5 Public Administration Careers for MPA Graduates

Public servants protect communities by enforcing public safety regulations, ensure that disaster relief efforts reach affected populations during emergencies and manage the delivery of vital public services, including health care, education and transportation services.

Without skilled public administration specialists to handle its many responsibilities, the public sector would struggle to sustain its mission. And nonprofit organizations would fall short on their goal of providing assistance to people in need. As a result, public administrators play a vital role in society.

Earning a Master of Public Administration degree prepares individuals for leadership roles in the public and nonprofit sectors. Those who are interested in advancing their career in public administration can benefit from learning what types of jobs they can get with an MPA and why an MPA is a good career investment.

Why We Need Skilled Professionals in Public Administration

Public administration specialists oversee the delivery of critical services to the public, ensure that organizations follow regulations and help improve the quality of life for communities across the country. Skilled public administrators also ensure that publicly funded projects stay on budget and accomplish their goals.

Public administration specialists plan and implement government programs across many areas, from education to emergency management. Professionals working in nonprofit and charitable organizations that provide services to the public also can be considered public administrators.

Professionals in public administration work at all levels of government. At the federal level, administrators ensure that federal agencies allocate their resources efficiently and that industries follow safety regulations. At the state and local levels, administrators make sure that all departments deliver needed services while staying within their budgets.

For some professionals, experience in public administration can lead to job opportunities in other sectors. For example, compliance officers help organizations follow industry regulations, while fundraising managers administer grants that fund nonprofit organizations.

Increased demand for public services and a growing population are expected to drive higher-than-average job growth in government and public administration occupations, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Regulatory and compliance occupations are expected to see significant job growth.

What Are the Requirements for a Career in Public Administration?

Pursuing a career in public administration requires a mix of relevant education and experience. For example, public administration professionals typically hold a college degree, and leadership roles require professional experience.

Public administration jobs also require both hard and soft skills. Managing public service operations, overseeing government spending and enforcing complex regulatory requirements require specialized knowledge and expertise. Public servants also need communication and interpersonal skills to achieve their organization’s goals.

While specific requirements vary depending on the job, this section introduces some common requirements for public administration roles.

Education Requirements

Many jobs in public administration require either a bachelor’s or master’s degree. For example, budget analysts, city managers and compliance officers need a bachelor’s degree for entry-level roles.

A master’s degree can help professionals advance in their public administration careers. Urban and regional planners generally need a master’s degree, and employers may prefer candidates with a master’s degree for positions in city management or compliance.

Around half of the jobs in state and local government require a college degree, according to research from the Cicero Institute. A Master of Public Administration (MPA) is one of the most popular degree options for public administrators.

Experience Requirements

Some public administration roles require prior experience in a related area. For example, budget analysts may benefit from experience working in entry-level finance jobs, while city managers often bring a work history in state or local government. Before working in fundraising management, professionals often need experience as fundraising specialists or grant specialists.

Many undergraduate and graduate degree programs incorporate internships and other forms of experiential learning into their curricula to provide students with hands-on experience. Professional experience in an entry-level public sector or nonprofit job also can help prepare people for career advancement.

Skills Requirements

Positions in public administration require many of the same skills as administrative positions in the private sector. However, these roles also require specialized knowledge. Earning a degree in public administration helps individuals strengthen the hard and soft skills needed for jobs in this field.

Hard Skills for Public Administration Careers

Effective public administration professionals draw on their specialized knowledge and skills. For a successful career in public administration, professionals need to have hard skills in the following areas:

Budget Management: The ability to analyze financial data, forecast spending needs and track budgets is critical for many public administration jobs. Financial analysis and budget management skills benefit public administrators working as budget analysts, financial advisers and program directors.
Program and Policy Evaluation: Several roles in public administration require program or policy evaluation skills. City managers must assess a policy’s impact on communities, while urban planners need to evaluate a community’s program needs.
Data Analysis: Public administrators working in any type of analyst role need strong data analysis skills, including knowing how to use analytical tools, data visualization software and data collection methods.
Grant Administration: Public administrators working in both public and nonprofit organizations that rely on grants need to understand the grant process, including how to write grant applications and administer grant funds. Understanding grant administration is particularly important for fundraising managers.
Public Services Administration: Many public administrators oversee the delivery of public services, including human and social services. These professionals need to be highly skilled at implementing, evaluating and improving public service delivery.

