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Grant writer salary
Average grant writer salary
$52,719
Understanding Grant Writer Salaries
The role of a grant writer is crucial in many sectors, including non-profits, education, and healthcare. As of October 2025, the average salary for grant writers stands at $52,719 per year, translating to approximately $25 per hour. Salaries can fluctuate widely based on a variety of factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and the specific programs for which they are writing grants.
Factors Influencing Salary
- Experience Level: Entry-level grant writers may earn lower salaries, while those with significant experience or specialized skills can command more.
- Location: Certain states, such as California and New York, tend to offer higher salaries due to the cost of living and demand for skilled grant writers.
- Industry: Grant writers in healthcare or education may earn different salaries compared to those in the arts or community development.
For individuals considering a career in grant writing, understanding these dynamics is vital. Researching specific salary data by state and industry can provide valuable insights into potential earnings and help aspiring professionals make informed decisions about their career paths.
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Where can a Grant Writer earn more?
Grant writer salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level grant writer | $35,800 | $17.19 |
| Mid-level grant writer | $57,000 | $27.41 |
| Senior-level grant writer | $78,200 | $37.62 |
Grant writer salary estimates from across the web
Average grant writer salary by state
The average grant writer salary in California, Massachusetts, and Maryland are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average grant writer salary states are South Carolina, Kentucky, and Oklahoma.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for grant writers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $74,906 | $36.01 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $65,410 | $31.45 |
| 3 | New York | $63,021 | $30.30 |
| 4 | Maryland | $64,539 | $31.03 |
| 5 | California | $66,835 | $32.13 |
| 6 | Wyoming | $54,780 | $26.34 |
| 7 | Vermont | $57,519 | $27.65 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $60,507 | $29.09 |
| 9 | Washington | $57,045 | $27.43 |
| 10 | Virginia | $56,782 | $27.30 |
| 11 | Michigan | $57,949 | $27.86 |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $57,595 | $27.69 |
| 13 | New Jersey | $58,084 | $27.93 |
| 14 | Connecticut | $57,411 | $27.60 |
| 15 | Oregon | $53,411 | $25.68 |
| 16 | Rhode Island | $52,534 | $25.26 |
| 17 | North Dakota | $56,830 | $27.32 |
| 18 | Colorado | $55,232 | $26.55 |
| 19 | Nevada | $49,254 | $23.68 |
| 20 | Delaware | $52,027 | $25.01 |
| 21 | Arizona | $52,497 | $25.24 |
| 22 | Wisconsin | $49,815 | $23.95 |
| 23 | Minnesota | $50,566 | $24.31 |
| 24 | Montana | $49,403 | $23.75 |
| 25 | Georgia | $50,862 | $24.45 |
| 26 | Utah | $47,667 | $22.92 |
| 27 | North Carolina | $47,751 | $22.96 |
| 28 | Alaska | $49,183 | $23.65 |
| 29 | Missouri | $48,572 | $23.35 |
| 30 | Illinois | $47,803 | $22.98 |
| 31 | New Mexico | $47,393 | $22.79 |
| 32 | Hawaii | $50,953 | $24.50 |
| 33 | Ohio | $47,204 | $22.69 |
| 34 | Nebraska | $44,935 | $21.60 |
| 35 | Kansas | $46,707 | $22.46 |
| 36 | Tennessee | $45,357 | $21.81 |
| 37 | Texas | $45,341 | $21.80 |
| 38 | West Virginia | $43,663 | $20.99 |
| 39 | South Dakota | $44,475 | $21.38 |
| 40 | Maine | $45,548 | $21.90 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $43,647 | $20.98 |
| 42 | Louisiana | $45,358 | $21.81 |
| 43 | Idaho | $43,293 | $20.81 |
| 44 | Alabama | $43,522 | $20.92 |
| 45 | Florida | $42,207 | $20.29 |
| 46 | Iowa | $43,900 | $21.11 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $42,797 | $20.58 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $42,489 | $20.43 |
| 49 | Kentucky | $42,655 | $20.51 |
| 50 | Indiana | $41,465 | $19.94 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $40,795 | $19.61 |
Highest paying cities for grant writers
The highest-paying cities for grant writers are Washington, DC, San Francisco, CA, and Boston, MA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $74,937 | $36.03 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $69,006 | $33.18 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $65,388 | $31.44 |
| 4 | Baltimore, MD | $64,836 | $31.17 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $63,202 | $30.39 |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $60,887 | $29.27 |
| 7 | Arlington, VA | $58,222 | $27.99 |
| 8 | New Haven, CT | $57,513 | $27.65 |
| 9 | Seattle, WA | $57,330 | $27.56 |
| 10 | Fort Collins, CO | $55,401 | $26.64 |
| 11 | Atlanta, GA | $50,934 | $24.49 |
| 12 | Saint Paul, MN | $50,549 | $24.30 |
| 13 | Madison, WI | $49,491 | $23.79 |
| 14 | Kansas City, MO | $48,768 | $23.45 |
| 15 | Raleigh, NC | $48,490 | $23.31 |
| 16 | Chicago, IL | $47,977 | $23.07 |
| 17 | Manhattan, KS | $46,943 | $22.57 |
| 18 | San Marcos, TX | $45,695 | $21.97 |
| 19 | Omaha, NE | $44,914 | $21.59 |
| 20 | Pocatello, ID | $42,642 | $20.50 |
Grant Writers are the most in-demand in these five cities:
Grant writer salary details
A grant writer's salary ranges from $38,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $73,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a grant writer's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $73,000 | $6,083 | $35 |
| 75th Percentile | $62,000 | $5,167 | $30 |
| Average | $52,719 | $4,393 | $25 |
| 25th Percentile | $44,000 | $3,667 | $21 |
| 10th Percentile | $38,000 | $3,167 | $18 |
Highest paying grant writer jobs
The highest paying types of grant writers are senior editor, managing editor, and senior writer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Publisher | $71,539 | $5,962 | $34.39 | 10,303 |
| Editor | $52,107 | $4,342 | $25.05 | 15,115 |
| News Editor | $53,822 | $4,485 | $25.88 | 12,484 |
| Technical Editor | $61,717 | $5,143 | $29.67 | 78,423 |
| Technical Writer And Editor | $65,088 | $5,424 | $31.29 | 78,617 |
| Managing Editor | $89,060 | $7,422 | $42.82 | 16,781 |
Which companies pay grant writers the most?
