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The differences between senior contract specialists and acquisition specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an acquisition specialist has an average salary of $65,906, which is higher than the $64,744 average annual salary of a senior contract specialist.
The top three skills for a senior contract specialist include contract management, contract terms and federal government. The most important skills for an acquisition specialist are program management, market research, and DOD.
| Senior Contract Specialist | Acquisition Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $64,744 | $65,906 |
| Hourly rate | $31.13 | $31.69 |
| Growth rate | - | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 29,641 | 17,543 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Average age | 44 | 48 |
| Years of experience | - | 6 |
A senior contract specialist is responsible for reviewing business contracts and proposals, evaluating terms and conditions, and ensuring that the agreement adheres to business requirements and legislation procedures. Senior contract specialists may modify business documents to improve specifications and obligations, as well as determining the accuracy of financial provisions and feasibility. They must have an excellent understanding of the services that the company offers to identify the correct processes and formulate necessary adjustments for the contract before the final submission.
An acquisition specialist is in charge of developing strategies to acquire goods and services on behalf of a company. Their responsibilities include coordinating with different departments to gather data, conducting extensive research and analysis to find cost-efficient materials and resources, liaising with external parties such as vendors and suppliers, negotiating contracts, and arranging payment plans. Furthermore, an acquisition specialist may also participate in a company's employment procedures and recruit potential employees in adherence to the company's vision and mission.
Senior contract specialists and acquisition specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Contract Specialist | Acquisition Specialist | |
| Average salary | $64,744 | $65,906 |
| Salary range | Between $42,000 And $98,000 | Between $43,000 And $99,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | California | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Brookhaven National Laboratory | Amazon |
| Best paying industry | Government | Finance |
There are a few differences between a senior contract specialist and an acquisition specialist in terms of educational background:
| Senior Contract Specialist | Acquisition Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Western Carolina University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between senior contract specialists' and acquisition specialists' demographics:
| Senior Contract Specialist | Acquisition Specialist | |
| Average age | 44 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 43.6% Female, 56.4% | Male, 51.9% Female, 48.1% |
| 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, 9.3% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.6% Asian, 7.6% White, 65.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 7% |