Home / Federal careers / GS-1109
Grants Management
Performs grants management work including grant administration, compliance monitoring, and financial oversight.
What GS-1109 pays
2025 base rates, before locality. Most federal employees add a locality adjustment on top.
| Grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 | Step 6 | Step 7 | Step 8 | Step 9 | Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS-5 | $34,454 | $35,603 | $36,752 | $37,901 | $39,050 | $40,199 | $41,348 | $42,497 | $43,646 | $44,786 |
| GS-7 | $42,679 | $44,102 | $45,525 | $46,948 | $48,371 | $49,794 | $51,217 | $52,640 | $54,063 | $55,486 |
| GS-9 | $52,205 | $53,945 | $55,685 | $57,425 | $59,165 | $60,905 | $62,645 | $64,385 | $66,125 | $67,865 |
| GS-11 | $63,163 | $65,268 | $67,373 | $69,478 | $71,583 | $73,688 | $75,793 | $77,898 | $80,003 | $82,108 |
| GS-12 | $75,706 | $78,229 | $80,752 | $83,275 | $85,798 | $88,321 | $90,844 | $93,367 | $95,890 | $98,422 |
| GS-13 | $90,025 | $93,026 | $96,027 | $99,028 | $102,029 | $105,030 | $108,031 | $111,032 | $114,033 | $117,034 |
| GS-14 | $106,382 | $109,928 | $113,474 | $117,020 | $120,566 | $124,112 | $127,658 | $131,204 | $134,750 | $138,296 |
Base pay only. Locality pay adds 15 to 40 percent or more depending on where the job sits. Source: OPM 2025 General Schedule.
Qualification requirements
OPM's standard for GS-1109, as written.
Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Administrative and Management Positions
Individual Occupational Requirements:
Education:
- Bachelor's degree in business, public administration, finance, or related field
OR
Experience: Experience in grants management, financial assistance, or program administration.
Education and Experience Requirements (Group Standard):
This is a two-grade interval series. Positions follow the GS-5, GS-7, GS-9, GS-11, GS-12 progression pattern.
| Grade | Education | Experience | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-5 | Bachelor's degree in any field from accredited college/university | 3 years progressively responsible experience, 1 year equivalent to GS-4 | Equivalent combinations qualifying |
| GS-7 | 1 full year graduate education OR Superior Academic Achievement | 1 year specialized experience equivalent to GS-5 | Combinations of graduate education and experience |
| GS-9 | 2 years graduate education or master's degree | 1 year specialized experience equivalent to GS-7 | Combinations of graduate education (excess of GS-7 requirement) and experience |
| GS-11 | 3 years graduate education or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree | 1 year specialized experience equivalent to GS-9 | Combinations of graduate education (excess of GS-9 requirement) and experience |
| GS-12+ | Not applicable | 1 year specialized experience equivalent to next lower grade | N/A |
Superior Academic Achievement (for GS-7):
- Upper third of graduating class in college/university or major subdivision
- GPA of 3.0 or higher out of 4.0 as recorded on official transcript, OR 3.5 or higher in major field
- Election to membership in national scholastic honor society
Graduate Education: One year of full-time graduate education is the number of credit hours the school determines represents 1 year of full-time study. If unavailable, 18 semester hours satisfies the 1-year requirement.
Specialized Experience: Experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position.
What this means if you served
- Write the duties, not the billet. OPM credits military experience on the work performed, and does not use rank or pay to judge specialized experience.
- Put the training and certifications you earned in service on the page. They count here.
- Claim your veterans preference on the application. It is not applied for you.
- No positive education requirement here, so qualifying experience can stand in for the education.
How to qualify for GS-1109
1Review Qualification Requirements
Read the OPM qualification standards above to understand the education and experience requirements for your target grade level.
2Find Your Grade Level
Grade follows the scope and complexity of the work you can document against the announcement, not the rank you held. OPM does not use military rank or pay when it evaluates specialized experience. Roughly: GS-5 entry, GS-7/9 junior, GS-11/12 journey, GS-13 and up senior.
3Gather Documentation
Collect your DD-214, SF-50 (if applicable), transcripts, certifications, and any training records that demonstrate your qualifications.
