Contract Administrator/Contract Specialist Vs Purchasing Agent

The differences between contract administrator/contract specialists and purchasing agents can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a contract administrator/contract specialist and a purchasing agent. Additionally, a contract administrator/contract specialist has an average salary of $53,425, which is higher than the $51,950 average annual salary of a purchasing agent.

The top three skills for a contract administrator/contract specialist include contract management, purchase orders and contract terms. The most important skills for a purchasing agent are purchase orders, customer service, and logistics.

Contract administrator/contract specialist vs purchasing agent overview

	Contract Administrator/Contract Specialist	Purchasing Agent
Yearly Salary	$53,425	$51,950
Hourly rate	$25.69	$24.98
Growth Rate	9%	-
Number Of Jobs	61,764	45,856
Job Satisfaction	-	5
Most Common Degree	Bachelor's Degree, 60%	Bachelor's Degree, 56%
Average Age	48	48
Years Of Experience	6	6

What does a Contract Administrator/Contract Specialist do?

A Contract Administrator and Contract Specialist reviews all contracts of the company. They are responsible for reviewing every contract if it is for the company's benefit and if there are hidden risks. This person also helps draft future contracts and inspects new contracts during deals and negotiations. Contract Specialists update existing contracts, propose amendments if necessary, and advise the company on contracts that have risks that may affect the activities of the company.

What does a purchasing agent do?

A purchasing agent's general task is keeping purchase records and making sure that there won't be any discrepancies with the handling of orders. The purchasing agent should be responsible for the order processing and payment collection. Purchasing agents should also be proficient in interpreting and evaluating data, researching on best marketing sources and alternatives, issuing required documentation for suppliers, as well as managing customer queries as needed. Being a purchasing agent requires critical-thinking skills in assessing concerns and providing solutions should there be any possible negotiation conflicts.

Contract administrator/contract specialist vs purchasing agent salary

Contract administrator/contract specialists and purchasing agents have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Contract Administrator/Contract Specialist	Purchasing Agent
Average Salary	$53,425	$51,950
Salary Range	Between $35,000 And $79,000	Between $37,000 And $72,000
Highest Paying City	Annapolis, MD	San Jose, CA
Highest Paying State	Maryland	Maryland
Best Paying Company	Jacobs Engineering Group	Abiomed
Best Paying Industry	Technology	Technology

Differences between contract administrator/contract specialist and purchasing agent education

There are a few differences between a contract administrator/contract specialist and a purchasing agent in terms of educational background:

	Contract Administrator/Contract Specialist	Purchasing Agent
Most Common Degree	Bachelor's Degree, 60%	Bachelor's Degree, 56%
Most Common Major	Business	Business
Most Common College	University of Pennsylvania	University of Pennsylvania

Contract administrator/contract specialist vs purchasing agent demographics

Here are the differences between contract administrator/contract specialists' and purchasing agents' demographics:

	Contract Administrator/Contract Specialist	Purchasing Agent
Average Age	48	48
Gender Ratio	Male, 30.0% Female, 70.0%	Male, 49.5% Female, 50.5%
Race Ratio	Black or African American, 8.8% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.2% Asian, 7.6% White, 66.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%	Black or African American, 9.3% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.7% Asian, 7.0% White, 65.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage	7%	7%

Differences between contract administrator/contract specialist and purchasing agent duties and responsibilities

Contract Administrator/Contract Specialist Example Responsibilities.

Lead the projects through initial project execution at local CMO's.
Create operational efficiencies by effectively managing databases containing RFP library responses and approve responses to request revisions to form agreements.
Ensure refund to DLA from vendor if applicable.
Make recommendations to the ACO concerning property issues as required.
Monitor the contractor's purchase material and vendor QA controls.
Review and analyzes contractor or vendor QA data and adjusts receiving process.

Purchasing Agent Example Responsibilities.

Reorganize MRO to manage inventory more efficiently.
Utilize MaCola ERP system to process and manage purchase requisitions and purchase orders in coordination with manufacturing forecast.
Process purchase orders from electronically generate RFQ'S.
Develop programs with suppliers to ensure that commodities meet engineering and quality specifications while maintaining on-time delivery.
Prepare purchase orders, RFP's and RFB's, advertise solicitations, review responses and approve contract acceptance.
Send out RFQ's and award orders to the best fit and price vendor to ensure manufacturing meets critical due dates.

Contract administrator/contract specialist vs purchasing agent skills

Common Contract Administrator/Contract Specialist Skills

Contract Management, 13%
Purchase Orders, 12%
Contract Terms, 9%
Data Entry, 9%
Price Analysis, 6%
Defense Finance, 3%

Common Purchasing Agent Skills

Purchase Orders, 30%
Customer Service, 12%
Logistics, 5%
Inventory Control, 4%
MRP, 3%
Cost Savings, 3%

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Contract Administrator/Contract Specialist vs Purchasing Agent

Updated January 8, 2025

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