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The differences between contracts administrators and contract administrator/contract specialists 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 administrator and a contract administrator/contract specialist. Additionally, a contract administrator/contract specialist has an average salary of $53,425, which is higher than the $52,876 average annual salary of a contracts administrator.
The top three skills for a contracts administrator include contract administration, customer service and contract management. The most important skills for a contract administrator/contract specialist are contract management, purchase orders, and contract terms.
| Contracts Administrator | Contract Administrator/Contract Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $52,876 | $53,425 |
| Hourly rate | $25.42 | $25.69 |
| Growth rate | -6% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 58,038 | 61,764 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 60% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
Contract administrators create and manage legal contracts from which the company participates. They ensure that all entities to the contract will accomplish their obligations, as indicated in the contract. They usually work for larger organizations that might be involved with different or highly complex contracts. These organizations spread across a range of industries, including government, construction, and healthcare. Their responsibilities include addressing any conflicts of questions regarding the contract, analyzing the possible risks posed by contracts, and working alongside the legal and procurement teams.
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 administrators and contract administrator/contract specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Contracts Administrator | Contract Administrator/Contract Specialist | |
| Average salary | $52,876 | $53,425 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $78,000 | Between $35,000 And $79,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Annapolis, MD |
| Highest paying state | Maryland | Maryland |
| Best paying company | Ngam Advisors, L.P. | Jacobs Engineering Group |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Technology |
There are a few differences between a contracts administrator and a contract administrator/contract specialist in terms of educational background:
| Contracts Administrator | Contract Administrator/Contract Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 60% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between contracts administrators' and contract administrator/contract specialists' demographics:
| Contracts Administrator | Contract Administrator/Contract Specialist | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 32.2% Female, 67.8% | Male, 30.0% Female, 70.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.6% Asian, 7.7% White, 65.3% 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, 66.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |