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Contracts administrator salary
Average contracts administrator salary
$52,876
Contracts Administrator Salary Overview
The average salary for a Contracts Administrator stands at approximately $52,876 per year or about $25 per hour. Salaries can vary significantly based on factors such as location, years of experience, and the specific industry. For example, contracts administrators in industries like technology and pharmaceuticals tend to earn higher compensation.
Salary by State
In states like California and New York, salaries for contracts administrators can exceed the national average, reflecting the cost of living and demand for skilled professionals. Understanding these regional differences can help candidates target their job search effectively.
Career Opportunities
For those looking to advance in this field, pursuing certifications or additional education in contract management can enhance career prospects. With a growing demand for skilled professionals in contract management, staying informed about salary trends and opportunities will be crucial for career development.
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Where can a Contracts Administrator earn more?
Contracts administrator salary estimates from across the web
Average contracts administrator salary by state
The average contracts administrator salary in Maryland, California, and Virginia are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average contracts administrator salary states are Georgia, South Dakota, and Montana.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for contracts administrators
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arizona | $58,083 | $27.92 |
| 2 | Oregon | $58,681 | $28.21 |
| 3 | North Dakota | $54,672 | $26.28 |
| 4 | District of Columbia | $67,032 | $32.23 |
| 5 | California | $63,444 | $30.50 |
| 6 | Nevada | $57,571 | $27.68 |
| 7 | Mississippi | $56,230 | $27.03 |
| 8 | West Virginia | $59,220 | $28.47 |
| 9 | Washington | $55,064 | $26.47 |
| 10 | Texas | $51,603 | $24.81 |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | $52,853 | $25.41 |
| 12 | Alabama | $51,060 | $24.55 |
| 13 | Maryland | $64,112 | $30.82 |
| 14 | Delaware | $57,183 | $27.49 |
| 15 | Virginia | $59,967 | $28.83 |
| 16 | Alaska | $52,307 | $25.15 |
| 17 | Idaho | $51,217 | $24.62 |
| 18 | Wisconsin | $52,840 | $25.40 |
| 19 | Colorado | $49,559 | $23.83 |
| 20 | Nebraska | $51,667 | $24.84 |
| 21 | Hawaii | $52,989 | $25.48 |
| 22 | Ohio | $50,236 | $24.15 |
| 23 | Wyoming | $48,068 | $23.11 |
| 24 | Illinois | $49,917 | $24.00 |
| 25 | Indiana | $50,267 | $24.17 |
| 26 | Utah | $46,394 | $22.30 |
| 27 | Connecticut | $50,893 | $24.47 |
| 28 | North Carolina | $47,767 | $22.96 |
| 29 | Florida | $47,698 | $22.93 |
| 30 | Missouri | $49,375 | $23.74 |
| 31 | Michigan | $49,014 | $23.56 |
| 32 | Minnesota | $48,180 | $23.16 |
| 33 | New York | $49,946 | $24.01 |
| 34 | Oklahoma | $47,966 | $23.06 |
| 35 | New Jersey | $50,862 | $24.45 |
| 36 | New Mexico | $45,168 | $21.72 |
| 37 | Louisiana | $48,257 | $23.20 |
| 38 | Kentucky | $47,473 | $22.82 |
| 39 | Massachusetts | $45,190 | $21.73 |
| 40 | Arkansas | $46,724 | $22.46 |
| 41 | Kansas | $44,119 | $21.21 |
| 42 | Rhode Island | $43,572 | $20.95 |
| 43 | Tennessee | $44,318 | $21.31 |
| 44 | New Hampshire | $41,869 | $20.13 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $43,655 | $20.99 |
| 46 | Iowa | $44,488 | $21.39 |
| 47 | Montana | $42,700 | $20.53 |
| 48 | Vermont | $42,342 | $20.36 |
| 49 | Georgia | $43,358 | $20.85 |
| 50 | South Dakota | $42,748 | $20.55 |
| 51 | Maine | $31,615 | $15.20 |
Highest paying cities for contracts administrators
The highest-paying cities for contracts administrators are Washington, DC, San Francisco, CA, and Annapolis, MD.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $67,046 | $32.23 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $66,379 | $31.91 |
| 3 | Annapolis, MD | $64,477 | $31.00 |
| 4 | Alexandria, VA | $60,181 | $28.93 |
| 5 | Phoenix, AZ | $58,356 | $28.06 |
| 6 | Portland, OR | $58,190 | $27.98 |
| 7 | Seattle, WA | $55,397 | $26.63 |
| 8 | San Antonio, TX | $52,693 | $25.33 |
| 9 | Huntsville, AL | $51,342 | $24.68 |
| 10 | New York, NY | $50,872 | $24.46 |
| 11 | Chicago, IL | $50,108 | $24.09 |
| 12 | Colorado Springs, CO | $49,797 | $23.94 |
| 13 | Saint Louis, MO | $49,768 | $23.93 |
| 14 | Durham, NC | $49,087 | $23.60 |
| 15 | Miami, FL | $48,631 | $23.38 |
| 16 | Minneapolis, MN | $48,301 | $23.22 |
| 17 | Oklahoma City, OK | $47,908 | $23.03 |
| 18 | Salt Lake City, UT | $46,142 | $22.18 |
| 19 | Boston, MA | $44,800 | $21.54 |
| 20 | Wichita, KS | $44,107 | $21.21 |
Contracts administrator salary details
A contracts administrator's salary ranges from $35,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $78,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a contracts administrator's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $78,000 | $6,500 | $38 |
| 75th Percentile | $65,000 | $5,417 | $31 |
| Average | $52,876 | $4,406 | $25 |
| 25th Percentile | $42,000 | $3,500 | $20 |
| 10th Percentile | $35,000 | $2,917 | $17 |
Highest paying contracts administrator jobs
The highest paying types of contracts administrators are operations, senior specialist, landman, and senior buyer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Purchasing Agent | $51,950 | $4,329 | $24.98 | 45,856 |
| Planner/Buyer | $54,261 | $4,522 | $26.09 | 33,452 |
| Landman | $82,853 | $6,904 | $39.83 | 364 |
| Procurement Agent | $72,384 | $6,032 | $34.80 | 45,198 |
| Contract Worker | $70,825 | $5,902 | $34.05 | 36,853 |
| Contracts Manager | $72,691 | $6,058 | $34.95 | 13,218 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for contracts administrators, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Dr. Richard Huff Ph.D.
