Contract, Program and Project Administrators
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
Contract, Program and Project Administrators plan and undertake administration of contracts, organisational programs, special projects and support services.
Tasks
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developing, reviewing and negotiating variations to contracts, programs, projects and services
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responding to inquiries and resolving problems concerning contracts, programs, projects, services provided, and persons affected
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managing paperwork associated with contracts, programs, projects and services provided
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working with Project Managers, Architects, Engineering Professionals, owners and others to ensure that goals are met
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advising senior management on matters requiring attention and implementing their decisions
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overseeing work by contractors and reporting on variations to work orders
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preparing and reviewing submissions and reports concerning the organisation's activities
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collecting and analysing data associated with projects undertaken, and reporting on project outcomes
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reviewing and arranging new office accommodation
Characteristics
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University
-
Vocational Education and Training (VET)
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Informal or on-the-job
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Administrative
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Enterprising
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Sedentary
Outlook
JSA produces employment projections to show where likely future job opportunities may be. The latest data are for the five years from November 2021 to November 2026. Over this period, the number of workers:
- is expected to grow strongly
- is likely to reach 139,700 by 2026.
Source: Jobs and Skills Australia Employment Projections to 2026.
Notes: The number employed includes people who work in this occupation as their main job. People who work in more than one job are counted against the occupation they work the most hours in.
Employment projections figures are rounded to the nearest 100. Calculations based on these rounded figures may result in differences to the numbers that are displayed on this page. Employment projections data (including occupations) can be downloaded from the Employment Projections page.
Number of Workers
Year | Employment |
---|---|
2011 | 98,100 |
2012 | 108,700 |
2013 | 129,200 |
2014 | 124,100 |
2015 | 117,800 |
2016 | 112,600 |
2017 | 109,600 |
2018 | 123,800 |
2019 | 121,200 |
2020 | 120,200 |
2021 | 127,800 |
2026 | 139,700 |
Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, ABS seasonally adjusted data to November 2021 and Jobs and Skills Australia Employment Projections to 2026.
Earnings and hours
Working arrangements
-
Around 82% of people employed as Contract, Program and Project Administrators work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 16 percentage points above the all jobs average (66%).
Full-time workers work an average of 43 hours per week in their main job. This is similar to the all jobs average (44 hours per week).
More than a third of workers regularly work overtime or extra hours (either paid or unpaid).
Median full-time earnings are $1,848 per week, this is much higher than the all jobs median ($1,593):
- 3 in 4 workers earn more than $1,524
- 1 in 4 earn more than $2,278
Median hourly earnings are $49, this is more than the all jobs median ($41 per hour).
Sources: Full-time share and full-time hours: ABS, 2016 Census, customised report. Compared to the all jobs average. Overtime hours: ABS, Characteristics of Employment, 2021. Full-time median earnings and median hourly earnings: ABS, Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2021. Compared to all jobs median.
Weekly Earnings (Before Tax)
Earnings | Contract, Program and Project Administrators | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Full-Time Earnings | 1,848 | 1,593 |
Total Earnings | 0 | 0 |
Source: Based on ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2021, Customised Report. Median weekly total cash earnings for full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate. Earnings are before tax and include amounts salary sacrificed. Earnings can vary greatly depending on the skills and experience of the worker and the demands of the role. These figures should be used as a guide only, not to determine a wage rate.
Industries
Main industries
-
Contract, Program and Project Administrators work in industries like:
- Public administration and safety
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Construction
- Health care and social assistance.
Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, annual average 2021.
Regions
Employment across Australia
NSW
VIC
QLD
SA
WA
TAS
NT
ACT
Employment by State and Territory (% Share)
State | Contract, Program and Project Administrators | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 30.3 | 31.6 |
VIC | 23.0 | 25.6 |
QLD | 20.7 | 20.0 |
SA | 6.7 | 7.0 |
WA | 10.2 | 10.8 |
TAS | 1.7 | 2.0 |
NT | 1.4 | 1.0 |
ACT | 5.9 | 1.9 |
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Around 73% of Contract, Program and Project Administrators live in capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 62%.
The Australian Capital Territory has a large share of employment relative to its population size.
The regions with the largest share of workers are:
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Share of workers across Australian states, territories and regions, in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Worker profile
Age and gender
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The median age of Contract, Program and Project Administrators is 42 years. This is similar to the all jobs average of 40 years.
A large share of workers are aged 35 to 44 years.
Females make up 55% of the workforce. This is 7 percentage points above the all jobs average of 48%.
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile and gender share compared to the all jobs average.
Age Profile (% Share)
Age Bracket | Contract, Program and Project Administrators | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
15-19 | 0.3 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 3.7 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 24.6 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 29.6 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 25.6 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 9.2 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 5.0 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 2.1 | 4.2 |
Median Age | 42 | 40 |
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Employment Pathways
Education, training and experience
A formal qualification in a relevant field (like business and management, project management, engineering, ICT or accounting) and relevant industry experience is usually needed to work as a Contract, Program or Project Administrator. University and Vocational Education and Training (VET) are both common study pathways.
Visit
- Course Seeker to search and compare higher education courses.
- ComparED to compare undergraduate and postgraduate student experiences and outcomes.
- My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
- AAPathways website to explore Business Services, Financial Services and Public Sector VET training pathways.
Highest Level of Education (% Share)
Type of Qualification | Contract, Program and Project Administrators | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 18.3 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 31.4 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 16.4 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 14.1 | 21.1 |
Year 12 | 13.0 | 18.1 |
Year 11 | 2.5 | 4.8 |
Year 10 and below | 4.3 | 12.5 |
Source: ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study). Qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.
Skills and Knowledge
Employers look for Contract, Program and Project Administrators who can communicate well with a variety of stakeholders and provide good customer service.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
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55%
SpeakingTalking to others.
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55%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
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54%
Active listeningListening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
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54%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
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52%
Critical thinkingThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
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52%
Social perceptivenessUnderstanding why people react the way they do.
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52%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
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50%
Management of personnel resourcesMotivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and choosing the best people for the job.
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50%
MonitoringKeeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
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50%
WritingWriting things for co-workers or customers.
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48%
NegotiationBringing people together and trying to sort out their differences.
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48%
Serving othersLooking for ways to help people.
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48%
Active learningBeing able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
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46%
Judgment and decision makingFiguring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
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46%
Complex problem solvingNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
-
46%
PersuasionTalking people into changing their minds or their behaviour.
-
45%
InstructingTeaching people how to do something.
-
45%
Learning strategiesFiguring out the best way to teach or learn something new.
-
43%
Systems analysisFiguring out how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect it.
-
39%
Management of material resourcesProviding the right equipment, facilities, and materials needed to do work.
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
-
83%
ClericalWord processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
-
76%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
-
60%
Personnel and human resourcesRecruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
-
60%
Computers and electronicsCircuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
-
59%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
-
58%
Economics and accountingEconomics and accounting, the financial markets, banking and checking and reporting of financial data.
-
58%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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53%
MathematicsArithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
-
45%
Sales and marketingShowing, promoting, and selling including marketing strategy, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
-
37%
Education and trainingCurriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
-
33%
Production and processingRaw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.
-
31%
Communications and mediaMedia production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
-
29%
Public safety and securityUse of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
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28%
PsychologyHuman behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.
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28%
Law and governmentHow our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
-
24%
Technical designDesign techniques, tools, and principles used to make detailed technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
-
24%
TransportationMoving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road.
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23%
TelecommunicationsTransmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
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20%
Building and constructionMaterials, and methods used to construct or repair houses, buildings, or other structures like highways and roads.
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16%
Sociology and anthropologyGroup behaviour and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities..
-
57%
Oral comprehensionListen to and understand what people say.
-
55%
Oral expressionCommunicate by speaking.
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55%
Written comprehensionRead and understand written information.
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55%
Written expressionWrite in a way that people can understand.
-
50%
Deductive reasoningUse general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
-
50%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
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50%
Problem spottingNotice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
-
50%
Speech claritySpeak clearly so others can understand you.
-
50%
Speech recognitionIdentify and understand the speech of another person.
-
46%
Inductive reasoningUse lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
-
45%
Sorting or orderingOrder or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
-
43%
CategorisingCome up with different ways of grouping things.
-
43%
Selective attentionPay attention to something without being distracted.
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41%
BrainstormingCome up with a number of ideas about a topic, even if the ideas aren't very good.
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41%
OriginalityCome up with unusual or clever ideas, or creative ways to solve a problem.
