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Contracts specialist vs subcontract administrator

The differences between contracts specialists and subcontract administrators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a subcontract administrator has an average salary of $65,686, 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 subcontract administrator are price analysis, purchase orders, and program management.

Contracts specialist vs subcontract administrator overview

Contracts SpecialistSubcontract Administrator
Yearly salary$63,727$65,686
Hourly rate$30.64$31.58
Growth rate-6%-6%
Number of jobs27,24451,285
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 62%Bachelor's Degree, 69%
Average age4448
Years of experience-6

What does a contracts specialist do?

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.

What does a subcontract administrator do?

As a subcontract administrator, you will be responsible for identifying the needs of a company and implement measures and initiatives to fulfill those needs. This role will require you to perform a few tasks, including responding to purchase requisitions, soliciting bids and proposals from new and existing sources, and evaluating terms and awarding the subcontract. You are then expected to monitor the subcontract terms, including plans, progress, and payments. You will also be responsible for negotiating additions, modifications, and deletions of subcontracts.

Contracts specialist vs subcontract administrator salary

Contracts specialists and subcontract administrators have different pay scales, as shown below.

Contracts SpecialistSubcontract Administrator
Average salary$63,727$65,686
Salary rangeBetween $40,000 And $99,000Between $42,000 And $102,000
Highest paying CityWashington, DCWashington, DC
Highest paying stateDelawareCalifornia
Best paying companyGoogleUrban Institute
Best paying industryGovernmentTechnology

Differences between contracts specialist and subcontract administrator education

There are a few differences between a contracts specialist and a subcontract administrator in terms of educational background:

Contracts SpecialistSubcontract Administrator
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 62%Bachelor's Degree, 69%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeWestern Carolina UniversityUniversity of Pennsylvania

Contracts specialist vs subcontract administrator demographics

Here are the differences between contracts specialists' and subcontract administrators' demographics:

Contracts SpecialistSubcontract Administrator
Average age4448
Gender ratioMale, 40.2% Female, 59.8%Male, 51.7% Female, 48.3%
Race ratioBlack 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, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.3% Asian, 7.8% White, 65.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage11%7%

Differences between contracts specialist and subcontract administrator duties and responsibilities

Contracts specialist example 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.
  • Manage the influenza vaccine annual contracting and RFP process for a national specialty pharmaceutical distributor.
  • Process purchase orders and subcontracts, including managing insurance requirement compliance and certify payroll documentation.
  • Show more

Subcontract administrator example responsibilities.

  • Coordinate requirements and interface with other division personnel to accomplish timely and cost effective procurement of assign commodities.
  • Create moderate to complex RFP solicitations and provide additional proposal support including pricing reviews and source selection support.
  • Administer IDIQ contracts with multiple task orders.
  • Assist with FFP hardware subcontract in support of NSA contracts.
  • Negotiate and coordinate additions, deletions, or modifications of DOD subcontracts.
  • Review and advice on matters of ITAR, FCPA, other Import/Export matters.
  • Show more

Contracts specialist vs subcontract administrator skills

Common contracts specialist skills
  • Veterans, 7%
  • DOD, 7%
  • Contract Administration, 6%
  • Contract Terms, 5%
  • Contract Management, 5%
  • Market Research, 5%
Common subcontract administrator skills
  • Price Analysis, 11%
  • Purchase Orders, 8%
  • Program Management, 5%
  • Bid Packages, 5%
  • Non-Disclosure Agreements, 5%
  • DOD, 4%

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