Know your market value with insights across roles — from individual contributors to executive pay and overall company compensation trends.
Access a suite of powerful calculators to make data-driven career decisions.
Automate pay cycles, manage job architectures, and ensure pay equity with AI-powered compensation platforms.
Access validated salary benchmarks, labor market trends, and minimum wage data to stay competitive.
Participate in and purchase industry-specific salary surveys to obtain the most accurate, peer-reported pay data.
As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Senior Contracts Manager in California is $141,338 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $68.
However, a Senior Contracts Manager's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
AI-Powered HR
Recruit with AI
Senior Contracts Manager Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $154,019 | $12,835 | $2,962 | $74 |
| Average | $141,338 | $11,778 | $2,718 | $68 |
| 25th Percentile | $125,159 | $10,430 | $2,407 | $60 |
Maxonic - Sunnyvale, CA
Crusoe - San Francisco, CA
Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals - Los Angeles, CA
PDS Defense, Inc. - City of Industry, CA
A Senior Contracts 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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
Experience is a primary driver of a Senior Contracts 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:
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Contracts... Level Senior Contracts Manager | $101,681 |
| Contracts... Level Senior Contracts Manager | $124,682 |
| Senior Co... Level Senior Contracts Manager | $142,462 |
| Contracts... Level Senior Contracts Manager | $190,745 |
| SVP of Co... Level Senior Contracts Manager | $260,636 |
What Am I Worth?
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 Senior Contracts Managers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
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:
For Senior Contracts 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, Senior Contracts Manager positions in Transportation or Telecom typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Senior Contracts Manager as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aerospace & Defense | $169,606 | $82.0 | 20% |
| Biotechnology | $162,539 | $78.0 | 15% |
| Business Services | $155,472 | $75.0 | 10% |
| Chemicals | $152,645 | $73.0 | 8% |
| Construction | $149,819 | $72.0 | 6% |
Understanding how a Senior Contracts 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.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $154,019 | $12,835 | $2,962 | $74 |
| Average | $141,338 | $11,778 | $2,718 | $68 |
| 25th Percentile | $125,159 | $10,430 | $2,407 | $60 |
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Senior Contracts Manager job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
SpaceX
Inglewood, CA
SpaceX | Inglewood, CA
Contracts Manager. SpaceX was founded under the belief that a future where humanity is out exploring the stars is fundamentally more exciting than one wher... more
6 Days Ago
Terran Orbital Corporation
Irvine, CA
Terran Orbital Corporation | Irvine, CA
Job Description. Job Description. Join a team where your impact reaches beyond the stars. At Terran Orbital, you're not just part of the system – you're a ... more
6 Days Ago
Contact Government Services
Los Angeles, CA
Contact Government Services | Los Angeles, CA
Contracts Manager. Employment Type: Full-Time, Mid-Level. Department: Administrative and Logistics Support. CGS is seeking a skilled Contracts Manager to o... more
9 Days Ago
Adept Fasteners
Valencia, CA
Adept Fasteners | Valencia, CA
Job Description. Job Description. Description. Purpose. Act on behalf of Adept Fasteners in the negotiation and execution of Contract Terms and Conditions.... more
9 Days Ago
SOLV Energy, LLC
National City, CA
SOLV Energy, LLC | National City, CA
SOLV Energy is a leading provider of infrastructure services to the power industry, designing, building and maintaining utility scale solar, battery storag... more
8 Days Ago
South Bay Sand Blasting & Tank Cleaning
National City, CA
South Bay Sand Blasting & Tank Cleaning | National City, CA
Contracts Manager - Ship Repair. Until Filled (PST). Contracts/Estimating. National City, CA, USA. 80-130 per year. Salary. Full Time. 401k, medical health... more
9 Days Ago
Get a Salary Increase
Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.
Search Job Openings
Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.
Adjust Employee Salary
Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.
Price My Industry Jobs
Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.
Use Salary.com's Cost of Living Calculator to find out what income you need to maintain your standard of living in a different city and how much more or less money you need to budget for basic expenses.
Explore Cost of Living CalculatorSalary.com experts will help you thrive your workplaces.
Salary.com provides salary survey data for thousands of industry Jobs.
Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.
Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:
