,000 | Between $49,000 And $106,000 |
| Highest paying City | Annapolis, MD | Richmond, CA |
| Highest paying state | Maryland | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Jacobs Engineering Group | McKinsey & Company Inc |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a contract administrator/contract specialist and a procurement agent in terms of educational background:
| Contract Administrator/Contract Specialist | Procurement Agent | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between contract administrator/contract specialists' and procurement agents' demographics:
| Contract Administrator/Contract Specialist | Procurement Agent | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 30.0% Female, 70.0% | Male, 51.4% Female, 48.6% |
| 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, 8.8% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.2% Asian, 7.6% White, 66.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |