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Best states for a grant writer
Quoted expert
Dr. Joshua Rodefer Ph.D.
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Grant writer opportunities vary in different parts of the country. In order to help you determine the best states for grant writers, we ranked all fifty states from best to worst for grant writers.As grant writers are popular in the U.S., we wanted to bring you a list of the best states for grant writers. In case you are trying to decide where to start your career as a grant writer, or if you are considering moving to a different city or state, we got you covered.
District of Columbia is the best state for jobs for grant writers, and Mississippi is the worst. The most common pay in District of Columbia is $74,906, while the median pay in Mississippi is $40,795.We found that the South is best for grant writers, and the Northeast is the worst. Washington, DC is the best city in the country for grant writer jobs, where as District of Columbia is the best state in the country.
10 best states for grant writers in 2026
1. District of Columbia
Total grant writer jobs: 205 Average annual salary: $74,906 Lowest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $107,000 Location Quotient: 4.44
2. Massachusetts
Total grant writer jobs: 403 Average annual salary: $65,410 Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Location Quotient: 1.59
3. New York
Total grant writer jobs: 802 Average annual salary: $63,021 Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $89,000 Location Quotient: 2.27
4. Maryland
Total grant writer jobs: 331 Average annual salary: $64,539 Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Location Quotient: 1.9
5. California
Total grant writer jobs: 1,070 Average annual salary: $66,835 Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Location Quotient: 1.33
6. Wyoming
Total grant writer jobs: 31 Average annual salary: $54,780 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $72,000 Location Quotient: 1.88
7. Vermont
Total grant writer jobs: 28 Average annual salary: $57,519 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Location Quotient: 1.33
8. Pennsylvania
Total grant writer jobs: 252 Average annual salary: $60,507 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Location Quotient: 0.79
9. Washington
Total grant writer jobs: 230 Average annual salary: $57,045 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $76,000 Location Quotient: 1.14
10. Virginia
Total grant writer jobs: 420 Average annual salary: $56,782 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Location Quotient: 1.62
Grant writer jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a grant writer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a grant writer
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $74,906 | $52,000 | 693,972 | 205 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $65,410 | $46,000 | 6,859,819 | 403 |
| 3 | New York | $63,021 | $44,000 | 19,849,399 | 802 |
| 4 | Maryland | $64,539 | $44,000 | 6,052,177 | 331 |
| 5 | California | $66,835 | $46,000 | 39,536,653 | 1,070 |
| 6 | Wyoming | $54,780 | $41,000 | 579,315 | 31 |
| 7 | Vermont | $57,519 | $41,000 | 623,657 | 28 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $60,507 | $42,000 | 12,805,537 | 252 |
| 9 | Washington | $57,045 | $42,000 | 7,405,743 | 230 |
| 10 | Virginia | $56,782 | $39,000 | 8,470,020 | 420 |
| 11 | Michigan | $57,949 | $41,000 | 9,962,311 | 144 |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $57,595 | $41,000 | 1,342,795 | 38 |
| 13 | New Jersey | $58,084 | $40,000 | 9,005,644 | 232 |
| 14 | Connecticut | $57,411 | $40,000 | 3,588,184 | 80 |
| 15 | Oregon | $53,411 | $39,000 | 4,142,776 | 198 |
| 16 | Rhode Island | $52,534 | $37,000 | 1,059,639 | 33 |
| 17 | North Dakota | $56,830 | $43,000 | 755,393 | 14 |
| 18 | Colorado | $55,232 | $41,000 | 5,607,154 | 136 |
| 19 | Nevada | $49,254 | $35,000 | 2,998,039 | 69 |
| 20 | Delaware | $52,027 | $36,000 | 961,939 | 32 |
| 21 | Arizona | $52,497 | $37,000 | 7,016,270 | 109 |
| 22 | Wisconsin | $49,815 | $36,000 | 5,795,483 | 102 |
| 23 | Minnesota | $50,566 | $37,000 | 5,576,606 | 145 |
| 24 | Montana | $49,403 | $38,000 | 1,050,493 | 32 |
| 25 | Georgia | $50,862 | $35,000 | 10,429,379 | 180 |
| 26 | Utah | $47,667 | $35,000 | 3,101,833 | 100 |
| 27 | North Carolina | $47,751 | $33,000 | 10,273,419 | 244 |
| 28 | Alaska | $49,183 | $43,000 | 739,795 | 32 |
| 29 | Missouri | $48,572 | $35,000 | 6,113,532 | 128 |
| 30 | Illinois | $47,803 | $34,000 | 12,802,023 | 337 |
| 31 | New Mexico | $47,393 | $34,000 | 2,088,070 | 43 |
| 32 | Hawaii | $50,953 | $39,000 | 1,427,538 | 21 |
