Quantity surveyor vs contracts administrator

The differences between quantity surveyors and contracts administrators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a quantity surveyor and a contracts administrator. Additionally, a quantity surveyor has an average salary of $71,438, which is higher than the $52,876 average annual salary of a contracts administrator.

The top three skills for a quantity surveyor include construction projects, QS and cost estimates. The most important skills for a contracts administrator are contract administration, customer service, and contract management.

Quantity surveyor vs contracts administrator overview

	Quantity Surveyor	Contracts Administrator
Yearly salary	$71,438	$52,876
Hourly rate	$34.35	$25.42
Growth rate	1%	-6%
Number of jobs	2,128	58,038
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 68%	Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Average age	44	48
Years of experience	6	6

Quantity surveyor vs contracts administrator salary

Quantity surveyors and contracts administrators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Quantity Surveyor	Contracts Administrator
Average salary	$71,438	$52,876
Salary range	Between $44,000 And $114,000	Between $35,000 And $78,000
Highest paying City	Cheshire, CT	Washington, DC
Highest paying state	New Jersey	Maryland
Best paying company	Air Products	Ngam Advisors, L.P.
Best paying industry	-	Finance

Differences between quantity surveyor and contracts administrator education

There are a few differences between a quantity surveyor and a contracts administrator in terms of educational background:

	Quantity Surveyor	Contracts Administrator
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 68%	Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Most common major	Civil Engineering	Business
Most common college	Massachusetts Institute of Technology	University of Pennsylvania

Quantity surveyor vs contracts administrator demographics

Here are the differences between quantity surveyors' and contracts administrators' demographics:

	Quantity Surveyor	Contracts Administrator
Average age	44	48
Gender ratio	Male, 81.6% Female, 18.4%	Male, 32.2% Female, 67.8%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 3.4% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 10.9% Asian, 5.0% White, 75.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%	Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.6% Asian, 7.7% White, 65.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage	7%	7%

Differences between quantity surveyor and contracts administrator duties and responsibilities

Quantity surveyor example responsibilities.

Prepare shop drawings using AutoCAD software.
Update contract BOQ base on contractors approve shop drawings to submit update BOQ and expect cost of completion.
Base: UK, UAE, Trinidad
Assist in the preparation of tenders for new contracts including pre-contract measurements and pricing.
Follow and maintain the drawing set using AutoCAD and release them to supervisors for assign tasks.
Check the quantities in BOQ during site handover for the contractor and match them with the implemented quantities at the site.

Contracts administrator example responsibilities.

Manage communication between both interviewees and candidates regarding interview logistics.
Coordinate requirements and interface with other division personnel to accomplish timely and cost effective procurement of assign commodities.
Optimize GPO department operating efficiency with cleanup, data analysis, and rebate reconciliation projects.
Ensure ERP data management for customer info and contract.
Mentor employees new to the duties and responsibilities of an SCA.
Utilize SQL queries, advance excel formulas, functions and project scheduling tools.

Quantity surveyor vs contracts administrator skills

Common quantity surveyor skills

Construction Projects, 18%
QS, 12%
Cost Estimates, 6%
Contractual Claims, 6%
Cost Analysis, 6%
Cost Control, 6%

Common contracts administrator skills

Contract Administration, 11%
Customer Service, 7%
Contract Management, 6%
Proposal Preparation, 5%
Purchase Orders, 5%
Contract Terms, 5%

Quantity Surveyor vs. similar jobs

Quantity Surveyor related careers

Quantity Surveyor related jobs

What similar roles do

Zippia Careers
Architecture and Engineering Industry
Quantity Surveyor
Quantity Surveyor vs Contracts Administrator

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse architecture and engineering jobs