Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between contracts administrators and contracts specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a contracts specialist has an average salary of $63,727, 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 contracts specialist are veterans, DOD, and contract administration.
| Contracts Administrator | Contracts Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $52,876 | $63,727 |
| Hourly rate | $25.42 | $30.64 |
| Growth rate | -6% | -6% |
| Number of jobs | 58,038 | 27,244 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Average age | 48 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 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 specialist is responsible for evaluating contract agreements between the business and its clients. Contract specialists write beneficial deals that would develop good, professional working partnerships. They negotiate terms with clients, analyzing bid offers, review legislation processes and regulations, provide immediate resolution for breach of contracts, manage procurement proposals, and communicate with potential and existing clients for any amendments and clarifications. A contract specialist must have excellent communication and negotiation skills and broad knowledge of legal terminologies and contract styles.
Contracts administrators and contracts specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Contracts Administrator | Contracts Specialist | |
| Average salary | $52,876 | $63,727 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $78,000 | Between $40,000 And $99,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Maryland | Delaware |
| Best paying company | Ngam Advisors, L.P. | |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Government |
There are a few differences between a contracts administrator and a contracts specialist in terms of educational background:
| Contracts Administrator | Contracts Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Western Carolina University |
Here are the differences between contracts administrators' and contracts specialists' demographics:
| Contracts Administrator | Contracts Specialist | |
| Average age | 48 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 32.2% Female, 67.8% | Male, 40.2% Female, 59.8% |
| 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, 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 | 7% | 11% |