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Contract administrator/contract specialist salary
Average contract administrator/contract specialist salary
$53,425
Contract Administrator/Contract Specialist Salary Overview
The average salary for a Contract Administrator or Contract Specialist is approximately $53,425 annually, translating to about $26 per hour. This figure varies significantly based on factors such as experience, industry, and geographic location. For instance, professionals with extensive experience or those working in high-demand industries may command higher salaries.
State and City Comparisons
Contract Administrators in states like California and New York tend to earn more than the national average, reflecting the higher cost of living and demand for skilled professionals. Cities such as San Francisco and New York City are among the highest paying locations, often offering competitive salary packages.
Career Opportunities
As a Contract Administrator, you play a vital role in managing contractual agreements, ensuring compliance, and facilitating negotiations. With various opportunities available across industries such as construction, government, and healthcare, this career path offers both stability and growth potential.
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Where can a Contract Administrator/Contract Specialist earn more?
Average contract administrator/contract specialist salary by state
The highest-paying states for contract administrator/contract specialists are Maryland, West Virginia, and Virginia. The lowest average contract administrator/contract specialist salary states are Utah, Vermont, and Montana.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for contract administrator/contract specialists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $71,822 | $34.53 |
| 2 | Texas | $60,809 | $29.24 |
| 3 | Florida | $58,970 | $28.35 |
| 4 | New Mexico | $58,586 | $28.17 |
| 5 | West Virginia | $63,913 | $30.73 |
| 6 | Alabama | $55,649 | $26.75 |
| 7 | Illinois | $59,997 | $28.84 |
| 8 | California | $60,125 | $28.91 |
| 9 | North Carolina | $56,430 | $27.13 |
| 10 | Maryland | $70,861 | $34.07 |
| 11 | Mississippi | $59,112 | $28.42 |
| 12 | Delaware | $59,467 | $28.59 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $56,205 | $27.02 |
| 14 | Washington | $54,297 | $26.10 |
| 15 | Virginia | $62,605 | $30.10 |
| 16 | Colorado | $53,217 | $25.59 |
| 17 | Nevada | $52,558 | $25.27 |
| 18 | Missouri | $56,222 | $27.03 |
| 19 | Hawaii | $53,520 | $25.73 |
| 20 | Georgia | $53,024 | $25.49 |
| 21 | Michigan | $53,772 | $25.85 |
| 22 | New Jersey | $56,383 | $27.11 |
| 23 | Wisconsin | $51,656 | $24.83 |
| 24 | Nebraska | $50,273 | $24.17 |
| 25 | Wyoming | $47,096 | $22.64 |
| 26 | Kansas | $50,025 | $24.05 |
| 27 | New York | $53,761 | $25.85 |
| 28 | Idaho | $48,860 | $23.49 |
| 29 | Alaska | $45,146 | $21.70 |
| 30 | Arizona | $47,005 | $22.60 |
| 31 | South Carolina | $50,023 | $24.05 |
| 32 | Connecticut | $50,303 | $24.18 |
| 33 | Ohio | $49,577 | $23.84 |
| 34 | Louisiana | $50,853 | $24.45 |
| 35 | Oregon | $46,255 | $22.24 |
| 36 | Oklahoma | $48,398 | $23.27 |
| 37 | Kentucky | $49,002 | $23.56 |
| 38 | Tennessee | $47,553 | $22.86 |
| 39 | Arkansas | $48,304 | $23.22 |
| 40 | Utah | $41,645 | $20.02 |
| 41 | Minnesota | $44,791 | $21.53 |
| 42 | Rhode Island | $43,148 | $20.74 |
| 43 | Massachusetts | $42,927 | $20.64 |
| 44 | North Dakota | $38,758 | $18.63 |
| 45 | Vermont | $41,528 | $19.97 |
| 46 | Indiana | $46,067 | $22.15 |
| 47 | South Dakota | $43,863 | $21.09 |
| 48 | Montana | $41,077 | $19.75 |
| 49 | New Hampshire | $38,417 | $18.47 |
| 50 | Iowa | $43,285 | $20.81 |
| 51 | Maine | $31,129 | $14.97 |
Highest paying cities for contract administrator/contract specialists
The highest-paying cities for contract administrator/contract specialists are Annapolis, MD, Richmond, VA, and Galveston, TX.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Annapolis, MD | $71,307 | $34.28 |
| 2 | Richmond, VA | $62,784 | $30.18 |
| 3 | Galveston, TX | $61,692 | $29.66 |
| 4 | Chicago, IL | $60,229 | $28.96 |
| 5 | El Monte, CA | $59,701 | $28.70 |
| 6 | Miami, FL | $59,449 | $28.58 |
| 7 | Albuquerque, NM | $58,463 | $28.11 |
| 8 | Pittsburgh, PA | $57,255 | $27.53 |
| 9 | Jefferson City, MO | $56,293 | $27.06 |
| 10 | Huntsville, AL | $56,026 | $26.94 |
| 11 | Charlotte, NC | $54,712 | $26.30 |
| 12 | Bremerton, WA | $54,419 | $26.16 |
| 13 | Detroit, MI | $54,358 | $26.13 |
| 14 | Atlanta, GA | $52,946 | $25.45 |
| 15 | Las Vegas, NV | $52,722 | $25.35 |
| 16 | Madison, WI | $51,965 | $24.98 |
| 17 | Columbus, OH | $50,896 | $24.47 |
| 18 | Columbia, SC | $50,299 | $24.18 |
| 19 | Cheyenne, WY | $47,580 | $22.88 |
| 20 | Phoenix, AZ | $47,085 | $22.64 |
Contract administrator/contract specialist salary details
A contract administrator/contract specialist's salary ranges from $35,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $79,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a contract administrator/contract specialist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $79,000 | $6,583 | $38 |
| 75th Percentile | $65,000 | $5,417 | $31 |
| Average | $53,425 | $4,452 | $26 |
| 25th Percentile | $43,000 | $3,583 | $21 |
| 10th Percentile | $35,000 | $2,917 | $17 |
Highest paying contract administrator/contract specialist jobs
The highest paying types of contract administrator/contract specialists are landman, senior buyer, and media buyer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Purchasing Agent | $51,950 | $4,329 | $24.98 | 45,856 |
| Media Buyer | $74,390 | $6,199 | $35.76 | 20,884 |
| Landman | $82,853 | $6,904 | $39.83 | 364 |
| Planner/Buyer | $54,261 | $4,522 | $26.09 | 33,452 |
| Procurement Agent | $72,384 | $6,032 | $34.80 | 45,198 |
| Purchasing Supervisor | $68,702 | $5,725 | $33.03 | 19,412 |
Top companies hiring contract administrator/contract specialists now:
Which companies pay contract administrator/contract specialists the most?
