Also called: Contract Specialist, Acquisition Officer
Buys everything the government needs, from paper clips to fighter jets, with legal authority to sign contracts.
Contracting officers write requests for proposals, evaluate company bids, negotiate prices, and sign contracts worth up to billions of dollars. Their 'warrant' gives them legal power to obligate taxpayer money. There's a constant shortage, so it's a strong, stable career.
Federal General Schedule (GS) pay scale, with locality pay.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Bachelor's with 24 business credits; federal acquisition training (FAC-C / DAWIA) certifications.
Ways in: 4-year college, Certification, On-the-job training. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Finance, Accounting.
Growing about average. Approximate; steady federal demand.
Medium risk for 10 years. AI drafts solicitations and compares bids; legal signing authority and negotiation keep a human in charge.
Classes: Business class, AP Government, Accounting.
Official data: O*NET occupation 13-1023.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.