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The differences between contracts specialists and contracts managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a contracts manager has an average salary of $72,691, which is higher than the $63,727 average annual salary of a contracts specialist.
The top three skills for a contracts specialist include veterans, DOD and contract administration. The most important skills for a contracts manager are contract management, contract administration, and contract terms.
| Contracts Specialist | Contracts Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $63,727 | $72,691 |
| Hourly rate | $30.64 | $34.95 |
| Growth rate | -6% | -6% |
| Number of jobs | 27,244 | 13,218 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Average age | 44 | 47 |
| Years of experience | - | 6 |
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.
A contract manager is responsible for finalizing contract agreements between the company and its clients, revising documents, creating procurement proposals, and managing breach of contracts immediately. Contract managers respond to clients' inquiries and concerns about the contract's terms, conditions, and adjustment requests. They should be highly knowledgeable with legal terms and legislation regulations, ensuring that documents align with their objectives. The contract manager should also stay updated with the latest trends to meet contract demands, identify more business opportunities to boost revenues, and achieve profitability goals.
Contracts specialists and contracts managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Contracts Specialist | Contracts Manager | |
| Average salary | $63,727 | $72,691 |
| Salary range | Between $40,000 And $99,000 | Between $45,000 And $116,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Delaware | California |
| Best paying company | McKinsey & Company Inc | |
| Best paying industry | Government | Technology |
There are a few differences between a contracts specialist and a contracts manager in terms of educational background:
| Contracts Specialist | Contracts Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Western Carolina University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between contracts specialists' and contracts managers' demographics:
| Contracts Specialist | Contracts Manager | |
| Average age | 44 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 40.2% Female, 59.8% | Male, 54.0% Female, 46.0% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 9.0% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 12.2% Asian, 7.4% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |