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MPA Careers & Master's in Public Administration Salary

Steady Growth in a Variety of Industries for Public Administration

Anna Maria College’s Master of Public Administration gives public sector employees the knowledge and skills to better manage finances and organizational issues in a wide range of industries and settings, including government, nonprofit, law enforcement, and healthcare. High-tier master’s in public administration careers offer lucrative, in-demand opportunities, and thanks to a robust curriculum that prepares students to lead in the public sector, graduates of the online MPA program will have the opportunity to advance to middle- and upper-level public administration management positions.

Master’s in Public Administration Job Outlook

Public administrators hold a wide variety of job titles, and public administration salary figures and job growth are on the rise across many sectors and industries. For instance, in 2020, emergency management directors earned a median annual wage of $76,250, and the top 10% earned more than $142,870.1

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What Can You Do with a Master’s in Public Administration?

With an online Master of Public Administration, you’ll gain advanced knowledge and skills to elevate into a variety of high-level management and administration roles within a public sector organization. Completing the MPA online program will also give you great professional flexibility since public administration master’s degree-holders are qualified for a broad range of public administration jobs. Below is a list of some public administration careers you can pursue with an MPA:

  • Accountant/Auditor
  • Battalion Chief
  • Chief Administrative Officer
  • Chief Development Officer
  • Chief Financial Officer
  • Chief Law Enforcement Official
  • City Manager/County Manager
  • Commissioner
  • Community Affairs Representative
  • Economist, analyst or manager at international, federal, state or local government levels
  • Emergency Management Specialist
  • Emergency Services Director
  • Environmental, economic or social consultant
  • Fire Chief
  • Healthcare Administrator
  • Human Resources Manager/Director
  • Manager or advocate for a non-profit organization
  • Political Campaign Specialist
  • Professor
  • Public Works Director
  • Researcher
  • Urban planner

Where Do Public Administration Professionals Work?

Public administration jobs are found in a variety of industries, including local and state governments, the federal government, educational institutions, the private sector, nonprofit organizations, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Government positions are typically the most highly sought after public administration careers by MPA graduates, thanks to competitive starting salaries, comprehensive federal government employee benefits, and the large number of agencies that employ public administrators. The governmental agencies offering jobs for MPA graduates include:

Round United States Environmental Protection Agency logo

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Round U S Equal Employment Opportunity logo with eagle graphic in center

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)

Rectangular blue F D I C logo

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)

Rectangular U S Department of Homeland Security logo with large F E M A lettering below round logo with eagle image

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Round blue N A S A logo with red and white accents

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

U S Nuclear Regulatory Commission round logo with blue lettering and eagle graphic in center

Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)

Round blue logo for Securities and Exchange Commission with blue lettering and blue outline of eagle in center

Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

U S Small Business Administration in blue lettering below square with abbreviation S B A surrounded by blue and red border

Small Business Administration (SBA)

Blue square with white eagle head and United States Postal Service in blue lettering below separated by red line

US Postal Service (USPS)

MPA graduates will have the requisite skills and knowledge to fill the growing demand for public administration professionals. Public administration jobs can be found in the following industries:

  • Independent agencies – Department of Energy, Social Security Administration, Federal Election Commission, etc.
  • Nonprofit organizations – AARP, YMCA, chambers of commerce, universities
  • Private Business – Consulting businesses, human resources, law and insurance organizations
  • Local, state, and federal government agencies – Department of Sanitation, Bureau of Land Management, State and City Departments, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, etc.

Learn More About the Career Outlook for Your Chosen Specialization

This master’s degree offers a variety of career-focused specializations that deliver nuanced skills that belong to a particular area of emphasis. You can explore career options with above-average salaries and growth rates for the different specializations by clicking on the below links.

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Source

  1. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/emergency-management-directors.htm.