Also called: DoD 1102 contract specialist, Contracting officer (civilian)
Federal civilian who writes, negotiates, and manages contracts the Defense Department signs with companies.
Contract specialists review company proposals, negotiate prices, and make sure contracts follow the 2,000-page Federal Acquisition Regulation. With experience, they earn a 'warrant' to sign contracts worth millions. Companies hire them away to work the other side.
Federal GS-7 to GS-14 pay; estimate (BLS purchasing agents median ~$71k is lower).
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 credit hours (federal requirement); Defense Acquisition University training.
Ways in: 4-year college. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Public Administration.
Growing about average. DoD consistently hires contract specialists; BLS projects little change for purchasing agents overall.
Medium risk in 5 years, high in 10. AI now drafts contracts, compares bids and checks rules; fewer entry-level specialists needed.
Classes: Business, Economics, English composition.
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.