What You Can Do with a Public Administration Degree? Career Paths, Salaries, and Benefits

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Public Administration is one of the best degrees for those who want to look for an easy degree to pass. A public administration degree is not just an easy degree, but also a very beneficial one as well. It can help you learn many professional skills that increase your chances of employment. Apart from that, it also helps you get a six-figure salary and other job benefits such as job security, insurance, and bonuses. In a public administration degree, you will learn the concepts of public administration, how it works, and how you can work as a public administrator. It helps you learn many skills including written and verbal communication, the ability to understand basic civil laws, managing the people under your command, and much more. After completing your degree in public administration, you can easily get a job in both public offices, and private companies. Here is a list of a few jobs that you can get after completing your degree in public administration.

Top 15 Career Choices After a Public Administration Degree:

These are the top fifteen career choices that you can make after your Public Administration degree.

  • Community Service Manager:
  • Administrative Services and Facilities Managers
  • Event Coordinator
  • Executive Assistant
  • Foreign Correspondent
  • Public Relations Specialist
  • Government Administrator
  • Government Relations Manager
  • Labor Relations Specialist
  • Writer
  • Media Correspondent
  • Policy Advisor
  • Policy Researcher
  • Political Advisor
  • Human Resource Manager

Here are the details about each of these career choices in Public Administration.

1. Community Service Manager:

After completing your degree in public administration, you can become a social and community service manager. Your degree will provide you all the administrative skills that you will need for this job. It would require directing resources that are allocated for the society or community towards public service. You will be overseeing all the work related to the community service. You will also be responsible for understanding the needs of your community and providing the resources that it needs for betterment. There are jobs in both the public and private sectors.

For example, multinational companies hire experts to help them spend a portion of their annual budget on community service projects, also the government hires community service managers for these reasons. You can start a career soon after your graduation, and earn a living. According to the data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary of social and community service managers is about $69,600 and the top earners can make more than $100,000 per year. The total number of jobs in this profession as of 2020 is 174,200 and data shows a 15% growth rate for the next ten years, which is fast as compared to other jobs.

2. Administrative Services and Facilities Managers:

You can also become an Administrative Services and Facilities Manager after completing your degree. The job of an Administrative Services and Facilities Manager is to decide about serious business matters. You will need the skills of analysis and problem solving, and good communication for this job. Businesses hire Administrative Services and Facilities Managers for high positions such as regional heads, area managers, and facility managers. All of these are not only very high-paying jobs but also provide other benefits including career growth.

Administrative Services and Facilities Managers can reach the top level in organizations and become CEOs, and Operations managers. But to reach that level, you will need further education and a lot of experience.  According to the data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary of Administrative Services and Facilities Managers is about $98,890 and the top earners can make more than $150,000 per year. The total number of jobs in this profession as of 2020 is 322,000 and data shows a 9% growth rate for the next decade.

3. Event Coordinator:

Apart from that you can also start your own business or work in a business of events coordination. There is a lot of demand for event coordinators in the US, you can organize local events, or team up with a business or a celebrity and help them organize their events. Event organization and coordination require the skills of communication, the ability to solve problems quickly, and being good at handling public matters. You can learn all of these skills during your study.

According to the data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary of Event Managers and Coordinators is about $51,560 and the top earners can make more than $100,000. The total number of jobs in this profession as of 2020 is 125,900 and data shows an 18% growth rate for the next ten years, which is one of the fastest growth rates.

4. Executive Assistant:

After completing your degree in public administration, you can also become a secretary or an executive assistant. This is one of the posts where you work with one of the high post officials in a company or organization. You are responsible for maintaining their day-to-day activity, keeping records, and taking calls for them. This is one of the simple jobs but still, you can start earning soon after graduating as this job does not require experience in most cases.

There are multiple opportunities in both government and private sectors for the job of executive assistant and secretaries. You can start soon after completing your degree. According to the data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary of executive assistants is about $40,990 and the top earners can make more than $80,000. The total number of jobs in this profession as of 2020 is 3,363,900 and data shows a -7% growth rate for the next decade.

