Subcontracts Administrator/ Buyer Senior Salary in the United States

How much does a Subcontracts Administrator/ Buyer Senior make in the United States?

As of October 01, 2026, the average salary for a Subcontracts Administrator/ Buyer Senior in the United States is $90,324 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $43.

However, a Subcontracts Administrator/ Buyer Senior's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $106,826
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $82,715 to $98,962
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $75,786

Key Factors That Influence Subcontracts Administrator/ Buyer Senior Salaries

A Subcontracts Administrator/ Buyer Senior's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

Top Paying Cities for Subcontracts Administrator/ Buyer Seniors

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: $113,926
  • San Francisco: $112,679
  • Oakland: $110,304

What Skills Can Increase a Subcontracts Administrator/ Buyer Senior's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Planning (Mentioned in 5.58% Job Postings): An act or process of making or carrying out plans. Establishment of goals, policies, and procedures for a social or economic unit city planning business planning.
  • Microsoft Office (Mentioned in 1.95% Job Postings): Microsoft Office is a suite of desktop productivity applications that is designed by Microsoft for business use. You can create documents containing text and images, work with data in spreadsheets and databases, create presentations and posters.
  • Supply Chain Management (Mentioned in 1.12% Job Postings): In commerce, supply-chain management (SCM), the management of the flow of goods and services, involves the movement and storage of raw materials, of work-in-process inventory, and of finished goods from point of origin to point of consumption. Interconnected or interlinked networks, channels and node businesses combine in the provision of products and services required by end customers in a supply chain. Supply-chain management has been defined as the "design, planning, execution, control, and monitoring of supply-chain activities with the objective of creating net value, building a competitive infrastructure, leveraging worldwide logistics, synchronizing supply with demand and measuring performance globally." SCM practice draws heavily from the areas of industrial engineering, systems engineering, operations management, logistics, procurement, information technology, and marketing and strives for an integrated approach.[citation needed] Marketing channels play an important role in supply-chain management. Current research in supply-chain management is concerned with topics related to sustainability and risk management, among others. Some suggest that the “people dimension” of SCM, ethical issues, internal integration, transparency/visibility, and human capital/talent management are topics that have, so far, been underrepresented on the research agenda.
Skills Demand Percentage
Planning 5.58%
Microsoft Office 1.95%
Supply Chain Management 1.12%

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 Subcontracts Administrator/ Buyer Senior's salary.

  • Merchandising: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • ISO: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Cost Reduction: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Merchandising $94,841
5%
ISO $93,937
4%
Cost Reduction $93,034
3%

Subcontracts Administrator/ Buyer Senior Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Subcontracts Administrator/ Buyer Senior 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 Business Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Subcontracts Administrator/ Buyer Senior positions in Biotechnology or Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Subcontracts Administrator/ Buyer Senior as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Subcontracts Administrator/ Buyer Senior

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$108,389$52.020%

How Education impacts a Subcontracts Administrator/ Buyer Senior's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Subcontracts Administrator/ Buyer Seniors enter the field with a Associate's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Subcontracts Administrator/ Buyer Senior with a Associate's Degree is between $88,140 and $93,652).

Subcontracts Administrator/ Buyer Senior Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Subcontracts Administrator/ Buyer Senior
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.1%
High School 19.9%
Associates 11.0%
Bachelors 48.4%
Masters 18.8%
Doctorate 0.7%

Subcontracts Administrator/ Buyer Senior Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Subcontracts Administrator/ Buyer Senior'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 October 01, 2026
$82,715
Average $90,324/year
$98,962
$6,893
Average $7,527/month
$8,247
$1,591
Average $1,737/week
$1,903
$40
Average $43/hour
$48
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $98,962 $8,247 $1,903 $48
Average $90,324 $7,527 $1,737 $43
25th Percentile $82,715 $6,893 $1,591 $40

Most common benefits for Subcontracts Administrator/ Buyer Senior

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

Common company salaries for Subcontracts Administrator/ Buyer Senior

Here are companies hiring for Subcontracts Administrator/ Buyer Senior and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Subcontracts Administrator/ Buyer Senior

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Subcontracts Administrator/ Buyer Senior?

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Subcontracts Administrator/ Buyer Senior 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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