How To Become A Grants Administrator: What It Is and Career Path

What is a grants administrator and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Dr. Richard Huff Ph.D.

Grants administrators oversee every aspect of the grants process for their employer. He/She sets standards and deadlines for proposals. He/She ensures proposals are accurate and in compliance with established standards. Asides from that, he/she keeps a record of funding sources and grants applicants. Furthermore, he/she helps to process the paperwork, give out grants, and ensure funds are used according to the agreed terms and conditions. Additionally, he/she informs grantees about the funding opportunities and oversees the proposal planning process. Also, he/she maintains and verifies payment records, reviews invoices, and records receipts.

Employers seek applicants with at least a bachelor's degree in a related field. You must have at least four years of experience in a similar role. You must possess communication, organization, computer, attention to detail, interpersonal, and negotiation skills. Also, you must be familiar with grant processes and practices. The average salary of a grants administrator is $78,865. The range is between $67,610 and $85,005.

What general advice would you give to a grants administrator?

Dr. Richard Huff Ph.D.

Assistant professor, assistant chair, Virginia Commonwealth University

I believe opportunities for employment will begin to open up with a transition in the federal government over the next year or two. While local government and nonprofits will continue to offer opportunities for MPA graduates, I believe the federal government will have urgent needs for talent, given its aging workforce, retirements, and its neglect over the past four years.

I advise graduates to begin considering federal careers, but for whatever sector they choose to shift from micro concerns about management, behavior and work outcomes, and organization structure and operations, and begin to look toward the macro or "big picture." A macro view concerns changes brought on by external environmental forces, which shape our institutions over time. With so many external forces at work today, such as a global pandemic, technological change, ongoing climate change, political trends, and social upheavals, the involvement of public administrators is critical to maintaining our institutions and steadying government response. I encourage students to think critically but also to think big and pursue their passions. Public service is a noble calling. Set your sights high and pursue opportunities that match them.

ScoreGrants AdministratorUS Average

Salary

3.8

Avg. Salary $49,206

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.9

Growth rate 6%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

4.3

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.78%

Asian 7.74%

Black or African American 8.95%

Hispanic or Latino 12.31%

Unknown 4.40%

White 65.83%

Gender

female 71.78%

male 28.22%

Age - 49

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 49

Stress level

7.9

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.9

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

4.1

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a grants administrator

Explore grants administrator education requirements

Most common grants administrator degrees

Bachelor's

65.2 %

Master's

21.3 %

Associate

8.3 %

Start to develop specific grants administrator skills

Skills	Percentages
Grants Management	11.47%
Financial Reports	6.18%
Pre-award	5.50%
Customer Service	5.49%
Research Administration	5.34%

Complete relevant grants administrator training and internships

Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New grants administrators learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a grants administrator based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real grants administrator resumes.

Research grants administrator duties and responsibilities

Establish operating policies and procedures and attain SNF Medicare certification.
Update faculty regarding new federal sponsor (NIH and NSF) policies and regulations.
Verify compliance documents (IRB, IACUC, internal documents) with RVL and PCRO on inter-institutional agreements.
Organize and prepare grant applications for submission to NIH and private foundations.

Prepare your grants administrator resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your grants administrator resume.

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