What is the Salary Potential with a Degree in Public Administration?

Updated on August 2, 2021

Candidates interested in careers in public administration often choose the Master's in Public Administration (MPA) and wonder about the salary potential with a degree in public administration. A degree in public administration not only offers the potential for excellent wages but also various career opportunities. Graduates can choose to work with private organizations, nonprofit organizations, government agencies and even healthcare facilities. MPA graduates are in demand and needed in many areas. Here is some information on the public administration degree and the salary potential with a degree in public administration.

What Type of Degrees Are Offered in Public Administration?

Individuals interested in pursuing careers in public administration must have a degree in public administration or a related field. Degrees in public administration are offered at several levels including bachelor's master's and doctoral. While the bachelor's degree takes four years, the master's or doctoral will require an additional two to four years.

Of the various degree levels, the Master's in Public Administration is the most popular and the one most known in the business work both in the private and public sectors. Regardless of which degree level the student chooses, the curriculum will be similar. They all involve coursework throughout most of the program followed by an internship or a capstone project for both. Doctoral degrees typically also require a dissertation.

Types of Jobs Available with Degree in Public Administration

Public administration is a field that offers many job possibilities. While we often think of nonprofits or jobs working for the community when we see about public administration, there is just so much more to this field. Graduates of a public administration degree may find work in the following capacities.

  • Budget Analyst

  • Chief Executive Officer

  • Tax Examiner

  • City Manager

  • Public Administration Consultant

  • Mayor

  • Financial Analyst

  • Public Relations Manager

  • Fundraising Manager

  • International Aid/Development Worker

Salary Potential with a Degree in Public Administration

There is an excellent salary potential with a degree in public administration. The reasons for this are that the degree covers such a wide area of industries and businesses. Here are some popular jobs available with a degree in public administration as well as the possible salaries:

  • Chief Executive Officer – $185,850

  • Financial Manager – $117,990

  • Human Resources Manager – $104,440

  • Public Relations Manager – $104,140

  • Executive Director – $102,690

  • Training and Development Manager – $102,640

  • Medical/Health Service Manager – $94,500

  • Logistician – $45,830 to $115,960

  • Urban Planners – $42,940 to $102,200

  • Financial Analyst – $80,310

Career Outlook

Careers in public administration involve ensuring safety, making regulations and laws, and providing services to the public in one way or another. There is a need for public administration workers and will continue to be in the foreseeable future. In 2015, The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the past and current employment growth for these professionals indicated that there should be more than 70,000 new job openings for public administration workers during the decade of 2012-2022.

Related Resource: 25 Best Affordable Master's of Public Administration Online Degrees

Candidates who choose a degree in public administration are often excited about the various career potentials that await them. Public administration is a field that's popular not just because it offers many job possibilities, but there is also an excellent salary potential with a degree in public administration.

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