What is Public Administration?

The field of public administration consists of a broad spectrum of skills², including but not limited to:

• Business management
• Sociology
• Political science
• Economics
• Diplomacy and foreign affairs

Students who enroll in public administration graduate programs are typically individuals who seek to forge their own career path. As a result, graduates with a Masters in Public Administration have several career options. However, certain information about the type and availability of each job open to those with a Master of Public Administration degree can be useful.

Salaries and Careers in Public Administration

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, graduates with degrees in public administration have access to multiple types of positions in federal, state and local government, non-profit groups, health care, urban planning, education, international affairs and more.³

These jobs might give you a sense of the salary range and job responsibilities you might find, as well as the health of the job market for each position.

Policy Analysts – Political analysts make recommendations to government entities about political, social and economic issues on a local, state or national level. Analysts may focus exclusively on policy, or they may provide assistance on legislative strategies, regulation and process controls. Analysts may also work with private organizations seeking support for a position. Low-level policy analysts with the U.S. government earn about $32,000, while higher-level analysts earn up to $145,000 annually.⁴ Policy analyst jobs become more prevalent the more polarized politics tends to get. The current job market is slightly better than average.

City Managers – People in city management positions control daily municipal operations in a variety of city departments. This requires an ability to handle and work as a member of a functioning bureaucracy as well as to meet with citizens and members of the local business community. The median salary for city managers is about $95,000; entry-level positions in city management departments tend to be somewhat lower. Most city management jobs require a Master in Public administration Degree.⁵ The current job market is about average.

Civic Officers – Civic organizations such as non-profit groups, advocacy groups, grant-writing organizations, unions and alumni associations all require part-time or full-time civic officers. These generally consist of individuals with Masters of Public Administration degrees. Non-supervisory civic officers tend to earn a median $25,000 annually, while higher-level positions earn an average of $70,000 per year or more.

¹Public Administration Jobs, “Public Administration Career Path.” Accessed May 4, 2012. 
²University of North Carolina Pembroke Public Administration, “What is Public Administration.” Accessed May 4, 2012.
³Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Sector 92 – Public Administration.” Accessed May 4, 2012.
⁴Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Policy analysts: Shaping society through research and problem-solving.” Accessed May 4, 2012. 
⁵Public Administration, “Public Administration Job Outlook.” Accessed May 4, 2012.

Municipal and State Agencies

This is particularly valid when it comes to municipal agencies. Their governments have to ensure the safety and efficiency of services provided to millions of people packed into a high-density residential/commercial area. The right person in a position of governmental power with a Master of Public Administration degree may be able to use her knowledge to change millions of lives for the better. Careers in public administration require individuals to have a strong understanding of what groups of people need and how best to provide it.

Of course, there are many potential government agencies that could benefit from candidates with a public administration degree. This is because each public administration degree is different. You may specialize or concentrate in any one of the following fields:

• Social Services
• Finance/Economics
• Environmental Science
• Public Safety
• Urban Planning
• Political Science
• Communications

Each of these has its own agency or specific concentration on the local, municipal or state level. Generally speaking, your college degree will prepare you for an entry-level position in an official agency dealing with any of these issues². If you can prove that your knowledge will help a city either bring in more money or use its money more effectively, you will likely be given a job of this caliber.

Federal Agencies

On the federal level, your Masters in Public Administration will prepare you for three main types of jobs. The first type of job will be in a federal executive office, helping to manage policies that affect everyone in the country. This will involve political work as well as policy work, as you will be having to make sure that you or your office’s needs are heard in your overarching department.

The second type of job is working in a legislator’s office. This isn’t so much a government agency as it is being an assistant to a Senator or Congressman. You might advise them on how the public would react in a particular situation, or you might help answer their mail or write speeches.

The third type of job would involve doing work overseas with diplomatic government agencies. You would need to know the details of the region or country in which you are working to help your particular public agency administer U.S. diplomatic policy. This could be a fascinating job if you like to travel and are passionate about a particular part of the world.

References

¹ WorldWideLearn, “Public Administration Major.” Accessed May 8, 2012.
² Gallaudet University, “Careers in Public Administration.” Accessed May 8, 2012. 

If you earn an MPA/MPP as part of your career plan in public service, your salary is likely to increase by a substantial amount.

General Salary Statistics for Master’s Degrees

According to the U.S. Bureau of Census, in 2004 for people 25 years and over, the median income was $53,581 for a Bachelor’s Degree and $67,361 for a Master’s.

Average Salaries for an MPA/MPP by Job Type

Private sector salary information from PayScale. Federal Government salary information from the US Office of Personal Management. This information does not account for different localities or the cost of living.