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What Can You Do With a Government Contracting Degree? Jobs
Key takeaway: Government contracting (CIP 52.0202, Purchasing, Procurement/Acquisitions and Contracts Management) is the FAR-and-DFARS degree: how the government buys, how contractors bid and perform, and how protests and audits work. American Public University sells a bachelor's. The CIP is small. In IPEDS 2024 only 14 institutions reported bachelor's-or-higher completions, all of them at schools that also report distance education. The degree does not confer a warrant as a contracting officer. Warrants are issued by the agency after training and experience on the job. It is also not [supply chain management](/programs/supply-chain-management), which is the private-network version of buying and moving goods.
Purchasing agents (the old 13-1023 title) are not published as a standalone detailed occupation in the May 2025 OEWS national file used on this site. Wage figures use purchasing managers, management analysts, compliance officers, and logisticians as the tracked occupations that actually do this work.
Jobs you can get with a government contracting degree
| Occupation | Median annual wage |
|---|---|
| Purchasing Managers | $148,080 |
| Management Analysts | $101,860 |
| Compliance Officers | $80,730 |
| Logisticians | $82,320 |
View the data behind this chart
| Occupation | Avg. annual openings |
|---|---|
| General and Operations Managers | 308,700/yr |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | 108,200/yr |
| Management Analysts | 98,100/yr |
| Compliance Officers | 33,300/yr |
| Logisticians | 26,400/yr |
| Administrative Services Managers | 23,200/yr |
| Cost Estimators | 16,900/yr |
| Purchasing Managers | 6,400/yr |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025 OEWS national medians. Median means half of workers in the occupation earned more and half earned less.
Purchasing Managers. The national median annual wage was $148,080, with the 10th percentile at $92,490 and the 90th at $223,280 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025 OEWS). Employment was 83,500 in 2024, projected to grow 3.1 percent through 2034, with 6,400 openings per year (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034). See how to become a purchasing manager. Management Analysts. The national median annual wage was $101,860, with the 10th percentile at $60,640 and the 90th at $171,640 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025 OEWS). Employment was 1,075,100 in 2024, projected to grow 8.8 percent through 2034, with 98,100 openings per year (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034). Compliance Officers. The national median annual wage was $80,730, with the 10th percentile at $48,220 and the 90th at $133,720 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025 OEWS). Employment was 418,000 in 2024, projected to grow 3.0 percent through 2034, with 33,300 openings per year (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034). Logisticians. The national median annual wage was $82,320, with the 10th percentile at $50,890 and the 90th at $133,160 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025 OEWS). Employment was 241,000 in 2024, projected to grow 16.7 percent through 2034, with 26,400 openings per year (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034).
The jobs this degree does not get you
The degree does not confer a warrant as a contracting officer. Warrants are issued by the agency after training and experience on the job. It is also not supply chain management, which is the private-network version of buying and moving goods.
What the degree level changes
The online bachelor’s in government contracting is the entry credential in this CIP. The online master’s in government contracting is the advancement or specialization credential. Compare public administration, supply chain management, business administration before you enroll if those titles match the job you actually want.
Common questions
What jobs can you get with a government contracting degree?
Common occupations include purchasing managers, management analysts, compliance officers, logisticians.
How much do government contracting majors make?
Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025 OEWS national medians include $148,080 for purchasing managers, $101,860 for management analysts, $80,730 for compliance officers, $82,320 for logisticians. Individual outcomes vary.
Data verified: September 7, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.
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