diff --git a/backend/core/tests/test_contributors.py b/backend/core/tests/test_contributors.py
index 3379bb24..b98a8dc1 100644
--- a/backend/core/tests/test_contributors.py
+++ b/backend/core/tests/test_contributors.py
@@ -30,8 +30,8 @@ def setUpTestData(cls) -> None:
         cls.episode = Episode.objects.create(
             name="Death Star destroyed", source_id=source.pk
         )
-        cls.user_1 = User.objects.create(username="Yoda")
-        cls.user_2 = User.objects.create(username="Obi-Wan")
+        cls.user_1 = User.objects.create(username="Yoda", is_contributor=True)
+        cls.user_2 = User.objects.create(username="Obi-Wan", is_contributor=True)
 
     def test_single_contributor_one_contribution(self):
         self.client.force_login(self.user_1)
diff --git a/backend/user/admin.py b/backend/user/admin.py
index 26d25b24..37a60e2d 100644
--- a/backend/user/admin.py
+++ b/backend/user/admin.py
@@ -4,4 +4,5 @@
 
 @admin.register(models.User)
 class UserAdmin(auth_admin.UserAdmin):
-    pass
+    fieldsets = auth_admin.UserAdmin.fieldsets
+    fieldsets[2][1]["fields"] = list(fieldsets[2][1]["fields"]) + ["is_contributor"]
diff --git a/backend/user/serializers.py b/backend/user/serializers.py
index 4886ee4c..c7ec4a98 100644
--- a/backend/user/serializers.py
+++ b/backend/user/serializers.py
@@ -13,5 +13,6 @@ class Meta(UserDetailsSerializer.Meta):
             "first_name",
             "last_name",
             "is_staff",
+            "is_contributor",
         )
-        read_only_fields = ["is_staff", "id", "email"]
+        read_only_fields = ["is_staff", "id", "email", "is_contributor"]
diff --git a/backend/user/tests/test_user_views.py b/backend/user/tests/test_user_views.py
index babe923b..fba8584b 100644
--- a/backend/user/tests/test_user_views.py
+++ b/backend/user/tests/test_user_views.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ def test_user_details(user_client, user_data):
         "first_name": user_data["first_name"],
         "last_name": user_data["last_name"],
         "is_staff": False,
+        "is_contributor": False,
     }
 
 
@@ -28,10 +29,11 @@ def test_user_updates(user_client, user_data):
     assert response.status_code == 200
     assert details()["username"] == "NewName"
 
-    # is_staff is readonly, so nothing should happen
+    # is_staff and is_contributor are readonly, so nothing should happen
     response = user_client.patch(
         route,
-        {"is_staff": True},
+        {"is_staff": True, "is_contributor": True},
         content_type="application/json",
     )
     assert not details()["is_staff"]
+    assert not details()["is_contributor"]