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The differences between policy advisors and contracts specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a policy advisor has an average salary of $98,220, which is higher than the $63,727 average annual salary of a contracts specialist.
The top three skills for a policy advisor include public policy, policy issues and policy development. The most important skills for a contracts specialist are veterans, DOD, and contract administration.
| Policy Advisor | Contracts Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $98,220 | $63,727 |
| Hourly rate | $47.22 | $30.64 |
| Growth rate | 11% | -6% |
| Number of jobs | 39,659 | 27,244 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 58% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
Policy advisors are professionals who are involved in activities related to policymaking while communicating with policy analysts about various issues. These advisors must assist policy analysts in creating policies and look at ways to implement them after they have been approved by upper management or government officials. They must analyze international and foreign policy issues so that they can devise effective advocacy and program strategies. Policy advisors must also attend congressional hearings to propose regulations and changes to existing regulations.
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.
Policy advisors and contracts specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Policy Advisor | Contracts Specialist | |
| Average salary | $98,220 | $63,727 |
| Salary range | Between $67,000 And $141,000 | Between $40,000 And $99,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Delaware |
| Best paying company | NAIC | |
| Best paying industry | Government | Government |
There are a few differences between a policy advisor and a contracts specialist in terms of educational background:
| Policy Advisor | Contracts Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 58% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Political Science | Business |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | Western Carolina University |
Here are the differences between policy advisors' and contracts specialists' demographics:
| Policy Advisor | Contracts Specialist | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 59.7% Female, 40.3% | Male, 40.2% Female, 59.8% |
| 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, 6.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 8.8% White, 70.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |