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Contracts Administration Manager Salary in the United States

How much does a Contracts Administration Manager make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Contracts Administration Manager in the United States is $133,098 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $64.

However, a Contracts Administration Manager's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $156,927
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $119,032 to $145,571
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $106,226
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Contracts Administration Manager Salaries

A Contracts Administration Manager's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Contracts Administration Manager Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Contracts Administration Manager's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Contracts Administration Supervisor (10+ years): $94,998
  • Contracts Administration Senior Supervisor (10+ years): $116,487
  • Contracts Administration Manager (10+ years): $133,098
  • Contracts Administration Director (10+ years): $178,208
  • SVP of Contracts (10+ years): $243,505
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Contracts Administration Supervisor10+ years$94,998
Contracts Administration Senior Supervisor10+ years$116,487
Contracts Administration Manager10+ years$133,098
Contracts Administration Director10+ years$178,208
SVP of Contracts10+ years$243,505
View as Graph

How Do Contracts Administration Managers Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Contracts Administration Managers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $147,366.
  • California: $146,807.
  • Massachusetts: $144,851.

Top Paying Cities for Contracts Administration Manager

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $167,877
  • San Francisco: $166,038
  • Oakland: $162,539

What Skills Can Increase a Contracts Administration Manager's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Negotiating (Mentioned in 5.58% Job Postings): Applying negotiation concepts and techniques in a dialogue between two or more parties to reach a win-win solution.
  • Business Development (Mentioned in 2.26% Job Postings): Business development entails tasks and processes to develop and implement growth opportunities within and between organizations. It is a subset of the fields of business, commerce and organizational theory. Business development is the creation of long-term value for an organization from customers, markets, and relationships. Business development can be taken to mean any activity by either a small or large organization, non-profit or for-profit enterprise which serves the purpose of ‘developing’ the business in some way. In addition, business development activities can be done internally or externally by a business development consultant. External business development can be facilitated through Planning Systems, which are put in place by governments to help small businesses. In addition, reputation building has also proven to help facilitate business development.
  • Government Contracting (Mentioned in 1.47% Job Postings):
Skills Demand Percentage
Negotiating 5.58%
Business Development 2.26%
Government Contracting 1.47%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Contracts Administration Manager's salary.

  • Workflow Management: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Clinical Trial: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
  • Proposal Development: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Workflow Management $142,415
7%
Clinical Trial $137,091
3%
Proposal Development $137,091
3%
Get Latest Data

Contracts Administration Manager Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Contracts Administration Manager salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $148,996. While startup companies pay approximate $126,047.

Contracts Administration Manager Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $126,047
Growth Stage 51~500 $133,309
Established 501~5000 $143,882
Enterprise 5000+ $148,996

Contracts Administration Manager Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Contracts Administration Manager roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Contracts Administration Manager positions in Transportation or Telecom typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Contracts Administration Manager as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Contracts Administration Manager

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$159,718$77.020%
Biotechnology$153,063$74.015%
Business Services$146,408$70.010%
Chemicals$143,746$69.08%
Construction$141,084$68.06%

How Education impacts an Contracts Administration Manager's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Contracts Administration Manager enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Contracts Administration Manager with a Bachelor's Degree is between $131,499 and $141,538.

Contracts Administration Manager Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Contracts Administration Manager
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.2%
High School 8.0%
Associates 5.9%
Bachelors 38.3%
Masters 26.8%
Doctorate 20.8%
View as Graph

Contracts Administration Manager Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Contracts Administration Manager's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$119,032
Average $133,098/year
$145,571
$9,919
Average $11,092/month
$12,131
$2,289
Average $2,560/week
$2,799
$57
Average $64/hour
$70
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $145,571 $12,131 $2,799 $70
Average $133,098 $11,092 $2,560 $64
25th Percentile $119,032 $9,919 $2,289 $57

Contracts Administration Manager Salary Growth & Career Path

Contracts Administration Manager

Next Role

Advancement

For a Contracts Administration Manager, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Contracts Administration Director role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $178,208 - a projected growth of 34% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Contracts Administration Manager

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Contracts Administration Manager

Here are companies hiring for Contracts Administration Manager and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Contracts Administration Manager

1. Where can a Contracts Administration Manager earn the most?

A Contracts Administration Manager's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Contracts Administration Manager earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Contracts Administration Manager is $167,877.

2. What is the highest pay for Contracts Administration Manager?

The highest pay for Contracts Administration Manager is $156,927.

3. What is the lowest pay for Contracts Administration Manager?

The lowest pay for Contracts Administration Manager is $106,226.

4. What are the responsibilities of Contracts Administration Manager?

Prepares and administers bids, proposals, and commercial and government contracts that follow company policies and legal requirements. Manages the contracts administration staff and guides compliance with complex contractual and regulatory requirements. Negotiates with suppliers, partners, or customers. Ensures contracts are administered and monitored to maintain compliance with the terms of agreements. Has a strong understanding of the contract life cycle, types of contracts, and applicable government regulations. Typically requires a bachelor's degree or equivalent. Sometimes requires certification like the NCMA Certified Professional Contract Manager (CPCM). Typically reports to a director. Manages subordinate staff in the day-to-day performance of their jobs. True first level manager. Ensures that project/department milestones/goals are met and adhering to approved budgets. Has full authority for personnel actions. Typically requires 5 years experience in the related area as an individual contributor. 1 - 3 years supervisory experience may be required. Extensive knowledge of the function and department processes.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Contracts Administration Manager?

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Contracts Administration Manager roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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