What is a contracts specialist and how to become one

Q: How much does a contract specialist make?

A contract specialist makes $65,000 in a year, on average. The salary for a contract specialist typically ranges from about $50,000 per year to $80,000 in a year. A contract specialist negotiates, administers, and terminates various contracts for an organization. They assess the organization's needs, determine how to fulfill them, and plan the details of the contracts that will be used to satisfy those needs. They work in many industries, including universities, construction, healthcare, and law.

Q: What is a contract specialist's salary?

A contract specialist's salary is $65,000 in a year, on average. The salary for a contract specialist typically ranges from about $50,000 per year to $80,000 in a year. A contract specialist negotiates, administers, and terminates various contracts for an organization. They assess the organization's needs, determine how to fulfill them, and plan the details of the contracts that will be used to satisfy those needs. They work in many industries, including universities, construction, healthcare, and law.

Q: What makes a good contract specialist?

What makes a good contract specialist is being knowledgeable about their industry's needs and potential risks. They also possess good communication and problem-solving skills and can organize and prioritize their workload.

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

A contracts specialist is an individual who manages the legal and financial aspects of contracts. This includes drafting, reviewing, negotiating, and finalizing contracts to ensure compliance with company policies and legal regulations. Contracts specialists work closely with legal teams, vendors, and clients to ensure that all parties involved are satisfied with the terms and conditions of the agreement. Strong communication and negotiation skills, as well as attention to detail, are essential qualities for success in this profession.

ScoreContracts SpecialistUS Average

Salary

5.0

Avg. Salary $63,727

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.9

Growth rate -6%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

4.3

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.43%

Asian 8.83%

Black or African American 6.36%

Hispanic or Latino 9.39%

Unknown 4.56%

White 70.43%

Gender

female 59.79%

male 40.21%

Age - 43

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 - 43

Stress level

7.9

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

1.8

Complexity level is simple

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 specialist?

Pros

Job stability
Good salary and benefits
Opportunity for advancement
Ability to negotiate contracts on behalf of the company
Opportunities for networking with other professionals in the field

Cons

High level of stress due to tight deadlines and high stakes negotiations
Pressure to meet targets and achieve results
Responsibility for ensuring compliance with legal regulations
Risk of making mistakes that could have significant financial or legal consequences
Need to constantly stay up-to-date on changes in laws and regulations

Contracts specialist career paths

Key steps to become a contracts specialist

Explore contracts specialist education requirements
Most common contracts specialist degrees
Bachelor's
61.9 %
Associate
14.7 %
Master's
13.5 %
Start to develop specific contracts specialist skills
Skills Percentages
Veterans 7.32%
DOD 6.93%
Contract Administration 6.09%
Contract Terms 5.31%
Contract Management 4.74%
Show more
Research contracts specialist duties and responsibilities
- Manage multiple task orders in an IDIQ environment.
- Provide clarity on medical and drug cover benefits for a Medicare advantage insurance plan.
- Manage inventory and distribution activities of the third-party logistics provider.
- Develop marketing strategies to expand Medicaid manage care provider network and enrollment.
Prepare your contracts specialist resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your contracts specialist 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 specialist 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 specialist resume templates
Build a professional contracts specialist 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 specialist resume.
Apply for contracts specialist jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a contracts specialist job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
2. Consult your professional network
3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
4. Watch out for job scams

Skills	Percentages
Veterans	7.32%
DOD	6.93%
Contract Administration	6.09%
Contract Terms	5.31%
Contract Management	4.74%

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Average contracts specialist salary

The average contracts specialist salary in the United States is $63,727 per year or $31 per hour. Contracts specialist salaries range between $40,000 and $99,000 per year.

Average contracts specialist salary

$63,727 Yearly

$30.64 hourly

More contracts specialist salary info

What am I worth?

How do contracts specialists rate their job?

Contracts specialist FAQs

How much does a contract specialist make?

What is a contract specialist's salary?

What makes a good contract specialist?

Have more questions? See all answers to common business and financial questions.

Search for contracts specialist jobs

Contracts specialist jobs by state

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse business and financial jobs

What is a contracts specialist and how to become one

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

Contracts specialist career paths

Key steps to become a contracts specialist

Explore contracts specialist education requirements

Most common contracts specialist degrees

Start to develop specific contracts specialist skills

Research contracts specialist duties and responsibilities

Prepare your contracts specialist resume

Choose from 10+ customizable contracts specialist resume templates

Apply for contracts specialist jobs

How did you land your first contracts specialist job

Average contracts specialist salary

How do contracts specialists rate their job?

Contracts specialist FAQs

How much does a contract specialist make?

What is a contract specialist's salary?

What makes a good contract specialist?

Search for contracts specialist jobs

Contracts specialist jobs by state