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The differences between contracts administration managers and directors of purchasing can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a contracts administration manager and a director of purchasing. Additionally, a director of purchasing has an average salary of $106,945, which is higher than the $72,869 average annual salary of a contracts administration manager.
The top three skills for a contracts administration manager include contract administration, proposal preparation and contract management. The most important skills for a director of purchasing are supply chain, purchase orders, and product development.
| Contracts Administration Manager | Director Of Purchasing | |
| Yearly salary | $72,869 | $106,945 |
| Hourly rate | $35.03 | $51.42 |
| Growth rate | -6% | -6% |
| Number of jobs | 10,694 | 17,847 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
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.
A director of purchasing oversees the procedures related to buying resources and supplies, directing operations from planning to execution while adhering to standards and company policies. They primarily perform research and assessments to understand project needs in terms of price, quality, and delivery time. They also identify ideal suppliers, negotiate deals, and build positive business relationships. Additionally, a director of purchasing has the authority to make significant decisions, delegate responsibilities among staff, oversee employment procedures within the department, and solve issues and concerns when any arise.
Contracts administration managers and directors of purchasing have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Contracts Administration Manager | Director Of Purchasing | |
| Average salary | $72,869 | $106,945 |
| Salary range | Between $46,000 And $114,000 | Between $68,000 And $166,000 |
| Highest paying City | Arlington, VA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Virginia | Washington |
| Best paying company | Deloitte | Rivian |
| Best paying industry | Utilities | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a contracts administration manager and a director of purchasing in terms of educational background:
| Contracts Administration Manager | Director Of Purchasing | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between contracts administration managers' and directors of purchasing' demographics:
| Contracts Administration Manager | Director Of Purchasing | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 42.9% Female, 57.1% | Male, 75.1% Female, 24.9% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 12.4% Asian, 7.5% White, 66.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |