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The average salary for a Senior Contract Administrator is $65,579 per year, translating to approximately $32 per hour. This salary varies significantly based on factors such as experience, location, and the specific industry. For instance, those with extensive experience may command higher salaries, while positions in metropolitan areas often offer better compensation.
When examining the salary by state, regions such as California and New York typically report the highest averages. Additionally, cities like San Francisco and New York City are known for offering competitive salaries, reflecting the cost of living and demand for skilled professionals in contract administration.
To maximize your earning potential, consider focusing on industries that are known to pay more, such as technology and healthcare. By understanding these factors, you can better navigate your career path and identify opportunities that align with your financial goals.
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Let Zippia find your next senior contract administrator/contract administrator job
The average senior contract administrator/contract administrator salary in Virginia, California, and Maryland are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average senior contract administrator/contract administrator salary states are Rhode Island, Montana, and North Dakota.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Mexico | $72,822 | $35.01 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $81,981 | $39.41 |
| 3 | California | $78,664 | $37.82 |
| 4 | North Carolina | $72,376 | $34.80 |
| 5 | Alabama | $68,206 | $32.79 |
| 6 | West Virginia | $76,389 | $36.73 |
| 7 | Texas | $70,734 | $34.01 |
| 8 | Illinois | $71,435 | $34.34 |
| 9 | Mississippi | $72,301 | $34.76 |
| 10 | Virginia | $79,349 | $38.15 |
| 11 | Colorado | $66,646 | $32.04 |
| 12 | Nevada | $68,379 | $32.87 |
| 13 | Washington | $66,039 | $31.75 |
| 14 | Maryland | $78,607 | $37.79 |
| 15 | Delaware | $69,607 | $33.46 |
| 16 | Arizona | $63,519 | $30.54 |
| 17 | Oregon | $65,942 | $31.70 |
| 18 | Kentucky | $68,582 | $32.97 |
| 19 | South Carolina | $66,308 | $31.88 |
| 20 | Georgia | $67,316 | $32.36 |
| 21 | Utah | $59,670 | $28.69 |
| 22 | Pennsylvania | $63,929 | $30.74 |
| 23 | Ohio | $64,199 | $30.86 |
| 24 | Michigan | $65,652 | $31.56 |
| 25 | Hawaii | $60,063 | $28.88 |
| 26 | Kansas | $61,875 | $29.75 |
| 27 | Alaska | $55,218 | $26.55 |
| 28 | Indiana | $63,499 | $30.53 |
| 29 | Tennessee | $61,837 | $29.73 |
| 30 | Wyoming | $55,778 | $26.82 |
| 31 | Florida | $60,056 | $28.87 |
| 32 | New York | $62,044 | $29.83 |
| 33 | Louisiana | $62,510 | $30.05 |
| 34 | Missouri | $59,464 | $28.59 |
| 35 | New Jersey | $62,334 | $29.97 |
| 36 | Nebraska | $56,542 | $27.18 |
| 37 | Oklahoma | $59,187 | $28.46 |
| 38 | Connecticut | $56,439 | $27.13 |
| 39 | Arkansas | $59,302 | $28.51 |
| 40 | Idaho | $55,371 | $26.62 |
| 41 | Wisconsin | $56,472 | $27.15 |
| 42 | Rhode Island | $46,649 | $22.43 |
| 43 | Massachusetts | $47,968 | $23.06 |
| 44 | North Dakota | $42,683 | $20.52 |
| 45 | Minnesota | $51,986 | $24.99 |
| 46 | Vermont | $41,684 | $20.04 |
| 47 | Iowa | $54,191 | $26.05 |
| 48 | South Dakota | $51,848 | $24.93 |
| 49 | New Hampshire | $39,697 | $19.09 |
| 50 | Montana | $46,430 | $22.32 |
| 51 | Maine | $30,964 | $14.89 |
The highest-paying cities for senior contract administrators/contract administrators are San Francisco, CA, Washington, DC, and Charlottesville, VA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $85,478 | $41.10 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $82,043 | $39.44 |
| 3 | Charlottesville, VA | $79,262 | $38.11 |
| 4 | Bethesda, MD | $79,054 | $38.01 |
| 5 | Charleston, WV | $76,400 | $36.73 |
| 6 | Albuquerque, NM | $72,804 | $35.00 |
| 7 | Jackson, MS | $71,998 | $34.61 |
| 8 | Chicago, IL | $71,700 | $34.47 |
| 9 | Houston, TX | $71,629 | $34.44 |
| 10 | Dover, DE | $70,759 | $34.02 |
| 11 | Frankfort, KY | $69,210 | $33.27 |
| 12 | Huntsville, AL | $69,127 | $33.23 |
| 13 | Atlanta, GA | $67,364 | $32.39 |
| 14 | Denver, CO | $66,532 | $31.99 |
| 15 | Columbus, OH | $66,093 | $31.78 |
| 16 | Charleston, SC | $65,825 | $31.65 |
| 17 | Portland, OR | $64,767 | $31.14 |
