What is a contracts administrator and how to become one

Q: How much money does a contract administrator make?

A contract administrator makes $64,000 a year. The average salary for a contract administrator is $64,000 per year in the United States. This position is usually related to third-party companies, who need help in discussing and organizing contracts with other businesses, along with a contract specialist.

Q: Is 'contracts administrator' or 'contract administrator' the correct phrase?

'Contract administrator' is the correct phrase. While the plural of 'contract' is 'contracts,' the position is simply referred to as 'contract administrator.' A contract administrator is responsible for creating and fulfilling multiple contracts, like a student advisor is responsible for multiple students.

Q: Is being a contract administrator a good job?

Yes, being a contract administrator is a good job. All major business between companies is done through legally binding contracts, meaning that a good contract administrator is always in high demand.

Q: What are the expectations of a contract administrator?

Contract administrators are expected to prepare, negotiate and review company contracts. This includes purchases, inter-company agreements, sales, and business partnerships. A good contract administrator will pay careful attention to every clause in a contract to guarantee the success of the contract and the overall benefit of said contract to their company.

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Janice Garnett Ed.D.

Contract administrators manage the lifecycle of contracts, from initial creation to final execution. They are responsible for ensuring that all contractual terms and conditions are met and that all parties involved are meeting their obligations. The role requires excellent attention to detail and the ability to negotiate and communicate effectively. Contract administrators work in a variety of industries, often collaborating with legal teams to ensure that contracts are legally sound, and meet the needs of all parties involved.

What general advice would you give to a contracts administrator?

Janice Garnett Ed.D.

Senior Lecturer, University of Nebraska - Omaha

Negotiate based on research, develop a career development plan, focus on enhancing performance, professional growth, and continuous learning.

ScoreContracts AdministratorUS Average

Salary

4.1

Avg. Salary $52,876

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.9

Growth rate -6%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

4.4

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.78%

Asian 7.67%

Black or African American 9.21%

Hispanic or Latino 12.59%

Unknown 4.42%

White 65.32%

Gender

female 67.82%

male 32.18%

Age - 49

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 49

Stress level

7.9

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.9

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

4.1

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a contracts administrator?

Pros

Chance to work with different departments and stakeholders
High demand for contracts administrators in various industries
Exposure to legal and regulatory compliance issues
Chance to work on complex and challenging projects
Satisfaction of seeing projects through from start to finish

Cons

High pressure and stress levels due to tight deadlines and high stakes
Risk of legal disputes and litigation if contracts are not properly managed
Need to stay up-to-date on constantly changing laws and regulations
Responsibility for ensuring all parties comply with contract terms can be challenging
Need to balance competing interests of different stakeholders in a project.

Key steps to become a contracts administrator

Explore contracts administrator education requirements

Most common contracts administrator degrees

Bachelor's

61.0 %

Associate

17.4 %

Master's

10.2 %

Start to develop specific contracts administrator skills

Skills	Percentages
Contract Administration	10.51%
Customer Service	7.28%
Contract Management	6.25%
Proposal Preparation	5.45%
Purchase Orders	4.85%

Complete relevant contracts administrator training and internships

Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New contracts administrators learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a contracts administrator based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real contracts administrator resumes.

Research contracts administrator duties and responsibilities

Manage communication between both interviewees and candidates regarding interview logistics.
Coordinate requirements and interface with other division personnel to accomplish timely and cost effective procurement of assign commodities.
Optimize GPO department operating efficiency with cleanup, data analysis, and rebate reconciliation projects.
Ensure ERP data management for customer info and contract.

Prepare your contracts administrator resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your contracts administrator resume.

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