Soft Skills for Public Administration Careers

Public servants need high-level soft skills — also known as people skills — to achieve their goals. Public administration professionals need soft skills in the following areas:

Communication: Working in the public sector requires strong communication skills. Public administrators need to communicate complex information clearly to diverse audiences. Key to those working in the public sector are skills in negotiating, public speaking and community outreach.
Critical Analysis: Public administrators are regularly called upon to analyze information and make data-based decisions, so capabilities in this area are a requirement. These professionals also need to be able to anticipate and mitigate possible risks, which also requires strong analytical skills.
Decision-Making: The choices public administrators make can have a significant impact on people’s lives. Public administrators need to be skilled at evaluating competing policy proposals to decide which will best serve the community. They also must be able to choose the optimal ways to implement programs and strategies for managing public resources.
Problem-Solving: Public administrators need to be able to identify problems, develop effective solutions and negotiate resolutions. Strong problem-solving skills help public administrators accomplish their organization’s goals despite the obstacles and complications that arise.
Leadership: Many public administrators work in roles where they lead teams, represent the public interest and communicate with the public. These professionals need to have the ability to inspire others and keep them focused on their goals and eager to move together toward achieving them.

Other Requirements

Given that the public is trusting them to do their jobs to the best of their ability, public servants at all levels must bring integrity to their role by being accountable and prioritizing fairness. Effective public administrators also prioritize competence and efficiency.

Other specific requirements for public administration jobs can vary depending on the job. For example, elected officials such as mayors need to have excellent public speaking skills and the ability to successfully run a political campaign. Some roles may also require government training or the ability to gain security clearance.

5 Public Administration Careers

Administration roles in the public sector include jobs in city or county management, economic development, criminal justice and emergency management. They also include public service department management, budgeting and compliance, and urban planning and development roles.

Here are descriptions of five public administration jobs. Earning an MPA can prepare individuals for these and many other public administration roles.

1. City Manager

City managers oversee the daily operations of their city’s government offices. As the city’s chief executive officer, they manage municipal budgets, implement publicly funded programs and ensure the efficient delivery of all public services. City managers also connect the public with city resources and services.

Cities typically appoint city managers and those in related roles at the county level, including county administrators. City managers with an MPA draw on their training in personnel administration, public funds management and service delivery coordination to effectively handle their responsibilities. MPA graduates are also well prepared to serve in an elected city government role, including as mayor.

As top city executives, city managers have a median annual salary of $103,840 as of May 2023, according to the BLS. Based on BLS data, jobs for top executives are projected to grow 6 percent from 2023 to 2033.

2. Fundraising Manager

Fundraising managers oversee fundraising operations for their public or nonprofit organization. They create fundraising strategies, connect with donors and plan events and programs to raise money. Fundraising managers in the public and nonprofit sectors may also manage grant applications. They perform community outreach and handle online fundraising as well.

These roles require strong planning, leadership and communication skills. Employment of fundraising managers is projected to grow 6 percent from 2023 to 2033, according to the BLS.

Among public administration careers, a career as a fundraising manager is one of the more lucrative options. Fundraising managers have a median annual salary of $119,200 as of May 2023, according to the BLS. Salaries generally vary by industry, with civic, educational and social advocacy fundraising managers earning some of the highest salaries.

3. Budget Analyst

Budget analysts focus on keeping their organization within its budget. They evaluate budget proposals, track spending as compared to the budget and forecast the organization’s financial needs. Public, nonprofit and private organizations rely on budget analysts, though their largest employers include the federal government, state governments and local governments.

Working in this field requires financial skills and an understanding of financial regulations. Budget analysts also need strong data analysis skills and the ability to clearly communicate complicated financial information.