Contract administrator/contract specialist salaries at Jacobs Engineering Group and Aerojet Rocketdyne are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average contract administrator/contract specialist salary at companies like The PNC Financial Services Group and Planate Management Group are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jacobs Engineering Group | $78,949 | $37.96 |
| 2 | Aerojet Rocketdyne | $78,097 | $37.55 |
| 3 | The PNC Financial Services Group | $77,067 | $37.05 |
| 4 | Planate Management Group | $66,119 | $31.79 |
| 5 | Stantec | $64,388 | $30.96 |
| 6 | Tkda | $61,895 | $29.76 |
| 7 | National Renewable Energy Laboratory | $60,271 | $28.98 |
| 8 | Wolters Kluwer | $60,163 | $28.92 |
| 9 | The Squires Group | $57,978 | $27.87 |
| 10 | Rotech Healthcare | $57,296 | $27.55 |
| 11 | Peraton | $56,390 | $27.11 |
| 12 | First Commonwealth Bank | $55,611 | $26.74 |
| 13 | Kuehne+Nagel | $55,053 | $26.47 |
| 14 | Altarum | $54,836 | $26.36 |
| 15 | Alere | $54,704 | $26.30 |
| 16 | Murraysmith | $54,635 | $26.27 |
| 17 | Abbott | $54,614 | $26.26 |
| 18 | ScriptPro | $54,595 | $26.25 |
| 19 | A & S Co | $54,366 | $26.14 |
| 20 | CB Richard Ellis Memphis LLC | $54,366 | $26.14 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Contract Administrator/Contract Specialist salary by industry
The average contract administrator/contract specialist salary varies across industries:
- The average contract administrator/contract specialist salary in the technology industry is $58,854, the highest of any industry.
- The average contract administrator/contract specialist salary in the finance industry is $57,636.
- Contract administrator/contract specialists in the transportation industry earn an average salary of $52,015, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for contract administrator/contract specialists
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Technology | $58,854 | $28.30 |
| 2 | Government | $57,636 | $27.71 |
| 3 | Manufacturing | $57,445 | $27.62 |
| 4 | Health Care | $56,517 | $27.17 |
| 5 | Professional | $54,343 | $26.13 |
| 6 | Transportation | $52,015 | $25.01 |
High paying contract administrator/contract specialist jobs
Contract administrator/contract specialist salary trends
The average contract administrator/contract specialist salary has risen by $9,038 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average contract administrator/contract specialist earned $44,387 annually, but today, they earn $53,425 a year. That works out to a 9% change in pay for contract administrator/contract specialists over the last decade.
Compare contract administrator/contract specialist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average contract administrator/contract specialist salary over time
Compare contract administrator/contract specialist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Contract administrator/contract specialist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $53,400 | $25.68 | +3.8% |
| 2024 | $51,400 | $24.71 | +2.3% |
| 2023 | $50,200 | $24.13 | +1.1% |
| 2022 | $49,600 | $23.87 | +1.7% |
| 2021 | $48,800 | $23.46 | +1.7% |
Recently added contract administrator/contract specialist salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeppesen | Contract Administration Specialist (Associate, Experienced or Senior) | Renton, WA | 06/30/2025 | $105,400 |
| Ultimate Staffing | Contract Administrator Specialist | Oxnard, CA | 06/27/2025 | $52,175 |
| Boeing | Contract Administration Specialist (Associate, Experienced or Senior) | Renton, WA | 06/21/2025 | $105,400 |
| Glory | Contract Administration Specialist-Watertown, Wi(Temp) | Watertown, WI | 06/13/2025 | $36,147 |
| McKesson Corporation | Contract Admin Senior Contract Specialist | Streetsboro, OH | 06/04/2025 | $78,000 |
| McKesson Corporation | Contract Admin Senior Contract Specialist | Irving, TX | 06/04/2025 | $78,000 |
| McKesson Corporation | Contract Admin Senior Contract Specialist | Nunez, GA | 06/04/2025 | $78,000 |
| MCK McKesson Corporation | Contract Admin Senior Contract Specialist | Irving, TX | 05/28/2025 | $78,000 |
| McKesson Corporation | Contract Admin Senior Contract Specialist | Irving, TX | 05/27/2025 | $78,000 |
| DHRM | Contract Administrative Specialist Construction | Suffolk, VA | 05/22/2025 | $58,454 |
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