5. Foreign Correspondent:

You can also become a foreign correspondent after completing your degree in public administration. Both government and private agencies, companies, and organizations need international correspondents. You can join the civil services and become a government official, or become a correspondent for a private company or organization. This job has multiple benefits, including higher salaries, bonuses, job security, and more. Also, you will be able to go out of the US for work as well.

Many news outlets also hire foreign correspondents who would go out and report the news from outside the US. According to the data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary of foreign correspondents is about $49,300 and the top earners can make more than $100,000 per year. The total number of jobs in this profession as of 2020 is 46,700. The job data shows a 6% growth rate from 2020 to 2030.

6. Public Relations Specialist:

This degree can also help you become a public relations specialist. Public relations specialists are required by both government agencies and private sector companies and organizations. Their job is to communicate with the public on the behalf of their organization. Both government and private-sector jobs in this field are high-paying and you can easily make a six-figure salary. Public Relations Specialists are responsible for understanding the public and company or organization or agency relations and making sure that the public is aware of what that company is doing.

You can also become a PR manager after getting promoted from this position. This position also has multiple other benefits as well. According to the data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary of Public Relations Specialists is about $62,810 per year and the top earners can make more than $100,000 per year. The total number of jobs in this profession as of 2020 is 272,300 and data shows an 11% growth rate for the next ten years which is fast as compared to the other job positions. 

7. Government Administrator:

After this degree, you can also become a government administrator. The job of a government administrator varies on multiple factors, including the agency in which you get the job. For example, if you get an administrative job in local government, you will be responsible for utilizing the local government funds, and resources for the betterment of your locality or your area. This job requires administrative skills, such as human resource management, financial management, and some knowledge of statistics and mathematics. You will be using your skills to make your locality a better place.

According to the data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary of Government Administrators is about $98,890 and the top earners 10% can make more than $150,000 per year. The total number of jobs in this profession as of 2020 is 322,000 and data shows a 28% growth rate for the next ten years. You will have multiple options to choose from, for example, you can select local government jobs, state government jobs, or even federal government jobs. Your salary will be determined by your local office or government office that you represent,

8. Government Relations Manager:

This post is also relevant to public relations but in the government domain. The job of a government relations manager is to work with government officials and agencies and news media outlets to share official news. This is one of the very important jobs as it helps government agencies to fight against rumors and false news reporting. All government agencies hire professionals to do this job. They not only convey the news but also manage the social media websites related to the government officials.

For example, the police departments, military departments, and government offices hire professionals as relations managers who handle all the matters related to public relations. You will have to start as an intern or a junior but you can later be promoted to this post. According to the data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary of Relations Managers is about $118,430 and the top earners can make more than $200,000 per year. The total number of jobs in this profession as of 2020 is 89,000 and data shows a 13% growth rate for the next ten years. This job requires prior experience of at least five years.

9. Labor Relations Specialist:

You can also become a labor relations specialist or manager after completing your degree in public administration. This job requires skills in communication and problem-solving. You will be responsible for talking to the labor on the behalf of your company or employer. This would require regular communication between you, your employer, and the labor representatives. This job also requires experience and learning, so you can join as an intern or a junior manager. But after getting proper experience, you can get promoted to the level of specialist or a manager.

According to the data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary of Labor Relations Specialists is about $73,240 per year while the top ten percent earners can make more than $100,000. The total number of jobs in this profession as of 2020 is 73,500 and data shows a -5% growth rate for the next ten years. This job is seeing a little decline, but you can still get jobs in many companies across the US.

10. Writer:

You can also become a professional writer after completing your degree. In a public administration degree, you learn a lot about communication. Communication requires both written and verbal content. So, you can learn writing skills during your study. Multiple companies, political parties, activists, all need the help of writers and hire them to write speeches for them. Apart from writing speeches, you can write books on topics related to public administration or any other topics of your choice.

Writers can work as freelancers if they do not want to work in an office environment. They can work from home, but if they want, they can also join businesses that hire writers for various purposes. According to the data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary of writers is about $67,120. The total number of jobs in this profession as of 2020 is 143,200 and data shows an 8% growth rate from 2020 to 2030.