Budget analysts have a median salary of $84,940 per year, according to BLS data from May 2023. The number of budget analyst jobs is projected to grow 4 percent from 2023 to 2033, according to the BLS, with strong growth expected in the public sector, where budget analysts will play a critical role in creating budgets and estimating costs for publicly funded projects.

4. Compliance Officer

Compliance officers ensure that organizations follow government regulations and laws. They recommend strategies for organizations to meet their legal obligations, and identify policies or procedures that violate regulations. Jobs in this field require expertise in all relevant current laws and regulations, along with their applications in different industries.

Many compliance officers work in the public sector, with 37 percent working in government while smaller numbers work in finance, insurance, health care and manufacturing, according to the BLS.

The median annual salary for compliance officers is $75,670, according to May 2023 BLS data. Employment of compliance officers will grow 5 percent between 2023 and 2033, according to the BLS.

5. Urban and Regional Planner

Urban and regional planners create land and resource use plans for cities, counties and other areas. They analyze field data and evaluate the community’s need to recommend plans. Urban and regional planners may create housing development, park expansion or urban renewal plans.

Most urban and regional planners work for state and local governments, which employ over 80 percent of all urban and regional planners, according to the BLS. In addition to strong communication skills, these jobs require data analysis skills.

Urban and regional planners have a median annual salary of $81,800 as of May 2023, according to the BLS. The BLS projects that urban and regional planning jobs will increase 4 percent between 2023 and 2033, with demographic and environmental changes driving the growth. In urban and suburban areas, for example, planners will be needed for projects to rehabilitate infrastructure and transportation hubs.

Benefits of Earning a Master of Public Administration

Earning an MPA degree helps individuals build the knowledge and skills needed to pursue any of a number of public administration careers. Completing an MPA program can provide students with the following benefits.

Strengthening Administrative Abilities: A master’s focused on public administration is designed to help students build strong leadership and management skills with an emphasis on public sector roles. Students can strengthen their abilities and knowledge in areas such as personnel administration, financial management and critical thinking.
Developing Specialized Skills: An MPA program emphasizes specialized skills, including in areas such as regulatory compliance, public budgeting and public policy analysis. Many MPA programs offer electives in areas such as grant writing and administration, geographic information systems for public management, emergency management and community development. Courses in these subjects help prepare students for a focused career path.
Advancing in a Public Sector Career: Many roles in the public and nonprofit sectors either require or prefer candidates with a master’s degree. For example, urban planners typically must hold a master’s degree, while some major cities prefer to hire city managers with an MPA. Earning an MPA can help public sector employees qualify for more job opportunities and stand out in a competitive job market.

Earning an MPA also can prepare students for a career in an industry that intersects with government, including in regulatory or compliance roles.

Launch Your Public Administration Career With an MPA From Augusta University Online

Effective public servants play a critical role in a well-functioning society. Earning a Master of Public Administration from Augusta University Online can prepare you for a career as a socially conscious public service leader. Accredited by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs and Administration (NASPAA), the MPA program meets high academic standards.

By balancing theory and practice, AU Online’s MPA program helps students cultivate interdisciplinary skills that can benefit them in government and nonprofit roles.

Through courses on public policy analysis, public sector budgeting, program evaluation and administrative law, students develop core professional public administration competencies. The program also offers electives for students to choose from to specialize their course of study, with options in grant administration, urban planning, nonprofit management and emergency management.

The program’s online learning format can allow you the flexibility to keep working while earning a master’s degree. Learn more about how the MPA program can prepare you for a successful public administration career by reaching out to Augusta University Online today.

Sources:
Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management, Professional Master’s Degrees for Public Service
CareerOneStop, Government and Public Administration Career Cluster
Careers in Government, “Making a Difference: Public Service Careers in Government”
Cicero Institute, “Expanding Public Sector Career Opportunities”
International City/County Management Association, “What It Takes to Be a Professional Local Government Manager”
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Budget Analysts
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Compliance Officers
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Public Relations and Fundraising Managers
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Top Executives
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Urban and Regional Planners

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