| 18 | New York, NY | $63,901 | $30.72 |
| 19 | Indianapolis, IN | $63,889 | $30.72 |
| 20 | Phoenix, AZ | $63,597 | $30.58 |
A senior contract administrator/contract administrator's salary ranges from $41,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $102,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $102,000 | $8,500 | $49 |
| 75th Percentile | $83,000 | $6,917 | $40 |
| Average | $65,579 | $5,465 | $32 |
| 25th Percentile | $51,000 | $4,250 | $25 |
| 10th Percentile | $41,000 | $3,417 | $20 |
The highest paying types of senior contract administrators/contract administrators 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 |
| Planner/Buyer | $54,261 | $4,522 | $26.09 | 33,452 |
| Landman | $82,853 | $6,904 | $39.83 | 364 |
| Purchasing Supervisor | $68,702 | $5,725 | $33.03 | 19,412 |
| Purchasing Buyer | $47,471 | $3,956 | $22.82 | 21,158 |
Top companies hiring senior contract administrators/contract administrators now:
Senior contract administrator/contract administrator salaries at Urban Institute and Parsons are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average senior contract administrator/contract administrator salary at companies like Pacifi and Regeneron are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Urban Institute | $121,953 | $58.63 |
| 2 | Parsons | $111,257 | $53.49 |
| 3 | Pacifi | $105,245 | $50.60 |
| 4 | Regeneron | $104,696 | $50.33 |
| 5 | Santa Clara Valley Water District | $104,462 | $50.22 |
| 6 | Mattson Technology | $103,297 | $49.66 |
| 7 | Technology Service | $100,319 | $48.23 |
| 8 | Booz Allen Hamilton | $99,486 | $47.83 |
| 9 | Broadridge | $97,869 | $47.05 |
| 10 | Noblis | $97,367 | $46.81 |
| 11 | Sempra Energy | $96,448 | $46.37 |
| 12 | Qualcomm | $96,230 | $46.26 |
| 13 | Technip USA Corporation | $94,431 | $45.40 |
| 14 | Ecs Federal | $93,961 | $45.17 |
| 15 | Zenetex | $90,500 | $43.51 |
| 16 | Valley Transportation | $87,756 | $42.19 |
| 17 | Ball | $86,223 | $41.45 |
| 18 | Northrop Grumman | $86,008 | $41.35 |
| 19 | Axient | $85,588 | $41.15 |
| 20 | Curtiss-Wright | $84,925 | $40.83 |
The average senior contract administrator/contract administrator salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Finance | $97,980 | $47.11 |
| 2 | Technology | $81,845 | $39.35 |
| 3 | Energy | $81,496 | $39.18 |
| 4 | Manufacturing | $77,974 | $37.49 |
| 5 | Professional | $72,979 | $35.09 |
| 6 | Agriculture | $72,502 | $34.86 |
| 7 | Real Estate | $70,768 | $34.02 |
| 8 | Health Care | $67,011 | $32.22 |
The average senior contract administrator/contract administrator salary has risen by $11,094 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average senior contract administrator/contract administrator earned $54,485 annually, but today, they earn $65,579 a year. That works out to a 9% change in pay for senior contract administrators/contract administrators over the last decade.
Compare senior contract administrator/contract administrator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare senior contract administrator/contract administrator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $65,600 | $31.53 | +3.8% |
| 2025 | $63,100 | $30.33 | +2.3% |
| 2024 | $61,600 | $29.62 | +1.1% |
| 2023 | $60,900 | $29.30 | +1.7% |
| 2022 | $59,900 | $28.80 | +1.7% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tri-State G&T | Contract Administrator I, II, III, or Senior | Westminster, CO | 06/29/2025 | $96,000 |
| Northrop Grumman | Principal/Sr Principal Contract Administrator | Charlottesville, VA | 06/28/2025 | $98,100 |
| Bluehalo | SR. Contracts Administrator | Albuquerque, NM | 06/25/2025 | $100,000 |
| Bluehalo | SR. Contracts Administrator | Colorado Springs, CO | 06/25/2025 | $100,000 |
| Saabusa | Senior Contracts Administrator | East Syracuse, NY | 06/24/2025 | $78,900 |
| Mcn Build | Senior Contract Administrator | Washington, DC | 06/23/2025 | $75,000 |
| Ensco | Senior Contracts Administrator | Vienna, VA | 06/21/2025 | $90,000 |
| Ensco | Senior Contracts Administrator | Pueblo, CO | 06/21/2025 | $90,000 |
| Parsons | SR. Contract Administrator | Fairfax, VA | 06/20/2025 | $86,700 |
| Toyon Research | Senior Contracts Administrator | Goleta, CA | 06/20/2025 | $125,000 |
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