11. Media Correspondent:

After completing your degree in public administration, you can also become a media correspondent or a reporter. This job requires communication in both verbal and written form and you learn it during your study. So, you can also get this job and work as a media personality. You can work for news channels and report on your local news, or work as a newspaper article writer. This job offers multiple career growth benefits and can help you become a known personality in your region, state, or even national level as well.

You can start this job soon after completing your degree as there is not much experience required for this post. According to the data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary of the media correspondents is about $49,300 and the top earners can make more than $150,000 per year. The total number of jobs in this profession as of 2020 is 46,700 and data shows a 6% growth rate for the next decade.

12. Policy Advisor:

Policy advisors help governments, and businesses formulate their policies and implement them, and you can become a policy advisor after completing your degree in public administration. This degree gives you sufficient knowledge on multiple subjects including communication, and policymaking. These skills are helpful in the formulation of both business policy or governmental level policy. Many businesses hire policy officials to write their business statements, vision, and goal statements. Similarly, governments also hire policy advisors to take their advice on matters of national importance. Policy advisors are the ones that help governments create their regional, national, and international policies.

So, they play a major role in shaping the future of the world, and the relationship of their country with other nations. You can join as a junior advisor as the post of senior policy advisor requires significant experience and further education. According to the data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary of policy advisors is about $125,350 and the top earners can make more than $200,000. The total number of jobs in this profession as of 2020 is 7,000 and data shows a 9% growth rate for the next ten years. There are a lot of chances for further future growth as well.

13. Policy Researcher:

The job of a policy researcher is to research specific topics, all of these topics are important as a policy will be created based on this research. This is a very important profession in both politics, government, and the private sector. Every company needs policy researchers to help them find out about the positive impacts of their policy on their business. Policy researchers will take the research topic, conduct experiments, surveys, and use other methods to generate data. After that, they are responsible for analyzing the data and producing results.

Policy researchers are very highly skilled experts who have a lot of knowledge of the geopolitical and geo-economics situations of the concerned regions. So, having an advanced degree will increase your chances of employment, and will help you earn more as compared to others in the same profession. According to the data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary of policy researchers is about $125,350. The total number of jobs in this profession as of 2020 is 7,000 and data shows a 9% growth rate for the next decade.

14. Political Advisor:

After completing your degree in public administration, you can also become a political advisor. The job of a political advisor is to advise their employer on matters that are related to their political agenda. They also help political parties create policies that will increase their chances of winning the election. After the election, they help these political parties to fulfill their promises and work on their agenda. This is not only a high-paying job but it has multiple other benefits.

For example, you can also be inducted into the government as a secretary of state or in multiple other positions as well. Having a Master’s or a doctorate will increase your chances of employment. According to the data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics the median salary of a political advisor is about $51,654. The total number of jobs in this profession as of 2020 is 22,697 and data shows a 5% growth rate for the next ten years.

15. Human Resource Manager:

You can also become a human resource manager after completing your degree in public administration. Your degree will provide you with all the basic skills that you will need for this job. But having a Master’s in the relevant profession will increase your employability. Also, this is one of the top managerial positions in most businesses. So, this job also requires substantial experience as well.

In most cases, having five-year-long work experience is considered enough for this job. According to the data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary of human resource managers is about $121,220 and the top earners can make more than $200,000. The total number of jobs in this profession as of 2020 is 161,700 and data shows a 9% growth rate from 2020 to 2030.