Grant writer salaries at Apple and University of Southern California are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average grant writer salary at companies like Deloitte and Department of Homeland Security are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Apple | $104,763 | $50.37 |
| 2 | University of Southern California | $64,055 | $30.80 |
| 3 | Deloitte | $63,294 | $30.43 |
| 4 | Department of Homeland Security | $63,167 | $30.37 |
| 5 | Grant Thornton | $61,219 | $29.43 |
| 6 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | $60,361 | $29.02 |
| 7 | Southwest Key Programs | $60,162 | $28.92 |
| 8 | Klamath Health Partnership | $60,014 | $28.85 |
| 9 | University of California | $59,901 | $28.80 |
| 10 | Moses Lake Clinic | $59,676 | $28.69 |
| 11 | RWJBarnabas Health | $59,659 | $28.68 |
| 12 | Sherpa | $59,416 | $28.57 |
| 13 | New York University | $59,170 | $28.45 |
| 14 | The New York Foundling | $59,032 | $28.38 |
| 15 | Cedars-Sinai | $58,781 | $28.26 |
| 16 | Boulder County | $58,696 | $28.22 |
| 17 | Mount Sinai Health System | $58,041 | $27.90 |
| 18 | Lincoln University | $57,753 | $27.77 |
| 19 | Medical Billing | $57,727 | $27.75 |
| 20 | Brown University | $57,596 | $27.69 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Grant Writer salary by industry
The average grant writer salary varies across industries:
- The average grant writer salary in the government industry is $53,843, the highest of any industry.
- The average grant writer salary in the finance industry is $53,269.
- Grant writers in the education industry earn an average salary of $47,261, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for grant writers
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Government | $53,843 | $25.89 |
| 2 | Professional | $53,269 | $25.61 |
| 3 | Health Care | $51,421 | $24.72 |
| 4 | Non Profits | $47,385 | $22.78 |
| 5 | Education | $47,261 | $22.72 |
High paying grant writer jobs
Grant writer salary trends
The average grant writer salary has risen by $7,091 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average grant writer earned $45,628 annually, but today, they earn $52,719 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for grant writers over the last decade.
Compare grant writer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average grant writer salary over time
Compare grant writer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Grant writer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $52,700 | $25.35 | +2.4% |
| 2024 | $51,400 | $24.73 | +1.4% |
| 2023 | $50,700 | $24.39 | +1.3% |
| 2022 | $50,100 | $24.08 | +1.5% |
| 2021 | $49,300 | $23.72 | -0.6% |
Recently added grant writer salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cedars-Sinai | Research Grant Specialist III-Women's & Guerin Children's Hybrid) | Los Angeles, CA | 06/30/2025 | $78,333 |
| Searhc | Grant Writer | Juneau, AK | 06/29/2025 | $58,039 |
| Dev | Research Grant Specialist III (Hybrid) | La Puente, CA | 06/29/2025 | $71,300 |
| Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority | Technical and Grant Writer | Boston, MA | 06/28/2025 | $77,896 |
| St. Catherine University (Mn | Grant Management Specialist | Saint Paul, MN | 06/28/2025 | $50,000 |
| Jobtrain | Grant Writer | Menlo Park, CA | 06/28/2025 | $66,560 |
| New Horizons Mental Health Services | Grant Writer | Lancaster, OH | 06/28/2025 | $60,000 |
| State of Florida | DOS-Grants Specialist IV | Tallahassee, FL | 06/27/2025 | $33,760 |
| City of Greeley | Grant Specialist II-Housing Solutions | Greeley, CO | 06/27/2025 | $72,100 |
| New York State Unified Court System | Grants Specialist | Rensselaer, NY | 06/27/2025 | $84,659 |
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