Contract Specialists: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of contract specialists about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for contract specialists to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of contract specialists expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for contract specialists.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Contract Specialists?
Do contract specialists need a degree? What kind of experience do contract specialists typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for contract specialists to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Contract Specialists
Jobs Postings for Contract Specialists By Education
- Bachelor's degree: 107,981 (53%)
- No Education Listed: 46,672 (23%)
- High School or GED: 25,440 (12%)
- Master's degree: 20,178 (10%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 5,347 (3%)
A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of contract specialists. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 53% of positions. In 23% of job listings no education level was listed and in 12% of postings a High School diploma or GED was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Contract Specialists
Jobs Postings for Contract Specialists By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 17,495 (15%)
- 2-3 Years: 47,198 (40%)
- 4-6 Years: 37,359 (31%)
- 7-9 Years: 8,890 (7%)
- 10+ Years: 7,889 (7%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for contract specialists. In 40% of job postings for Contract Specialists, employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience. In 31% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 4-6 years of experience, while 0-1 years of experience was sought in 15% of job postings for contract specialists.
What Kind of Degree Do Contract Specialists Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for contract specialists, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 20 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective contract specialists, and in 2023 a total of 23,317 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective contract specialists.
Top Degree Programs for Contract Specialists
Top 5 Degree Programs for Contract Specialists (2023)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Sales, Distribution, and Marketing Operations, General. | 3,378 |
| Agriculture, General. | 3,221 |
| Agribusiness/Agricultural Business Operations. | 3,166 |
| Fashion Merchandising. | 2,911 |
| Agricultural Business and Management, General. | 2,125 |
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Sales, Distribution, and Marketing Operations, General. | 3,378 |
| Agriculture, General. | 3,221 |
| Agribusiness/Agricultural Business Operations. | 3,166 |
| Fashion Merchandising. | 2,911 |
| Agricultural Business and Management, General. | 2,125 |
| Apparel and Textiles, General. | 1,873 |
| Purchasing, Procurement/Acquisitions and Contracts Management. | 1,102 |
| Retail Management. | 983 |
| Retailing and Retail Operations. | 953 |
| Apparel and Textile Marketing Management. | 707 |
| Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture. | 685 |
| Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields, Other. | 670 |
| Farm/Farm and Ranch Management. | 558 |
| Agricultural/Farm Supplies Retailing and Wholesaling. | 278 |
| Viticulture and Enology. | 237 |
| General Merchandising, Sales, and Related Marketing Operations, Other. | 223 |
| Merchandising and Buying Operations. | 134 |
| Apparel and Accessories Marketing Operations. | 84 |
| Apparel and Textiles, Other. | 26 |
| Wine Steward/Sommelier. | 3 |
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Degree Options for Contract Specialists
With an associate of science in business administration degree, you’ll dig into the functional areas of business and learn how to connect each function with the others to advance business goals and further outcomes while you prepare for a variety of roles in operations, sales, management and coordination.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Build a strong foundation of real-world business knowledge suitable for a variety of career options in your industry of choice.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
- Accreditation: IACBE
Develop into a well-rounded, adaptive and strategic business leader with a comprehensive mindset.
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
What Skills Do Contract Specialists Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by contract specialists to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for contract specialists, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Contract Specialists
Based on 175,858 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Contract Specialists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Purchasing | 73,332 | 42% |
| Procurement | 73,015 | 42% |
| Contract Management | 32,834 | 19% |
| Project Management | 28,923 | 16% |
| Finance | 28,917 | 16% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Contract Specialists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 81,906 | 47% |
| Management | 73,322 | 42% |
| Negotiation | 51,048 | 29% |
| Microsoft Excel | 46,931 | 27% |
| Detail Oriented | 40,962 | 23% |
Based on 175,858 job postings related to contract specialists, purchasing was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 42% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for procurement, contract management, project management, finance and supply chain were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for contract specialists, followed by management, negotiation, microsoft excel, detail oriented and microsoft office.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Purchasing | 73,332 | 42% |
| Procurement | 73,015 | 42% |
| Contract Management | 32,834 | 19% |
| Project Management | 28,923 | 16% |
| Finance | 28,917 | 16% |
| Supply Chain | 27,431 | 16% |
| Invoicing | 26,133 | 15% |
| Request For Proposal | 26,006 | 15% |
| Accounting | 25,074 | 14% |
| Auditing | 18,860 | 11% |
| Marketing | 17,884 | 10% |
| Contract Negotiation | 15,384 | 9% |
| Subcontracting | 13,827 | 8% |
| SAP Applications | 13,044 | 7% |
| Supply Chain Management | 12,902 | 7% |
| Process Improvement | 12,181 | 7% |
| Continuous Improvement Process | 11,148 | 6% |
| Supplier Performance Management | 10,996 | 6% |
| Inventory Management | 10,201 | 6% |
| Data Analysis | 9,972 | 6% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 81,906 | 47% |
| Management | 73,322 | 42% |
| Negotiation | 51,048 | 29% |
| Microsoft Excel | 46,931 | 27% |
| Detail Oriented | 40,962 | 23% |
| Microsoft Office | 39,885 | 23% |
| Operations | 38,216 | 22% |
| Customer Service | 36,905 | 21% |
| Writing | 36,381 | 21% |
| Sales | 34,723 | 20% |
| Problem Solving | 34,154 | 19% |
| Research | 31,055 | 18% |
| Planning | 30,958 | 18% |
| Leadership | 30,378 | 17% |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | 26,646 | 15% |
| Coordinating | 24,824 | 14% |
| Organizational Skills | 23,523 | 13% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 23,004 | 13% |
| Self-Motivation | 20,270 | 12% |
| Time Management | 19,592 | 11% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about contract specialists? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for contract specialists.
What do contract specialists do?
How much do contract specialists make?
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