Assistant professor, assistant chair, Virginia Commonwealth University
These groups likely present varying degrees of salary requirements and qualifications. In the federal service, an MPA qualifies as one at the GS-9 entry-level. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) publishes salary tables at Link The beginning salary varies by location from $53K to $61K, with the higher amount near large metropolitan areas. Higher salaries are common in overseas areas. Progression is based on performance with opportunities to achieve salaries of $150K and over at the executive levels. Overall, beginning salaries for the MPA considering nonprofits and government agencies is estimated at $53K.
Top companies hiring contracts administrators now:
Which companies pay contracts administrators the most?
Contracts administrator salaries at Ngam Advisors, L.P. and Vista Equity Partners are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average contracts administrator salary at companies like BP America Inc and EquiLend are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ngam Advisors, L.P. | $105,784 | $50.86 |
| 2 | Vista Equity Partners | $104,364 | $50.17 |
| 3 | BP America Inc | $103,159 | $49.60 |
| 4 | EquiLend | $101,982 | $49.03 |
| 5 | Apple | $96,915 | $46.59 |
| 6 | Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group | $96,444 | $46.37 |
| 7 | Urban Institute | $96,311 | $46.30 |
| 8 | Parsons | $94,197 | $45.29 |
| 9 | REV Group | $93,168 | $44.79 |
| 10 | Astronics | $92,925 | $44.68 |
| 11 | HP | $92,662 | $44.55 |
| 12 | Ncar - The National Center For Atmospheric Research | $91,329 | $43.91 |
| 13 | Booz Allen Hamilton | $90,366 | $43.45 |
| 14 | Dolby Laboratories | $89,659 | $43.11 |
| 15 | Argonne National Laboratory | $89,508 | $43.03 |
| 16 | Oracle | $87,113 | $41.88 |
| 17 | Boston Scientific | $87,097 | $41.87 |
| 18 | Maxim Healthcare Group | $84,124 | $40.44 |
| 19 | BioMed Realty | $84,093 | $40.43 |
| 20 | Analog Devices | $82,375 | $39.60 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Contracts Administrator salary by industry
The average contracts administrator salary varies across industries:
- The average contracts administrator salary in the finance industry is $72,687, the highest of any industry.
- The average contracts administrator salary in the finance industry is $62,101.
- Contracts administrators in the hospitality industry earn an average salary of $46,385, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for contracts administrators
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Finance | $72,687 | $34.95 |
| 2 | Technology | $62,101 | $29.86 |
| 3 | Government | $58,166 | $27.96 |
| 4 | Health Care | $58,136 | $27.95 |
| 5 | Construction | $57,137 | $27.47 |
| 6 | Manufacturing | $56,901 | $27.36 |
| 7 | Hospitality | $46,385 | $22.30 |
High paying contracts administrator jobs
Contracts administrator salary trends
The average contracts administrator salary has risen by $8,945 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average contracts administrator earned $43,931 annually, but today, they earn $52,876 a year. That works out to a 9% change in pay for contracts administrators over the last decade.
Compare contracts administrator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average contracts administrator salary over time
Compare contracts administrator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Contracts administrator salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $52,900 | $25.42 | +3.8% |
| 2024 | $50,900 | $24.45 | +2.3% |
| 2023 | $49,700 | $23.88 | +1.1% |
| 2022 | $49,100 | $23.62 | +1.7% |
| 2021 | $48,300 | $23.22 | +1.7% |
Recently added contracts administrator salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AMN Healthcare | Administrator II, Contracts-Temp | Dallas, TX | 06/30/2025 | $43,827 |
| Philips Healthcare | Service Contracts Administrator | Nashville, TN | 06/30/2025 | $44,390 |
| The University of Chicago | Grants and Contracts Administrator | Chicago, IL | 06/30/2025 | $75,000 |
| Bethesda Health | Contract Administrator, Supply Chain, 8A P (Hybrid) | Coral Gables, FL | 06/29/2025 | $62,974 |
| Precision Custom Components, LLC | Contract Administrator | York, PA | 06/29/2025 | $70,000 |
| Ware Malcomb | Contracts Administrator | Irvine, CA | 06/29/2025 | $75,000 |
| Get It-Professional Services | Events Bookkeeper, Contract Administrator-Remote | WFH | Los Angeles, CA | 06/29/2025 | $52,175 |
| Rocket Lab | Contracts Administrator II | Long Beach, CA | 06/29/2025 | $65,000 |
| Baptisthlth | Contract Administrator, Supply Chain, 8A P (Hybrid) | Coral Gables, FL | 06/29/2025 | $62,974 |
| Example Corp | Contract Administrator | Fort Worth, TX | 06/29/2025 | $50,000 |
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