4Build Your Federal Resume
Two pages. USAJOBS has enforced that limit since 27 September 2025 and will not accept a longer resume from a Title 5 agency posting, so the space has to answer every qualification requirement. Include hours worked per week, supervisor contact details, and the accomplishments with numbers on them.
5Apply on USAJOBS
Search for open positions, carefully answer all assessment questions, and submit your application before the closing date.
Military jobs that map to this series
Yeoman
Yeomen handle administrative tasks and financial records, which can translate to managing grant documentation and compliance.
Skills that carry over: Administrative Management, Financial Record Keeping, Compliance Monitoring.
Usually opens at: GS-5, GS-7.
Your record can qualify you even when your code is not on this list. The crosswalk is a starting point, not the gate.
Typical duties
- Administer grant programs
- Review grant applications
- Monitor grantee compliance
- Provide technical assistance to grantees
- Manage grant budgets
- Prepare grant reports
Key competencies
Grants Administration
Ability to administer federal grants throughout the lifecycle.
Financial Analysis
Skill in reviewing budgets and financial reports.
Compliance Monitoring
Ability to ensure grantee compliance with regulations.
Technical Assistance
Skill in providing guidance to grant applicants and recipients.
Regulations Knowledge
Understanding of federal grants regulations (2 CFR 200).
Risk Assessment
Ability to assess and mitigate grant management risks.
Communication
Skill in communicating with grantees and program staff.
Documentation
Ability to maintain accurate grant files and records.
Words the announcement will use
Use the ones your record actually supports. A rater is matching your experience against the specialized experience statement, and a keyword with nothing behind it does not survive that.
Questions about GS-1109
What is a Grants Management Specialist?
A GS-1109 Grants Management Specialist administers federal grant programs throughout the entire grant lifecycle—from reviewing applications and awarding funds to monitoring grantee compliance with 2 CFR 200 regulations. These specialists manage grant budgets, provide technical assistance to recipients, assess risks, and ensure proper stewardship of federal funds distributed to organizations nationwide.
How much does a federal Grants Management Specialist make?
Federal Grants Management Specialists earn between $34,454 (GS-5 Step 1) and $138,296 (GS-14 Step 10) based on 2025 base pay rates. Mid-career specialists at GS-11/12 earn $63,163-$98,422, while senior grants managers at GS-13/14 earn $90,025-$138,296. Locality pay adds 15-40% in most metropolitan areas.
What are the requirements for GS-1109 positions?
GS-1109 is a two-grade interval professional series. Entry at GS-5 requires a bachelor's degree or equivalent experience. GS-7 requires one year of graduate education or superior academic achievement. Higher grades require specialized experience in grants administration, financial assistance programs, or compliance monitoring. Knowledge of 2 CFR 200 (Uniform Guidance) is essential for senior positions.
Can military experience substitute for education in GS-1109?
Yes, military experience in financial management, program administration, or compliance roles provides strong qualifying experience. Veterans who managed unit budgets, administered training funds, oversaw contract compliance, or worked in comptroller offices have directly transferable skills. Document your experience monitoring expenditures, ensuring regulatory compliance, and providing oversight of funds.
What is the career progression for Grants Management Specialist?
Grants Management follows the two-grade interval ladder: GS-5/7/9/11/12. Journey level is typically GS-11 or GS-12. Senior specialists and supervisors can reach GS-13/14. Career advancement often involves specializing in specific grant programs (research grants, community development, disaster assistance) or moving into policy and oversight roles.
How do I apply for GS-1109 jobs on USAJOBS?
Search USAJOBS.gov for "Grants Management" or series 1109. Major employers include HHS, DOE, FEMA, EPA, and USDA. Veterans should leverage preference points and VRA eligibility. Your federal resume should highlight experience with financial oversight, compliance monitoring, and program administration. Familiarity with grants.gov and federal financial systems strengthens applications.
Ready to apply for GS-1109?
A rater matches your record against the announcement's specialized experience statement, inside two pages. BMR writes that shape from your own experience: competency headers, real scope, hours per week, and the supervisor detail the rater checks.