Grants administrator vs contracts administrator

The differences between grants administrators and contracts administrators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a grants administrator and a contracts administrator. Additionally, a contracts administrator has an average salary of $52,876, which is higher than the $49,206 average annual salary of a grants administrator.

The top three skills for a grants administrator include grants management, financial reports and pre-award. The most important skills for a contracts administrator are contract administration, customer service, and contract management.

Grants administrator vs contracts administrator overview

	Grants Administrator	Contracts Administrator
Yearly salary	$49,206	$52,876
Hourly rate	$23.66	$25.42
Growth rate	6%	-6%
Number of jobs	60,227	58,038
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 65%	Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Average age	48	48
Years of experience	6	6

What does a grants administrator do?

A grants administrator is responsible for approving financial and administrative assistance to employees and the organization provided that they submit the required documents and application for project development and processes. Grants administrators determine the eligibility of programs to calculate payments, generate financial reports and transactions, and coordinate with the management team for project implementation. They also follow strict procedures and protocols to ensure that the budget adheres to internal guidelines and requirements. A grants administrator must have excellent communication and analytical skills to review proposals and legal documents.

What does a contracts administrator do?

Contract administrators create and manage legal contracts from which the company participates. They ensure that all entities to the contract will accomplish their obligations, as indicated in the contract. They usually work for larger organizations that might be involved with different or highly complex contracts. These organizations spread across a range of industries, including government, construction, and healthcare. Their responsibilities include addressing any conflicts of questions regarding the contract, analyzing the possible risks posed by contracts, and working alongside the legal and procurement teams.

Grants administrator vs contracts administrator salary

Grants administrators and contracts administrators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Grants Administrator	Contracts Administrator
Average salary	$49,206	$52,876
Salary range	Between $38,000 And $62,000	Between $35,000 And $78,000
Highest paying City	New Brunswick, NJ	Washington, DC
Highest paying state	New Jersey	Maryland
Best paying company	Children's Hospital Colorado	Ngam Advisors, L.P.
Best paying industry	Health Care	Finance

Differences between grants administrator and contracts administrator education

There are a few differences between a grants administrator and a contracts administrator in terms of educational background:

	Grants Administrator	Contracts Administrator
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 65%	Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	University of Pennsylvania

Grants administrator vs contracts administrator demographics

Here are the differences between grants administrators' and contracts administrators' demographics:

	Grants Administrator	Contracts Administrator
Average age	48	48
Gender ratio	Male, 28.2% Female, 71.8%	Male, 32.2% Female, 67.8%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.0% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.3% Asian, 7.7% White, 65.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%	Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.6% Asian, 7.7% White, 65.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage	7%	7%

Differences between grants administrator and contracts administrator duties and responsibilities

Grants administrator example 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.
Submit research relate regulatory and annual reports, including IRB applications and updates, annual reports, and the like.
Serve as technical resource for grant recipients with knowledge of federal regulations and guidelines; OMB circulars A110 and A122.

Contracts administrator example responsibilities.

Manage communication between both interviewees and candidates regarding interview logistics.
Coordinate requirements and interface with other division personnel to accomplish timely and cost effective procurement of assign commodities.
Optimize GPO department operating efficiency with cleanup, data analysis, and rebate reconciliation projects.
Ensure ERP data management for customer info and contract.
Mentor employees new to the duties and responsibilities of an SCA.
Utilize SQL queries, advance excel formulas, functions and project scheduling tools.

Grants administrator vs contracts administrator skills

Common grants administrator skills

Grants Management, 11%
Financial Reports, 6%
Pre-award, 6%
Customer Service, 5%
Research Administration, 5%
Principal Investigators, 5%

Common contracts administrator skills

Contract Administration, 11%
Customer Service, 7%
Contract Management, 6%
Proposal Preparation, 5%
Purchase Orders, 5%
Contract Terms, 5%

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Grants Administrator
Grants Administrator vs Contracts Administrator

Updated January 8, 2025

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