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Lead contractor vs leader

The differences between lead contractors and leaders can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a lead contractor has an average salary of $97,028, which is higher than the $86,964 average annual salary of a leader.

The top three skills for a lead contractor include project management, contract management and powerpoint. The most important skills for a leader are customer service, strong time management, and excellent interpersonal.

Lead contractor vs leader overview

Lead ContractorLeader
Yearly salary$97,028$86,964
Hourly rate$46.65$41.81
Growth rate-10%
Number of jobs18,840172,293
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 57%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Average age4446
Years of experience-2

What does a lead contractor do?

A lead contractor is someone who is in charge of designing, building, and the engineering elements of a construction project. Lead contractors serve as the prime subcontractors to a development entity. They direct contract administration for the services and commodities as the team leads. It is part of their responsibilities to be goal-oriented with consistent meetings and create project management-related objectives. Also, they implement failure analysis and its modes and project management practices while they develop the failure analysis program.

What does a leader do?

Leaders pave the way for a company to achieve certain goals. They are in charge of bringing the organization to greater heights. They set the direction of the organization, much like how a captain sets the sails of the ship. They are responsible for coming up with main strategies and alternatives should there be challenges along the way. Leaders ensure that the company is guided by its vision and mission and that the employees emulate company values. They do so through leading by example. Leaders should have strategic skills, decision-making skills, and interpersonal skills.

Lead contractor vs leader salary

Lead contractors and leaders have different pay scales, as shown below.

Lead ContractorLeader
Average salary$97,028$86,964
Salary rangeBetween $61,000 And $151,000Between $49,000 And $153,000
Highest paying CityLivermore, CAPortland, ME
Highest paying stateCaliforniaMaine
Best paying companyParker Drilling CoEli Lilly and Company
Best paying industryTechnology-

Differences between lead contractor and leader education

There are a few differences between a lead contractor and a leader in terms of educational background:

Lead ContractorLeader
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 57%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college-Stanford University

Lead contractor vs leader demographics

Here are the differences between lead contractors' and leaders' demographics:

Lead ContractorLeader
Average age4446
Gender ratioMale, 62.1% Female, 37.9%Male, 49.8% Female, 50.2%
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, 11.9% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 5.0% White, 61.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage11%6%

Differences between lead contractor and leader duties and responsibilities

Lead contractor example responsibilities.

  • Manage $13.3M contract portfolio, enhance base mission by securing $350K in DoD savings.
  • Manage purchasing flow through approval processes for HW (hard ware) via C4 process using SharePoint application requisition work flow.
  • Manage healthcare education program for compliance & issuance of continuing education units and take lead role in delivering various educational topics.
  • Maintain up-to-date, accurate, and compliant files and RFP databases in accordance with company policies and government regulations.
  • Eliminate the HVAC work order backlog.
  • Create in depth PowerPoint presentations working closely with IBM clients.
  • Show more

Leader example responsibilities.

  • Manage UNIX and mainframe systems software staff.
  • Achieve business metrics and implement WCM tools and processes.
  • Lead instrument calibration, OOS investigation, change control, deviation documentation to comply with GMP.
  • Lead a group to help a dog food producer to gain traction in the grocery store channel
  • Perform diagnostics, lead audits, kaizen events, value stream mapping, PDCA teams and employee involvement.
  • Lead in PTA efforts to recognize school staff by planning events and organize and plan monthly appreciation gifts.
  • Show more

Lead contractor vs leader skills

Common lead contractor skills
  • Project Management, 10%
  • Contract Management, 8%
  • PowerPoint, 6%
  • Contract Administration, 6%
  • Price Analysis, 5%
  • Contract Terms, 5%
Common leader skills
  • Customer Service, 14%
  • Strong Time Management, 9%
  • Excellent Interpersonal, 7%
  • PET, 6%
  • Digital Transformation, 6%
  • Work Ethic, 5%

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