Public Administration Jobs: Career and Salary Outlook
A Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree from Notre Dame de Namur University (NDNU) can open doors to a wide variety of job opportunities in many different fields. This kind of professional flexibility is ideal in a rapidly evolving economy and is advantageous in times of economic distress.
With such a broad and flexible degree, there’s no one job category that represents the best career prospects for graduates. Rather, those with a Master of Public Administration can pursue promising opportunities in a number of fields. Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, however, shows some of the salaries and employment growth predictions for careers typically pursued by MPA graduates.
Top Executive Positions
The highest-paying jobs in many industries usually require an advanced degree like the Master of Public Administration. From the private and public sectors, here is a breakdown of typical executive salaries by industry.
| Industry | Avg. top executive salary |
| Computer systems design and related services | $133,140 |
| Management, scientific and technical consulting | $130,390 |
| Management of companies and enterprises | $113,690 |
| Building equipment contractors | $91,370 |
| Local government | $82,150 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics1
Human Resources Management
Job growth is expected to be especially strong among high-ranking HR managers, and the Human Resources Management concentration can position you to succeed at the highest levels of this rapidly growing field. The chart below shows the government’s projections regarding the areas of HR management expected to see the most employment growth in coming years.
| HR specialty | Percent job growth 2008-2018 |
| Employment/recruitment/placement specialists | 28% |
| Human resources/training/labor relations specialists | 24% |
| Compensation/benefits/job analysis specialists | 24% |
| Training and development specialists | 23% |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics2
Local, State and Federal Administrative Jobs
Many MPA graduates use their degree as a springboard to rise to the top of public service in government agencies at the local, state, and federal level. These public sector jobs are often high paying, stable and supplemented with generous benefits packages and retirement programs. Here’s just a sample of the many public sector job titles often associated with a Master of Public Administration:
| Job title | Average salary |
| Financial management (federal) | $128,422 |
| City manager/Chief administrative officer | $94,992 |
| Information technology management (federal) | $91,104 |
| Assistant city chief administration officer | $89,000 |
| Human resources management (federal) | $81,837 |
| Human resources director (local) | $78,234 |
| Human services director (local) | $75,961 |
| All federal occupations | $74,403 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics3
Many MPA graduates from Notre Dame de Namur University create their own Public Administration jobs. Community-minded entrepreneurism is an emerging trend in the non-profit arena that focuses on creating innovative new public service organizations that are economically viable, nimble and capable of quickly providing aid and service to people in need in local communities and around the world. These businesses, typically formed under the banner of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have been a popular career choice among NDNU graduates and often play critically important roles in times of domestic or international crisis.
To learn more about the career opportunities available to those with a Master of Public Administration from Notre Dame de Namur University, call 855-275-1088 to speak with an admissions advisor, or you can request more information.
1Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition, accessed 2/1/2011, http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos012.htm
2Ibid., http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos021.htm
3Ibid., http://www.bls.gov/oco/cg/cgs042.htm and http://www.bls.gov/oco/cg/cgs041.htm