Star Citizen Contracts for Every Playstyle
Getting Started with Star Citizen Contracts
New to Star Citizen and wondering how to find missions with other players? The in-game contract manager gives you NPC missions, but the real money and the real fun come from player-to-player contracts. The Contracts Board bridges the gap between Star Citizen's in-game economy and player-driven gameplay, letting you find work that pays better and connects you with the community.
Unlike random matchmaking, player contracts let you negotiate terms, choose your clients, and build lasting partnerships. A new player can start with simple delivery runs to learn the ropes, then graduate to escort missions, mining operations, or bounty hunting as their skills and ship collection grow. Every contract you complete builds your reputation score, making it easier to land better-paying jobs.
Getting started is simple: sign in with Discord, verify your RSI handle, and browse available contracts. Filter by contract type, payout range, and danger level to find opportunities that match your current ship and experience. Many veteran players specifically look for new contractors to train—it's a community that rewards showing up and doing good work.
Contract Types Explained
Hauling Contracts: Transport cargo between locations for clients who need reliable delivery. Payouts vary based on cargo value, distance, and risk level. Ideal for ships with cargo capacity like the Freelancer, Cutlass, Constellation, or Hull series. Most hauling contracts pay per SCU delivered.
Mining Contracts: Join mining crews or hire protection for your own operations. Mining specialists operate Prospectors, MOLEs, or Orions while escorts provide security. Quantanium runs are high-risk, high-reward—the volatile ore explodes if you don't refine it fast enough, making escort protection critical.
Escort and Security: Provide combat protection for cargo haulers, miners, or exploration crews. Security contracts specify the route, duration, and expected threat level. Combat pilots with fighters like the Gladius, Hornet, or Vanguard find steady work protecting valuable cargo runs.
Bounty Hunting: Track down and eliminate player or NPC targets. Bounty contracts include target information, last known location, and payment terms. These high-risk contracts attract skilled combat pilots who know Stanton's systems inside and out.
Salvage Operations: Recover valuable materials and components from wrecks. Salvage crews coordinate between operators running Vultures or Reclaimers and support ships handling logistics and security. It's emerging as one of Star Citizen's most profitable contract types.
Medical Response: Provide emergency medical assistance to downed players. Medical contracts include rescue location, patient status, and transport needs. Cutlass Red and Apollo pilots can earn steady income as on-call medics.
Exploration: Scout jump points, survey planets, or map new locations. Exploration contracts pay for data and discoveries. Pathfinders, Carracks, and 600i Explorers excel at these long-range missions that take players to the edges of known space.
Hauling and Cargo Contracts
Cargo hauling is one of Star Citizen's core economic activities. Whether you're running freight in a Freelancer MAX between Lorville and Area 18 or making bulk commodity runs in a C2 Hercules, the Contracts Board connects you with clients who need reliable haulers. Post your ship and available cargo capacity, set your rates per SCU, and build a reputation as a dependable cargo runner.
Pair hauling contracts with our commodity price tracker to maximize profit on every run. Know exactly what to buy at each terminal before you undock.
Mining and Escort Operations
Mining operations in Star Citizen often require coordination—a pilot in the Prospector or MOLE plus escort fighters to protect against pirates. Use the Contracts Board to hire escorts for mining runs, or post your services as a combat pilot looking to protect mining crews. Our reputation system ensures you're pairing with players who follow through on their commitments.
Quantanium mining runs are especially time-sensitive. Live Ops lets you find available escorts right now when you need immediate protection for a volatile haul.
Bounty Hunting and Security
Combat-focused players can find bounty hunting contracts, security details, and escort missions. Clients post contracts with payout, danger level, and location details so you can choose missions that match your ship and skill level. Every completed bounty and security contract builds your combat reputation, making you more visible to high-value clients.
Browse our ship database to compare fighters and find the best combat loadout, then check organizations that focus on bounty hunting and mercenary work.
Finding Reliable Star Citizen Crews
The biggest challenge in player-to-player contracts isn't finding opportunities—it's finding reliable people. Discord LFG channels are full of players who flake, ghost, or disappear mid-mission. The Contracts Board solves this with verified identities and transparent reputation.
Every user on the platform has their RSI handle verified, linking their in-game identity to their contract history. You can see exactly how many contracts they've completed, their on-time rate, and reviews from other players. Before accepting any contract, check the poster's profile to see their track record. A player with 50 completed contracts and positive reviews is a safer bet than an anonymous Discord message.
For high-value contracts, look for contractors with specialized reputation tags. Combat specialists earn tags for completed escort and bounty missions. Traders earn reliability badges for on-time deliveries. These tags aren't bought—they're earned through consistent performance.
Tips for New Freelancers
Starting your freelance career in Star Citizen with zero reputation can feel daunting, but every veteran started the same way. Here's how to build your reputation from scratch and land your first paid contracts.
Start small: Look for low-risk contracts with patient posters. Delivery runs, shuttle services, and basic escort missions are perfect for beginners. You'll earn less per job, but you'll build the reputation needed for bigger opportunities.
Communicate clearly: Respond to contracts promptly and keep your contractor informed. If you're running late, say so. If you hit a problem, ask for help. Contractors value reliability over perfection—showing up when you say you will matters more than flashy skills.
Join an organization: Organizations provide built-in networks for contracts. Org members often prefer hiring within their community, giving new members a path to their first jobs. Many orgs run training programs that pair newcomers with experienced pilots.
Don't overcommit: It's tempting to take every contract you see, but a failed contract hurts your reputation more than turning down work. Only accept jobs you're confident you can complete. As your skills and ship collection grow, expand into more demanding contract types.
Posting Effective Contracts
Getting quality applicants for your contracts starts with writing clear, detailed postings. Vague contracts attract unreliable applicants; specific contracts attract professionals who know exactly what's expected.
Specify the mission type: Don't just say "escort needed." State the cargo type, route, expected threats, and flight duration. A post like "Escort needed for Quantanium run from ArcCorp mining to CRU-L1, 45-minute window, expect possible pirate interdiction" tells applicants exactly what they're signing up for.
Set clear payment terms: State your payout in aUEC and payment timing (on arrival, split, or milestone). If payment depends on mission success, explain the conditions. Ambiguous payment terms scare off experienced contractors.
Include ship requirements: If you need a specific ship type or loadout, say so. "Looking for a light fighter with S3 weapons or better" is more useful than "combat pilot wanted."
Respond quickly: Good contractors get snapped up fast. When someone applies to your contract, review their profile and respond within minutes if possible. A delayed response often means losing your best applicant to another job.
Payment and Trust in Star Citizen
All payments on the Contracts Board are made in aUEC—Star Citizen's in-game currency. Real-money transactions are prohibited and violate CIG's Terms of Service. The platform facilitates matching and reputation, but actual payments happen in-game between players.
Since there's no escrow system in Star Citizen, trust matters. The reputation system exists precisely because payment requires trust. When you see a contractor with dozens of positive reviews and a high completion rate, you're seeing proof that they've honored their agreements repeatedly.
For high-value contracts, many players use milestone payments—paying partial amounts at checkpoints during the mission rather than the full amount at the end. A hauling contract might pay 50% at pickup confirmation and 50% on delivery. This spreads risk between both parties.
If a payment dispute occurs, both parties can leave honest reviews detailing what happened. The community self-polices through reputation—bad actors quickly accumulate negative reviews that warn future contractors. Over time, players who don't pay or don't deliver get naturally filtered out of the marketplace.
Never feel pressured to work with someone whose profile raises red flags. A player with no history, recent negative reviews, or suspicious behavior is worth avoiding, no matter how good the payout sounds. Protecting your reputation is worth more than any single contract.