Career Opportunities — Public Administration Jobs

The word "public" is a clue that leaders in this field need excellent people-management skills to be successful. The career outlook in public administration is particularly promising at the state and local government level, where there is a need for competent village and city managers and other administrators with the expertise to handle the increasingly complex demands of serving a diverse society. Median annual salaries in this field can go as high as $94,992 for a city manager or chief administrative officer, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.*

Candidates with master's degrees are often preferred to lead publicly funded educational institutions such as high schools and public universities. According to a 2008 survey by the Educational Research Service quoted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, average salaries for principals and assistant principals at elementary, middle, and secondary schools ranged from $71,192 to $97,486.**

A master's degree with studies in public administration is also often preferred for top public safety positions and high-level military jobs.

Job titles in this field include:

• City Manager
• Campus Security Chief
• Chief of Police
• Director of Public Works
• Deputy Director of Public Housing
• School Administration Manager
• Military Executive Officer

Learn more about the career benefits of an MA in Organizational Leadership with a concentration in Public Administration: request more information or call us at 1.866.967.7046 to speak to a Lewis University advisor.

*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment Statistics, May 2009 Edition, accessed 6/10/10, http://www.bls.gov/oco/cg/cgs042.htm#earnings

**Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment Statistics, May 2009 Edition, accessed 6/10/10, http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos007.htm