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The differences between contract negotiators and project specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a project specialist has an average salary of $65,993, which is higher than the $59,212 average annual salary of a contract negotiator.
The top three skills for a contract negotiator include contract administration, contract performance and contract terms. The most important skills for a project specialist are customer service, project management, and project proposals.
| Contract Negotiator | Project Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $59,212 | $65,993 |
| Hourly rate | $28.47 | $31.73 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 10,831 | 99,583 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A contract negotiator is responsible for evaluating contract agreements and documents, negotiating terms with clients and customers, and resolving contract disputes. Contract negotiators manage parties' business deals and ensure that the conditions adhere to the company guidelines and state regulations. They also explain and discuss the contract to the representatives thoroughly and address any concerns and inquiries the parties may have. A contract negotiator must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in finalizing terms and revising statements as needed.
A project specialist's role is to ensure that a project or program's completion is within the allotted time and budget. They are primarily responsible for devising plans and strategies to quicken the pace of production or processes involved, creating a comprehensive schedule, monitoring the progress and producing reports, tracking the budget and expenditures, and coordinating with all department personnel. Moreover, a project specialist may also schedule and attend meetings, all while adhering to the company's policies and standards.
Contract negotiators and project specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Contract Negotiator | Project Specialist | |
| Average salary | $59,212 | $65,993 |
| Salary range | Between $39,000 And $87,000 | Between $41,000 And $103,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Pennsylvania | California |
| Best paying company | Cisco | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Insurance | Professional |
There are a few differences between a contract negotiator and a project specialist in terms of educational background:
| Contract Negotiator | Project Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | Western Carolina University |
Here are the differences between contract negotiators' and project specialists' demographics:
| Contract Negotiator | Project Specialist | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 52.7% Female, 47.3% | Male, 46.7% Female, 53.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 8.8% White, 70.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 8.8% White, 70.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |