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Job outlook for senior program administrators in the United States
Are senior program administrator jobs in demand?
Senior program administrator job and salary trends over time
Senior program administrator jobs over time
Senior program administrator job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 182 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 205 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 285 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 169 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 157 | 0.00% |
Average senior program administrator salary over time
Senior program administrator salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $69,722 | $33.52 | +4.2% |
| 2024 | $66,879 | $32.15 | +1.3% |
| 2023 | $66,015 | $31.74 | +1.8% |
| 2022 | $64,866 | $31.19 | +0.6% |
| 2021 | $64,473 | $31.00 | +0.1% |
Senior program administrator jobs by state
Most common states for senior program administrators
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 292 | 42% |
| 2 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 245 | 32% |
| 3 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 376 | 28% |
| 4 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 1,419 | 25% |
| 5 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 765 | 25% |
| 6 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 267 | 25% |
| 7 | Delaware | 961,939 | 240 | 25% |
| 8 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 243 | 23% |
| 9 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,203 | 22% |
| 10 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 925 | 22% |
| 11 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 403 | 21% |
| 12 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 176 | 20% |
| 13 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 1,320 | 19% |
| 14 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 325 | 19% |
| 15 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,201 | 18% |
| 16 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 657 | 18% |
| 17 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 382 | 18% |
| 18 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 1,275 | 17% |
| 19 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 223 | 17% |
| 20 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 1,397 | 16% |
Most common cities for senior program administrators
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Chicago | 1 | 3% | $53,025 |
| 2 | Springfield | 1 | 3% | $72,281 |
| 3 | New Brunswick | 1 | 2% | $76,639 |
| 4 | Cambridge | 1 | 1% | $69,438 |
| 5 | Washington | 2 | 0% | $80,843 |
| 6 | Baltimore | 1 | 0% | $65,249 |
| 7 | Cleveland | 1 | 0% | $77,404 |
| 8 | Irvine | 1 | 0% | $87,374 |
| 9 | Tampa | 1 | 0% | $52,186 |
Senior Program Administrator job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of senior program administrator experts
University of La Verne
Swarthmore College
Western Carolina University
Auburn University at Montgomery
Maryville University
Azusa Pacific University
Arlington Baptist University
Marcia Godwin Ph.D.
Professor of Public Administration, Master of Public Administration (MPA) DirectorUniversity of La Verne
College of Business and Public Management
What soft skills should all Senior Program Administrators possess?
Marcia Godwin Ph.D.: The perennial soft skills include flexibility, integrity, and the ability to communicate well with a wide variety of people and in different media. Customer service skills may sound too much like a retail business, but the ability to interact professionally and calmly with the public and officials is invaluable. In these challenging times, empathy and humility are increasingly important. Managers need to be able to focus and prioritize. The pandemic, climate change, and social justice issues require open minds, open hearts, and collaboration.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Senior Program Administrators?
Marcia Godwin Ph.D.: There is no replacement for being able to write at a professional level, which we often don't recognize as a hard skill. Being able to read financial statements and work with spreadsheets are other critical skills. Being comfortable with technology and managing technical projects is as important as knowing particular software. It was hard to imagine a few decades ago how geographical informational systems, apps, and social media would become central to public service. Managers need to be constantly looking to the future and staying current with their professional development to stay on top of technological and social changes.
What skills stand out on Senior Program Administrator resumes?
Marcia Godwin Ph.D.: A strong commitment to public service is key. Public service motivation may seem like something that all applicants have in common, but resumes often list only work experience. Resumes should highlight passion and a record of helping others. Volunteer experience should be listed that for those entering public service or transitioning from other careers. I often mentor others to be aware of your "super powers," your go-to qualities that are distinctive. Successful managers are also those who have engaged in leadership in every position and support the development of their staff at every level of organizations.
What skills will help Senior Program Administrators earn the most?
Marcia Godwin Ph.D.: There are different pathways to advancing in public service. Most positions pay a solid living wage, and the public sector continues to have relatively generous benefits. Some positions, like firefighters, usually qualify for more overtime, and others with professional credentials (like doctors in public hospitals and professional engineers) have higher salaries. However, it is managerial and supervisorial skills that are most associated with advancement to executive management. That is why Master of Public Administration programs are so critical. Regardless of your undergraduate degree, an MPA is focused on the skills needed to advance within organizations.
What's a good job out of college for Senior Program Administrators?
Stephen O'Connell: Work that uses your skills and builds new ones. There is a premium on your own flexibility over the couple of years, with a lot of job-market volatility due to uncertain structural impacts of the pandemic.
What technical skills for a Senior Program Administrator stand out to employers?
Stephen O'Connell: The organization, presentation and interpretation of data are probably particularly valued. Comfort with all kinds of online productivity tools. As always, capacity for critical thinking. For now especially, ability to work independently within a team that meets only remotely.
What technical skills for a Senior Program Administrator stand out to employers?
Angela Sebby Ph.D.: Business, creative, and organizational skills - I would recommend that upcoming graduates are proficient in Word, Excel (highly used), Powerpoint, Outlook (especially how to send meeting requests and calendar organization), TEAMS, Gantt charts for team management, Mindmapping for creativity, and design software. Additionally, I would recommend that they learn how to properly utilize social media for marketing and PR, not just personal posting. Finally, email etiquette would be essential.
What soft skills should all Senior Program Administrators possess?
TeWhan Hahn Ph.D.: Writing skills including email writing, being able to work in teams, and knowing the workplace etiquettes.
Meaghan Goodman Ph.D.
Program Director & Assistant ProfessorMaryville University
Speech-Language Pathology
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Senior Program Administrators?
Meaghan Goodman Ph.D.: At this point it is hard to say. Certainly, there were immediate impacts as students and professors alike shifted to learning and teaching in a virtual world. Some students had to tackle online learning while sharing resources like Wi-Fi with parents and other siblings. Long term, it is possible that coronavirus may impact hiring for the foreseeable future. With more money needing to be shifted towards personal protective equipment, and cleaning procedures and supplies, many businesses including hospital systems and school districts will be taking a closer look at their bottom line.
I do think this pandemic highlighted a need for highly skilled Speech-Language Pathologists. For some, contracting COVID-19 meant intubation (a procedure in which a tube in inserted through the mouth and into the trachea to provide breathing support for critically ill patients). We are often consulted for patients requiring prolonged intubation. After a patient has intubation removed, we are often consulted in evaluating damage to a patient's swallow as well as their vocal quality. Because of the nature of intubation, patients aren't able to speak, so alternative forms of communication must be established, lending another opportunity for a Speech-Language Pathologists to demo
What's a day at work look like for a Senior Program Administrator?
Meaghan Goodman Ph.D.: A bachelor's in communication sciences and disorders can prepare you for three different tracks. First, it can prepare you to become a licensed Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA). This is someone who works under a fully credential speech-language pathologist. Often times, they carryout intervention plans developed by a fully credentialed speech-language pathologist. If graduate school is on your horizon, a bachelor's degree in communication sciences and disorders will prepare you for acceptance into a Speech-Language Pathology program, or an Audiology program. If you are not accepted into a graduate program right away, working as a speech-language pathology assistant (SLPA) is a great way to get experience in the field!
What's a good job out of college for Senior Program Administrators?
Bala Musa Ph.D.: A good job out of college is one that allows you to apply creative and critical thinking skills. Future work environments will require employees to innovate and adapt. Any job that helps you cultivate, sharpen and apply those skills will serve you and your organization well. It will prepare you to adapt in the face of change and future disruptions.
What technical skills for a Senior Program Administrator stand out to employers?
Peggy Smith: It is my fervent belief (based on research and trends) that the technical skills associated with IT, computer programming, software management, social media specialist, customer relations management (CRM), sales, & marketing will be in high demand particularly as we navigate this new normal world in which we are currently living.