What is the salary and career path for a contract manager?
Contract manager is reported within Business Operations Specialists, All Other (SOC 13-1199), the residual BLS code that houses contract-management roles; its OEWS May 2025 median is $83,050 a year ($39.93 an hour), running from $47,880 at the 10th percentile to $150,010 at the 90th for senior and government contract managers. BLS projects the code to grow 3% over 2024–2034, slower than average, though on a very large base of roughly 108,200 openings a year. Entry usually needs a bachelor's degree, and the defining credentials come from the National Contract Management Association — the CFCM, CPCM and CCCM.
- Contract Managers earn a national median $83,050/yr ($39.93/hr) (BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 13-1199); the top 10% clear $150,010.
- Contract manager is reported within Business Operations Specialists, All Other (SOC 13-1199), with an $83,050 median and a $47,880-to-$150,010 range up to director level.
- BLS projects the code to grow 3% through 2034, slower than average, though on a very large base of roughly 108,200 openings a year.
- Entry usually needs a bachelor's degree, with NCMA's CFCM, CPCM and CCCM the defining contract-management credentials.
Career Path
How do you become a contract manager?
Contract administrator / analyst
Tracking obligations, deadlines and records, an entry role sits near the $47,880 10th percentile.
Contract Manager
Negotiating and owning contracts end to end earns around the $83,050 median for the code.
Senior Contract Manager
Handling complex, high-value or government contracts pushes pay toward the $114,010 75th percentile.
Director of contracts / procurement
Leading a contracts or procurement function reaches the $150,010 90th percentile of the code.
BLS Salary Data
Which state pays contract managers the most in 2026?
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 13-1199. National median: $83,050. Full salary guide →
Pay Comparison
How does contract manager pay compare to related roles?
Head-to-head against the roles contract managers most often weigh against. BLS OEWS May 2025 medians.
Takeaway: contract managers rank 3 of 4 on median pay among the comparable roles above, with a projected +3% employment change 2024–34 (BLS Employment Projections). Pay position and projected demand together are what determine how quickly contract managers clear offers across the GlobalCybers placement network.
Methodology & Sources
How this guide is sourced and reviewed
Wages (BLS): All median and percentile figures are BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 13-1199 (contract managers) and the matching SOC codes for each comparison role. OEWS is sampled on a rolling 3-year basis and published ~10 months after collection, so treat it as a firm anchor rather than a spot rate.
Job growth: Projected 2024–34 employment change, and the average annual openings figure, are from the BLS Employment Projections program, by occupation. Openings are a per-year average over the projection decade, not a decade total.
Licensing & credentials:Requirements are drawn from the issuing state licensing boards and the certifying body behind each credential — not from third-party aggregators.
Demand signal:Any statement about how quickly this role clears offers reflects GlobalCybers placement request volume across the trailing 12 months — our own network data, offered as a directional real-world indicator alongside BLS, not a market-wide survey.
Credentials
What licences and certifications do contract managers need?
The typical entry credential; business, supply chain or finance are common. See all state licences →
NCMA's senior credential covering commercial and federal contract management.
NCMA's credential for managing government and federal contracts.
NCMA's credential focused on commercial contract management.
Tools & Software
What tools and software do contract managers use on the job?
⚙️ Core Tools & Equipment
📊 BLS Employment Data, SOC 13-1199
Salary Levers
How do contract managers earn above the $83,050 BLS median?
Specialize in government contracts
Federal and defense contract expertise lifts pay from the $47,880 floor toward the upper band.
Earn an NCMA credential
The CPCM, CFCM or CCCM signals expertise and supports a move toward the $114,010 75th percentile.
Advance to director of contracts
Leading a contracts or procurement function reaches the $150,010 top decile of the code.
This Route vs. College
Is becoming a contract manager worth it vs. a 4-year degree?
The entry route into this role, set against a four-year degree. Same starting line, side by side.
Entry-level (10th percentile) and all-level median wages: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 13-1199. Student-debt figure: median federal borrower balance for bachelor's-degree completers. Starting-salary comparison is illustrative and varies by field and region.
FAQ
Contract Manager Career, Frequently Asked Questions
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