| 33 | Ohio | $47,204 | $33,000 | 11,658,609 | 152 |
| 34 | Nebraska | $44,935 | $33,000 | 1,920,076 | 66 |
| 35 | Kansas | $46,707 | $33,000 | 2,913,123 | 50 |
| 36 | Tennessee | $45,357 | $32,000 | 6,715,984 | 88 |
| 37 | Texas | $45,341 | $31,000 | 28,304,596 | 418 |
| 38 | West Virginia | $43,663 | $30,000 | 1,815,857 | 24 |
| 39 | South Dakota | $44,475 | $33,000 | 869,666 | 14 |
| 40 | Maine | $45,548 | $33,000 | 1,335,907 | 17 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $43,647 | $31,000 | 3,004,279 | 40 |
| 42 | Louisiana | $45,358 | $31,000 | 4,684,333 | 26 |
| 43 | Idaho | $43,293 | $32,000 | 1,716,943 | 34 |
| 44 | Alabama | $43,522 | $30,000 | 4,874,747 | 50 |
| 45 | Florida | $42,207 | $28,000 | 20,984,400 | 332 |
| 46 | Iowa | $43,900 | $32,000 | 3,145,711 | 43 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $42,797 | $29,000 | 5,024,369 | 75 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $42,489 | $30,000 | 3,930,864 | 50 |
| 49 | Kentucky | $42,655 | $30,000 | 4,454,189 | 44 |
| 50 | Indiana | $41,465 | $29,000 | 6,666,818 | 98 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $40,795 | $28,000 | 2,984,100 | 19 |
Highest paying states for grant writers
| Rank | State | Avg. Grant Writer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $74,906 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $65,410 |
| 3 | New York | $63,021 |
| 4 | Maryland | $64,539 |
| 5 | California | $66,835 |
| 6 | Wyoming | $54,780 |
| 7 | Vermont | $57,519 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $60,507 |
| 9 | Washington | $57,045 |
| 10 | Virginia | $56,782 |
| 11 | Michigan | $57,949 |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $57,595 |
| 13 | New Jersey | $58,084 |
| 14 | Connecticut | $57,411 |
| 15 | Oregon | $53,411 |
| 16 | Rhode Island | $52,534 |
| 17 | North Dakota | $56,830 |
| 18 | Colorado | $55,232 |
| 19 | Nevada | $49,254 |
| 20 | Delaware | $52,027 |
| 21 | Arizona | $52,497 |
| 22 | Wisconsin | $49,815 |
| 23 | Minnesota | $50,566 |
| 24 | Montana | $49,403 |
| 25 | Georgia | $50,862 |
| 26 | Utah | $47,667 |
| 27 | North Carolina | $47,751 |
| 28 | Alaska | $49,183 |
| 29 | Missouri | $48,572 |
| 30 | Illinois | $47,803 |
| 31 | New Mexico | $47,393 |
| 32 | Hawaii | $50,953 |
| 33 | Ohio | $47,204 |
| 34 | Nebraska | $44,935 |
| 35 | Kansas | $46,707 |
| 36 | Tennessee | $45,357 |
| 37 | Texas | $45,341 |
| 38 | West Virginia | $43,663 |
| 39 | South Dakota | $44,475 |
| 40 | Maine | $45,548 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $43,647 |
| 42 | Louisiana | $45,358 |
| 43 | Idaho | $43,293 |
| 44 | Alabama | $43,522 |
| 45 | Florida | $42,207 |
| 46 | Iowa | $43,900 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $42,797 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $42,489 |
| 49 | Kentucky | $42,655 |
| 50 | Indiana | $41,465 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $40,795 |
Expert opinions on the best states for grant writers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for grant writers to find work opportunities?
Dr. Joshua Rodefer Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience, Mercer University
Major metropolitan areas are more likely to have greater concentrations of business, industry, and primary research institutions that might be looking to use graduates with these skill sets – but other areas and regions will also have demonstrated need for individuals with these skills. However, the coronavirus pandemic has seriously curtailed many hiring initiatives during 2020. Given the uncertain budgetary climate, it probably will continue to be a challenging employment climate in the coming months.
I think that it is essential that recent and soon-to-be graduates consider non-traditional sources of careers. Instead of solely focusing on graduate school education and obtaining a university faculty position after your Ph.D., individuals interested in neuroscience would be well-served to consider other career paths. Over the recent past, this typically meant positions in industry, biotech, or big pharma. However, even those areas have now seen an abundance of quality applicants.
It has been evident that individuals need to explore science-related, non-research careers. Places where individuals typically do not look for positions – non-profits, social policy organizations, government positions, business management and consulting, science writing/communication, K-12 education, even law firms often need researchers and data analysts. Thus the importance of developing an extensive and flexible skillset.
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Updated January 8, 2025