Benefits and Salaries for Public Administration Related Jobs:

No.Job TitleNo. of JobRequired QualificationJob OutlookSalary
1Community Service Manager174,200Bachelor’s /Master’s/Doctorate15%$69,600
2Administrative Services and Facilities Managers322,000Bachelor’s /Master’s/Doctorate  9%$98,890
3Event Coordinator125,900Bachelor’s /Master’s/Doctorate  18%$51,560
4Executive Assistant 3,363,900Bachelor’s /Master’s/Doctorate  -7%$40,990
5Foreign Correspondent46,700Bachelor’s /Master’s/Doctorate  6%$49,300
6Public Relations Specialist272,300Bachelor’s /Master’s/Doctorate  11$62,810
7Government Administrator322,000Bachelor’s /Master’s/Doctorate  28%$98,890
8Government Relations Manager89,000Bachelor’s /Master’s/Doctorate  13%$118,430
9Labor Relations Specialist73,500Bachelor’s /Master’s/Doctorate  -5$73,240
10Writer143,200Bachelor’s /Master’s/Doctorate  8% $67,120
11Media Correspondent46,700Bachelor’s /Master’s/Doctorate  6%$49,300
12Policy Advisor7,000Bachelor’s /Master’s/Doctorate  9%$125,350
13Policy Researcher7,000Bachelor’s /Master’s/Doctorate  9%$125,350
14Political Advisor22,697Bachelor’s /Master’s/Doctorate  5%$51,654
15Human Resource Manager161,700Bachelor’s /Master’s/Doctorate  9%$121,220

Note:(Bachelors for the job and Masters for further promotion) data source bls.gov

Types of Public Administration Degrees:

Here are the three most common Public Administration degrees that you can get.

1.   Bachelors:

This is the first professional degree in public administration that you need to start your career. This degree spans over four years of classwork and homework. You will be studying all the concepts related to public administration in your course of study. This will prepare you for the basic level public administration jobs. It can cost up between $100,000 to $200,000 and requires the completion of 120 credit hours. After this, you will be able to get any of these jobs mentioned above.

2.   Masters:

Master’s degree in Public Administration is a two-year educational program that will prepare you for the jobs that require higher qualifications. Apart from that, it will provide you all the basics to advance level information, skills, and experience that you need. After this degree, your employability will further increase. This degree requires the completion of 40 credit hours and can cost up to $100,000.

3.   Doctorate:

This is the third and highest degree in public administration that you need to further increase your employability or do research in your specific area of study. This degree spans over four years and requires the completion of 120 credit hours. This degree can cost up to $200,000. As it is the highest level of qualification in the field of public administration, it will not only help you increase your chances of employment but will also increase your basic salary, and will provide other job benefits as well.

Skills You Will Learn from Public Administration Degree:

  • Communication skills, reading, writing, speaking.
  • Budgeting, and finance management.
  • Problem-solving, and quick thinking.
  • Performance management and analysis skills.
  • Policy analysis and research skills to make more effective policies.
  • Ethics, and basic life skills. 

Conclusion:

Public administration is one of the best professional degrees that are not only easy but provide multiple career choices. After your degree, you can join businesses, public offices, and government agencies at various posts. Most career choices provide higher salaries, and job benefits such as insurance coverage, and bonuses. Also, it offers multiple career options in which there is no experience required. So, you can start a job soon after completing your degree.  Apart from job benefits, this degree also offers you various life skills that you need to live a more productive lifestyle and become a productive member of your society. Based on these arguments, we can say that it is one of the best degrees. If you are looking for an easy-to-pass major that offers a six-figure income, you should select public administration as a major.

FAQs:

Question: What is the scope of a public administration degree?

Answer: Public administration degree has a vast scope as it offers you career choices in multiple government agencies. Public Administration covers every aspect of government activity, so you can get a job in any relevant department of your choice. Apart from that, there are also opportunities in the private sector. Companies look for people with experience or education in public administration for administrative roles such as plant manager, or area manager, etc. These examples clarify questions about the scope of a public administration degree.

Question: What jobs can one get after a public administration degree?

Answer: There are a lot of career choices and jobs that you can get after a degree in public administration. Here is a list of a few of these.

  • Community Service Manager
  • Services and Facilities Managers
  • Event Coordinator
  • Executive Assistant
  • Foreign Correspondent
  • Public Relations Specialist
  • Government Administrator
  • Government Relations Manager
  • Labor Relations Specialist
  • Writer

Question: What is the definition of public administration major?

Answer: Public Administration is a field of study that prepares future leaders, managers, and the workforce and enables them to work in different administrative roles. It provides them with the skills and education that they need for a job related to their profession.

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