4 Public Administration Careers

From government social service agencies to nonprofits focused on advocacy, America’s public service organizations all do their part to empower individuals and communities. It isn’t always easy, though, as changes in political, social, and economic environments can have serious impacts on their work. Today’s employers need leaders who can focus on efficiency and belt-tightening while motivating and inspiring employees.

Professionals seeking to guide service agencies and organizations through challenging times may want to consider pursuing an advanced degree, such as a Master’s in Public Administration, to gain the knowledge and skills needed to succeed. They should also understand the public administration careers that may be available to them upon completion of such a program.

What Is A Master of Public Administration?

A graduate-level degree program, the Master of Public Administration (MPA) program prepares students for leadership and administrative positions in public and social service organizations. MPA graduates often go on to work for government agencies of all kinds at the local, state, and federal levels, but they may also work for nonprofit organizations and, occasionally, for-profit organizations.

The MPA curriculum varies from program to program, but core classes often cover:

• Policymaking
• Finance and budgeting
• Human resources management
• Research
• Public program design, assessment, and administration

Many MPA programs offer degree specializations in areas such as nonprofit management and government agency leadership. Like other master’s-level programs, MPA programs can typically be completed in about two years.

Public Administration Careers for MPA Graduates

Because MPA programs are designed to help students hone a wide range of administrative and leadership skills, graduates can pursue various types of careers in public administration. In general, public administrators are responsible for managing people, programs, and finances; however, each role also comes with its own unique set of duties.

Let’s take a look at four common public administration careers:

1. Emergency Management Specialist

Emergency management specialists plan for large-scale emergencies such as floods, tornadoes, wildfires, and human-made disasters. While many of these professionals work for federal agencies such as the Department of the Interior (DOI) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), others are employed by local and state agencies.

Typical duties for emergency management specialists include:

• Analyzing reports on weather, industrial activity, and other relevant events
• Evaluating current response capabilities
• Assessing damages after an emergency
• Helping legislators, response agencies, and other organizations, such as schools and hospitals, draft effective laws and policies for emergencies
• Overseeing and coordinating relief efforts among local, state, and federal agencies
• Managing individual public safety measures, such as public preparedness campaigns and training programs for response personnel

Median annual salary in 2024 (per the Bureau of Labor Statistics [BLS]): $86,130 for emergency management directors

Job outlook (per the BLS): 4% growth between 2023 and 2033, on par with the projected average growth for all occupations

2. Community Service Manager

Community service managers oversee programs dedicated to supporting the general public or a specific population, such as older adults or unhoused individuals and families. These professionals often work for nonprofits and government agencies, but they’re also employed by schools, hospitals, religious organizations, and for-profit organizations involved in community service campaigns.

Typical duties for community service managers include:

• Leading outreach and public education campaigns
• Researching community needs
• Fostering relationships with community leaders and other service organizations
• Evaluating the effectiveness of services
• Overseeing budgeting, staffing, and other administrative processes

Median annual salary in 2024 (per the BLS): $78,240

Job outlook (per the BLS): 8% growth between 2023 and 2033, double the projected average growth for all occupations

3. Program Analyst

In the public sector, program analysts evaluate organization-wide programs and identify opportunities for improvement. They work for government agencies at every level and focus their talents on areas such as education, health care, criminal justice, and public safety, making the program analyst role a flexible public administration career option.

Typical duties for program analysts include:

• Reviewing historical data for programs, including their performance and financial metrics
• Garnering input on programs from colleagues and the people served by an organization
• Summarizing their findings and recommendations in reports, presentations, and graphs
• Creating improvement goals for program and tracking their progress
• Analyzing available resources to draft actionable plans and policies for future programs

Median annual salary in 2024 (per the BLS): $101,190 for management analysts

Job outlook (per the BLS): 11% growth between 2023 and 2033, much higher than the projected average growth for all occupations

4. City Manager

Hired by city councils, city managers are responsible for overseeing daily administrative tasks in their jurisdiction. Because city managers work closely with all stakeholders in a community, this public administration career option requires strong collaboration skills and a deep understanding of how different organizations work together.

Typical duties for city managers include:

• Creating and dispersing budgets
• Fostering collaboration among different city government agencies, private stakeholders, and community-based service providers
• Handling public relations matters, including giving interviews and preparing statements
• Reviewing crime metrics, utility costs, and other data that impacts the lives of citizens
• Making policy recommendations based on that data
• Overseeing the creation of new public initiatives and programs

Median annual salary in 2025 (per Payscale): about $95,000

Job outlook (per the BLS): 6% growth between 2023 and 2033 for the similar role of administrative services managers, slightly higher than the projected average growth for all occupations

Hone Your Talents for Public Administration Leadership

No matter their exact role, public administrators are more than managers and budget writers — they’re stewards for their colleagues and communities. And in times of transition, they are leaders who help shape the way government agencies and nonprofits will operate in the future.

The Master of Public Administration program at Tseng College at California State University, Northridge, prepares students to take on the responsibilities and challenges of numerous professional opportunities, including those discussed above. The program includes both online and in-person instruction and offers tracks for nonprofit sector management and public sector management and leadership.

Courses in the nonprofit track cover areas such as 501(c)(3) operations, financial management, nonprofit human resources management, and fundraising initiatives. Courses in the public sector management track focus on areas such as project and strategic management and organizational leadership.

Find out more about how CSUN can help you advance in your public administration career.