Do you need a JD to be a contracts manager?

No, you do not need a Juris Doctor (JD) to be a contracts manager. When companies have high volumes of clients and agreements, a contract manager is used to make sure that schedules are being met, contracts are being signed, honored, completed, and properly issued and stored.

How do I become a successful contract manager?

To become a successful contract manager, there are some different path options you should follow. Success comes from having a vision of which industry you want to work in, then researching what your ideal company is looking for in a candidate.

How much do contract managers make?

Contract managers make $85,000 annually, or $44 an hour, on average. The range may vary based on education, certifications, work experience, and location. Industry and company scale also makes a large difference. As an example, contract managers may work in construction, healthcare, finance.

How To Become A Contracts Manager: What It Is and Career Path

What is a contracts manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

5 min read

A contracts manager oversees the creation and maintenance of contracts between a company and its clients or vendors. They ensure that all parties involved meet their obligations and follow the terms of the agreements. Contracts managers also negotiate and draft new contracts, review legal documents, and manage contract databases. They collaborate with departments such as legal and finance to make sure contracts are legally binding and financially sound. Overall, a contracts manager handles a company's contractual relationships.

ScoreContracts ManagerUS Average

Salary

5.7

Avg. Salary $72,691

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

8.1

Growth rate -6%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

3.1

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.30%

Asian 7.41%

Black or African American 9.02%

Hispanic or Latino 12.21%

Unknown 3.82%

White 67.23%

Gender

female 45.96%

male 54.04%

Age - 47

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 - 47

Stress level

8.1

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.7

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

3.4

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

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

Pros

Opportunity for career growth and development
Opportunity to develop strong analytical and research skills
Ability to work on complex and challenging projects
Chance to work in multidisciplinary teams
Flexibility to work in different locations/industries

Cons

High level of responsibility and accountability
High-stress environment due to tight deadlines
Chance of having little control over the terms of the contracts
Risk of legal disputes and conflicts
Possibility of being required to travel frequently

Key steps to become a contracts manager

Explore contracts manager education requirements

Most common contracts manager degrees

Bachelor's

62.5 %

Master's

14.9 %

Associate

11.3 %

Start to develop specific contracts manager skills

Skills	Percentages
Contract Management	9.25%
Contract Administration	5.53%
Contract Terms	5.20%
Project Management	4.57%
Customer Service	4.28%

Complete relevant contracts manager training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New contracts managers 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 manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real contracts manager resumes.

Research contracts manager duties and responsibilities

Manage ISO requirements for sales and marketing.
Manage IDIQ contracts including task and delivery orders.
Manage RFI's and change orders through close out.
Manage all material for a non MRP driven program manually.

Prepare your contracts manager resume

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

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a contracts manager resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable contracts manager resume templates

Build a professional contracts manager resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your contracts manager resume.