-
39%
VisualizationImagine how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
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37%
Finger dexterityPut together small parts with your fingers.
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37%
MultitaskingDo two or more things at the same time.
-
36%
MathematicsChoose the right maths method or formula to solve a problem.
-
34%
Flexibility of closureSee a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) hidden in other distracting material.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
-
79%
Planning and prioritising workDeciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
-
70%
Communicating within a teamGiving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
-
69%
Building good relationshipsBuilding good working relationships and keeping them over time.
-
68%
Communicating with the publicGiving information to the public, business or government by telephone, in writing, or in person.
-
65%
Collecting and organising informationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
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64%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
-
64%
Making decisions and solving problemsUsing information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
-
63%
Providing office supportDoing day-to-day office work such as filing and processing paperwork.
-
62%
Documenting or recording informationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
-
62%
Coordinating the work of a teamGetting members of a group to work together to finish a task.
-
61%
Negotiating and resolving conflictsHandling complaints and disagreements, and negotiating with people.
-
60%
Assessing and evaluating thingsWorking out the value, importance, or quality of things, services or people.
-
59%
Scheduling work and activitiesWorking out the timing of events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
-
58%
Working with the publicGreeting or serving customers, clients or guests, and public speaking or performing.
-
56%
Monitoring people, processes and thingsChecking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.
-
55%
Looking for changes over timeComparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
-
55%
Managing payments and ordersMonitoring and controlling resources and the spending of money.
-
54%
Making sense of information and ideasLooking at, working with, and understanding data or information.
-
53%
Working with computersUsing computers to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
-
52%
Checking compliance with standardsDeciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
Interests and demands
Learn about the daily activities, and physical and social demands faced by workers. Explore the values and work styles that workers rate as most important.
Interests
Interests are the style or type of work we prefer to do. All interest areas are shown below.
-
100%
EnterprisingStarting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.
-
76%
AdministrativeFollowing set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
-
38%
HelpingWorking with people. Helping or providing service to others.
-
33%
AnalyticalIdeas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
-
29%
PracticalPractical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
-
14%
CreativeWorking with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
Values
-
90%
RelationshipsServe and work with others. Workers usually get along well with each other, do things to help other people, and are rarely pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.
-
81%
IndependenceWork alone and make decisions. Workers are able to try out their own ideas, make decisions on their own, and work with little or no supervision.
-
67%
AchievementResults oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
-
67%
RecognitionAdvancement and the potential to lead. Workers are recognised for the work that they do, they may give directions and instructions to others, and they are looked up to in their company and their community.
-
67%
Working conditionsJob security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.
-
57%
SupportSupportive management that stands behind employees. Workers are treated fairly by their company, they are supported by management, and have supervisors who train them well.
Demands
-
100%
TelephoneTalk on the telephone.
-
99%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
-
97%
Electronic mailUse electronic mail.
-
92%
Contact with peopleHave contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
-
91%
Unstructured workHave freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
-
89%
Freedom to make decisionsHave freedom to make decision on your own.
-
89%
Indoors, heat controlledWork indoors with access to heating or cooling.
-
86%
Letters and memosWrite letters and memos.
-
86%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
-
85%
Frequent decision makingFrequently make decisions that impact other people.
-
81%
Time pressureWork to strict deadlines.
-
81%
Being exact or accurateBe very exact or highly accurate.
-
80%
Impact of decisionsMake decisions that have a large impact on other people.
-
80%
Spend time sittingSpend time sitting at work.
-
79%
Contact with the publicWork with customers or the public.
-
78%
Lead or coordinate a teamLead others to do work activities.
-
76%
Repeating same tasksRepeat the same tasks or activities (e.g., key entry) over and over, without stopping.
-
74%
Responsible for outcomesTake responsibility for the results of other people's work.
-
71%
Conflict situationsDeal with conflict or disagreements.
-
70%
Angry or unpleasant peopleDeal with unpleasant, angry, or rude people.
O*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
The skills and importance ratings on this page are derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2, 11-3011.00 - Administrative Services Managers.
Links and downloads
Research and reports
The Skills Priority List provides a current labour market rating and a future demand rating for nearly 800 occupations nationally. Current labour market ratings are available for occupations at a state and territory level.
Downloads
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Occupation profiles data are available for download.
The Employment Projections are available for download.