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The differences between research writers and grant writers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a research writer and a grant writer. Additionally, a grant writer has an average salary of $52,719, which is higher than the $50,741 average annual salary of a research writer.
The top three skills for a research writer include research topics, press releases and editorials. The most important skills for a grant writer are grants management, financial reports, and proposal development.
| Research Writer | Grant Writer | |
| Yearly salary | $50,741 | $52,719 |
| Hourly rate | $24.39 | $25.35 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 60,595 | 16,708 |
| Job satisfaction | 4.5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Research writers are professionals who conduct extensive research by taking complex information and then explaining it in lay terminology. These writers are required to conduct extensive research on various topics based on the requests of their clients to write keyword articles for search engine optimization (SEO). They must work with a wide variety of clients who specialize in web content to complete strategic research and content creation projects. Research writers must also manage research projects for companies, local and overseas.
Often working for a non-profit organization, a grant writer specializes in writing application letters for financial grants to foundations, government agencies, and companies. Their responsibilities revolve around maintaining records of data and documentation, finding grant opportunities, participating in devising strategies that benefit the company's growth, crafting correspondence, gathering requirements, and submitting and monitoring grant proposals. Furthermore, a grant writer must have in-depth knowledge and understanding of the organization they work for, including its history, vision, mission, policies, and regulations.
Research writers and grant writers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Research Writer | Grant Writer | |
| Average salary | $50,741 | $52,719 |
| Salary range | Between $32,000 And $80,000 | Between $38,000 And $73,000 |
| Highest paying City | Brookline, MA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Virginia | California |
| Best paying company | St. Jude Children's Research Hospital | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Non Profits | Government |
There are a few differences between a research writer and a grant writer in terms of educational background:
| Research Writer | Grant Writer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | English | Business |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between research writers' and grant writers' demographics:
| Research Writer | Grant Writer | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 41.4% Female, 58.6% | Male, 29.4% Female, 70.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 7.6% Asian, 8.6% White, 72.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 6.7% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 8.8% White, 71.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |