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Public administration is the study of how public organizations are run. This is as complicated as business management – if not more so – and requires knowledge of laws, the public’s demands, budgeting, and urban development.
However, this degree doesn’t lock you into working in the public sector. There are many private sector jobs that will benefit from a degree in public administration. The fact that it covers a broad range of topics such as finance, ethics, and law also allows you to transition to other fields easily later.
Key Takeaways:
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A master’s degree in public administration opens up job opportunities in administration, HR, PR, and regulatory positions.
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The pay ranges in this career path can vary widely depending on what job you get. Some public service positions don’t pay much, but positions that deal with public administration on behalf of a company can be very well compensated.
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Many of these jobs require strong, soft skills, such as interpersonal skills, communication, and organizational ability.
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It’s a versatile degree that can serve you well in both the public and private sectors.
10 Best-Paying Jobs for People With a Master’s in Public Administration
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Average Annual Salary: $74,000
Data analysts use past data in order to determine the best way for a business or other organization to proceed. Using computer programs and algorithms, they look through past performance and determine the best path forward. The calculations include risk, profitably (if a for-profit business), and investment decisions.
Required Skills: Familiarity with several different programming languages, mathematical aptitude, and logic-based analysis. Many data analysts have deadlines as well and need to be able to work with other analysts and with executives.
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Average Annual Salary: $75,000
In short, managing administrators manage the administrative side of a business. That means they set policy, make sure the administrative side of a business is functioning smoothly, and delegate admin work. They’re in charge of office supplies and resources and making sure that the admin staff has everything they need to do their jobs.
Required Skills: Strong organizational aptitude, excellent communication skills, and leadership ability. Computer skills are also a must, as well as some knowledge of budgeting and the ability to problem-solve and juggle several responsibilities at once.
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Average Annual Salary: $84,000
This role is most often found in nonprofit organizations and other groups that are funded largely by donations. A major gift officer’s job is, broadly, to solicit donations. Most of their time is taken up by determining likely donors and appealing to them in the way best suited to it. They will often do presentations to that end as well.
Another major part of their job is keeping track of donations. Someone in this role would need to document and report them, as well as submit that information to the proper places.
Required Skills: Strong written and verbal communication skills, interpersonal skills, and ability to present well and do public speaking. You’ll also need financial knowledge and to be handy with budgeting.
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Average Annual Salary: $74,000
Like most analysts, business analysts spend most of their time interpreting data. Their specialty is business, and in that vein, they study the business’s past actions, as well as the current market, and make recommendations on the best business strategies to be taken.
Required Skills: Analytical skills, business acumen, communication skills, as well as organizational abilities, and attention to detail.
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Average Annual Salary: $56,000
While you aren’t going to start out as director, it’s a good goal to aim for. In this job, you’ll run a social service program – often in a town or city. This is a good goal for those who enjoy working on a more macro level, as directors won’t have much time to work with clients anymore.
Required Skills: Leadership experience, strong communication skills, time management, budgeting, and being able to break down tasks into manageable pieces.
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Average Annual Salary: $69,000
Human resources analysts look at pay and benefits as compared to employee performance and growth. They recommend changes to promote personnel retention, adherence to the law, and attracting new talent. It’s a must to be familiar with labor laws, be comfortable with numbers, and be confident enough to make recommendations.
Required skills: Communication skills, interpersonal skills, ability to manage confidential information, and mediation ability.
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Average Annual Salary: $91,000
Public relations is all about how the public will react to what a business does. As sociology is about the study of society, it makes an excellent major for this type of position. Public reactions managers run the PR team, making sure that the message is consistent, political, and relevant.
Required Skills: Communication skills are paramount, as well as being aware and in touch with the business customers’ needs and expectations. Leadership ability is also necessary.
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Average Annual Salary: $62,000
As a social media strategist, you would outline the strategy and general platform of the business’s social media presence. Someone in this position needs to be familiar with popular social media platforms and the general culture that the users have. They need to be able to be pithy, interesting, and non-offensive in their posts.
Required Skills: Excellent written communication skills, strong grasp of grammar, familiarity with social media platforms, and being able to stay apprised of current trends.
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Average Annual Salary: $80,000
As the title implies, someone in this position manages part of the HR department in a business. This will include being involved in recruiting, hiring, benefits distribution, and any employee complaints. HR is a very people-centric career path.
Required Skills: Ability to diffuse disputes, awareness of employment laws, and ability to keep track of private information accurately and confidentially.
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Community Development Director
Average Annual Salary: $109,000
This is a leadership position that oversees the development of a community. The community in question can be a city, organization, or town. As a community development director, your major responsibilities would include overseeing staff, aiding in the planning, both in the long- and short-term, and overseeing current projects.
Another major duty of this role is to make sure that the projects meet legal requirements. This can include zoning, making sure that there’s enough affordable housing in an area, and adhering to safety codes.
Required Skills: Expertise in coordination, as you’ll regularly work with other organizations. Strong communication skills, budgeting know-how, and leadership ability.
10 Entry-Level Jobs for People With a Master’s in Public Administration
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Average Annual Salary: $50,000
Social workers help others. There are many types of social workers, from those working in foster care to addiction treatment to those working with at-risk youth.
You will need to get to know your clients, gain their trust, and do your best to get them the assistance they need, whether it’s new housing, additional financial support, or navigating legal pitfalls.
Required Skills: Strong communication skills, empathy, patience, and knowledge of local laws and relevant programs.
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Average Annual Salary: $49,000
A paralegal’s main duties involve being a legal assistant. They typically work at a law firm or other legal department and assist lawyers with their cases. They do administrative work, such as dealing with records and correspondence.
They will assist by getting the materials the lawyers need for their cases or referring them to similar cases. Some will even get statements from witnesses or clients in the lawyer’s place.
Required Skills: Attention to detail, legal knowledge, organizational skills, and interpersonal skills.
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Average Annual Salary: $57,000
People in this role are experts on laws, regulations, and prohibitions related to their field. As a compliance specialist, your job would be to make sure that the organization you work for is aware of and in line with the laws and requirements in question.
Many compliance specialists will also generate training materials to keep the workforce informed of laws and requirements. They will also spend a lot of time liaising with government officials and keeping up with local regulations.
Required Skills: Most compliance specialists have experience in their field, but a degree and sufficient expertise can suffice. Communication skills are existential, as well as critical thinking, in-depth reading comprehension, and attention to detail.
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Average Annual Salary: $64,000
This is a specific type of lobbyist who generally works for a community rather than a company. They may work at a local, state, or federal level in order to get the desired legislation passed. Government affairs specialists spend a lot of time in legislative sessions and in meetings with elected officials pursuing their cause.
Required Skills: Communication and interpersonal skills are a must, as well as organizational ability, knowledge of relevant laws and regulations, and knowledge of how legislative sessions work, along with the process for a bill to become law.
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Average Annual Salary: $45,000
As the name implies, legislative aides assist legislators. The duties of a legislative aide can vary widely. They may help draft legislation, do research on relevant topics, keep track of the public’s reaction to an announcement, or help the lawmaker with campaigning.
Required Skills: Strong verbal and written communication skills, organizational ability, attention to detail, and computer skills.
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Average Annual Salary: $40,000
Park rangers work for the government as part of the park service. A park ranger can work either for a local park and recreation or for the national park service. Their duties range from caring for the park, helping lost or injured visitors, upholding laws and environmental rules, and educating the public.
Required Skills: Interpersonal skills, knowledge of requisite laws and regulations, physical fitness as you’ll spend a lot of time outdoors, and outdoorsman skills.
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Average Annual Salary: $52,000
A grant writer’s main duties involve researching and applying for grants. Applying for a grant is a complex, involved process that requires a lot of attention to detail. You’ll spend a lot of time finding the appropriate grant and gathering the information needed to write the proposal and submit an application, then monitor its progress.
Required Skills: Strong organizational ability, excellent writing, and grammatical ability, communication skills, and attention to detail.
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Average Annual Salary: $45,000
Program coordinators are middle managers. They work with a particular department and help with communications and collaboration between different departments on a particular program. They may also be called on to suggest ideas or to report to the higher-level management on their progress.
Required Skills: Excellent communication skills, organization aptitude, ability to multitask, and a good memory.
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Average Annual Salary: $50,000
As a deputy sheriff, you’d be a member of law enforcement. You’d be a first responder in an emergency, as well as expected to deal with crime and upholding public order. Often deputy sheriffs work in either multiple small towns or a few small towns and a city or two. It also requires a lot of paperwork and keeping track of information.
Required Skills: Knowledge of local laws and ordinances, a good memory, interpersonal skills, and the ability to act in an emergency situation.
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Average Annual Salary: $38,000
As an administrative specialist, you’ll take care of administrative tasks for a business. This will include answering calls, responding to questions, and keeping the office stocked and organized. Most administrative specialists are also in charge of scheduling appointments and meetings and booking travel.
Required Skills: Strong organizational skills, good communication ability, customer service skills, and being able to multitask.
Public Administration Master’s Degree Options
Public administration is an excellent and versatile degree choice that opens doors to a lot of career opportunities. However, if you’re looking to specialize a bit more or if you think you may want a similar degree path, here are some other majors to consider.
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Education Administration. This is most useful if you’re planning to go into education management or serve in a governmental position on education. However, it covers many similar topics.
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Business Administration. Business administration and public administration have quite a bit of overlap. The main difference is business administration focuses on running a private business, while public administration focuses on running a public organization.
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Financial Management. A lot of the required knowledge in public administration is fiduciary. You need to learn about budgeting, money management, and the legal aspects, all of which financial management will cover.
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Urban Planning. This is a complex subject that covers how to properly grow and manage urban centers. Public management has a lot of overlap, as many city managers have a degree in either one.
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Social Services. While not really the same as public administration, social services have a similar bent. Both focus on working in the public sector with the intention of serving the public. They cover laws and relevant services as well as the history of current problems.
Master’s in Public Administration Jobs FAQ
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What can you do with a master’s degree in public administration?
A degree in public administration opens the door to positions in admin, social services, city planning, and compliance. There are many jobs that have to do with making sure a business follows the required laws and regulations, both in the private and public sectors, which public administration is perfect for.
If you’re interested in city planning, management, or regulations, then public administration is an excellent choice. It covers all aspects of running a city, such as budgeting, environmental concerns, legal compliance, and public response.
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What skills do you need for public administration jobs?
Public administration jobs require strong, soft skills, such as communication, being organized, interpersonal skills, and being able to stay informed. Laws and regulations are always changing, meaning that keeping up with changes is a major part of your job.
As the majority of these jobs are in the public sector, it’s also important to pay attention to the public’s wants and needs. It requires being able to communicate, compromise, and keep abreast of changes.
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Do employees with a master’s in public administration get paid more?
A master’s in public administration does open the door to higher-level jobs, so you’re likely to get paid more with a master’s than a bachelor’s. However, as with most degrees, it’s going to depend on the job you end up choosing and who you end up working for; for instance, are you going to work in the private or public sector?
More education generally makes you more attractive to employers and more likely to be hired. However, you’re going to have to decide what career path you wish to take and whether or not a master’s will pay for itself or not.
Author
Di has been a writer for more than half her life. Most of her writing so far has been fiction, and she’s gotten short stories published in online magazines Kzine and Silver Blade, as well as a flash fiction piece in the Bookends review. Di graduated from Mary Baldwin College (now University) with a degree in Psychology and Sociology.
