Side-by-side distribution
Contract Manager
$93,600
median · per year, annualized USD
- Disclosing
- 25.8%
- Live roles
- 563
Lawyer
$175,000
median · per year, annualized USD
- Disclosing
- 45%
- Live roles
- 1,431
Highest-paying jobs
Contracts Administrator
Local Marketing Manager (12-Month Fixed Term Contract)
Campaign Manager (12-Month Fixed Term Contract)
Fractional Growth Product Manager (Part-Time 1099 Contract)
Engineering Manager (fixed term contract)
Contract Proposal Manager- Department of Defense
Contract Lifecycle Manager
Contract Manufacturing Manager
Contract Manager
Contract Technical Sourcing Specialist
Highest-paying jobs
Corporation Immigration Attorney, Practice Owner
Immigration Attorney, Practice Owner
Legal Counsel (corporate / commercial, 3-5 PQE), hybrid/remote
Legal Counsel
Trial Attorney
Employment Law Attorney
Employment Law Attorney
Trial Attorney
Employment Law Attorney
Nursing Home Attorney
Top companies hiring
| Company | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
Remote
|
$79,425 | 6 |
Handshake
|
$83,200 | 5 |
Esri
|
$126,880 | 4 |
Patreon
|
$186,292 | 3 |
Mindgrub
|
$166,400 | 3 |
Blue State
|
$156,000 | 3 |
VML Enterprise Solutions
|
$60,320 | 3 |
VML
|
$60,320 | 3 |
Top companies hiring
| Company | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
| WE Wilson Elser - Attorneys | $185,000 | 72 |
|
Axiom Talent Platform
|
$214,750 | 63 |
The United Firm | La Liga Defensora, APC
|
$100,000 | 47 |
Parnalllaw
|
$300,000 | 44 |
Modern Family Law
|
$151,000 | 36 |
|
Morgan & Morgan, P.A.
|
$292,500 | 24 |
| TM Tyson & Mendes LLP | $133,750 | 24 |
Michael & Associates, Attorneys at Law
|
$177,500 | 15 |
Contract Manager salary by location
| Location | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $130,000 | 3 |
| Chicago | $116,698 | 4 |
| Denver | $112,500 | 3 |
| New York | $111,000 | 9 |
| Boston | $99,500 | 3 |
| San Francisco | $87,360 | 8 |
| Toronto | $75,000 | 7 |
| London | $60,320 | 15 |
Lawyer salary by location
| Location | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | $214,750 | 29 |
| San Francisco | $203,656 | 34 |
| Boston | $194,875 | 6 |
| London | $188,441 | 5 |
| New York | $185,000 | 99 |
| Toronto | $182,000 | 12 |
| Seattle | $179,500 | 14 |
| Denver | $177,000 | 16 |
| Chicago | $175,000 | 33 |
| Los Angeles | $170,000 | 62 |
Contract Manager vs Lawyer: which pays more?
The median for Contract Manager is $93,600 per year (typically $75,000–$147,500), versus $175,000 for Lawyer ($130,000–$214,750). That puts Lawyer about 87% ahead at the median.
Both figures are computed live from active listings on JobsRadar and normalized to annualized USD, so Contract Manager and Lawyer are compared on equal terms regardless of the currency each role was originally posted in. Only roles that publish a salary range feed the medians; numbers refresh every few hours as new roles post and older ones close, so this comparison reflects the market right now rather than a fixed survey. Use it as a directional benchmark when weighing one path against the other.