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Top 10 High-Paying Careers You Can Pursue with a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Public Administration

 |  8 Min Read

A Master of Public Administration (MPA) is an advanced degree that can lead to a greater impact on your community and an increase in your salary potential. Along with making a difference for individuals through expertise in public policy and administration, you could boost your salary up to $80,000-$100,000 annually.

An MPA is also a smart choice for leadership in several fields, including business management, finance, government, healthcare administration, human resources, public affairs, public policy and urban planning. Careers in public administration can offer both personal fulfillment and strong financial outcomes, but you need the right degree to reach them. This article outlines ten careers you can pursue with a master’s in public administration.

Bachelor’s and master’s combined programs in public administration are valuable opportunities for students without prior experience who would like to earn their master’s degree and land careers in public administration. Programs like Eastern Oregon University’s 3+2 bachelor’s/master’s degree can lead to some of these careers in five years.

What can you do with an MPA?

An MPA propels you toward roles that meet the needs and issues of your community and government. These positions are as diverse as the populations they serve, but they all have some aspects in common. According to the Collaborative Research Group (CRG), careers in public administration:1

  • Work within systems of laws and regulations
  • Are organized bureaucratically and hierarchically
  • Provide services for populations and nations
  • Guarantee common welfare and adherence to legislation
  • Financed through capital from taxes
  • Embody honesty, efficiency, transparency, responsibility and accountability

If these essential functions and qualities appeal to you, a bachelor’s or master’s degree in public administration can help you succeed in a variety of careers, including public administration and public affairs. While similar, these roles have different characteristics. The primary purpose of public administration careers is to develop policies that improve communities. Public affairs careers are focused on interacting with the public and other stakeholders to determine the best ways to improve public policy and programming.

5 Careers in Government and Public Administration with Salaries

Government and public administration careers are focused on serving the public through appropriate policies and operations. According to Indeed, these professionals help develop, monitor and adjust policies that improve the community and assist those within it.2 Public administrators enact their mission through work in nearly every industry. Across these widespread specializations, CareerExplorer listed a variety of applicable job responsibilities:3

  • Policy implementation
  • Budget management
  • Program development and evaluation
  • Personnel management
  • Community engagement
  • Legal compliance
  • Emergency management
  • Strategic planning
  • Interagency collaboration
  • Technology management
  • Public communication
  • Ethical decision-making

With so many responsibilities to consider, it’s not surprising that the average public administration salary is also rewarding. ZipRecruiter reported that as of April 22, 2025, the average yearly salary for public administrators was $78,418, with the top earners making $134,000.4 With a master’s in public administration, salary potential could be higher due to additional expertise and opportunities for specialization.

When it comes to careers in government and public administration, you can apply your skills to nearly any industry through many roles. Salaries and descriptions for some of these positions are listed below, each requiring a person dedicated to their role and passionate about the community they serve.

  1. Economist
    $115,440 median pay in 20245
    Economists study data relating to the economy and provide vital information to their employers. Economists in public administration frequently advise government entities regarding the relevant financial and policy-related situations. This information is then used to create and manage programs, policies and procedures.
  2. Policy manager
    $84,321 national average salary2
    Policy managers help ensure that government policies are being implemented appropriately. These policies include governmental finance, legislation, staffing and programming. With information from policy managers, executives can make strategic decisions that benefit the organization and the public.
  3. Program analyst
    $83,814 national average salary2
    Program analysts can be found at the local, state, federal and national levels. They support strategic decision-making by collecting and analyzing data related to a program’s finances, performance, staffing and more. According to Indeed, program analysts most frequently work in government-funded or nonprofit contexts.
  4. Urban planner
    $83,720 median pay in 20246
    Urban planners address land use and development, working to approve or deny proposals, ensure that development plans align with applicable standards and solve problems on-site. They are involved in every stage of development, such as design, planning, building, bringing buildings up to code, buying and selling property and reporting on development updates.
  5. Program director
    $65,957 national average salary2
    Program directors can also be found at local, community, city, state and federal levels. They lead and advise public administration programs in many organizations, such as parks and recreation, public health, emergency management, public transportation and more.

5 Public Affairs Jobs and Salaries

Public affairs refers to relationships between an organization and its stakeholders, according to PubAffairs, a public affairs networking organization.7 Stakeholders can be anyone who benefits from an organization’s products or services and vary widely depending on the type of organization or industry involved. Usually, stakeholders include members of the public, other organizations, politicians, shareholders and more.

Public affairs professionals have several responsibilities, according to PubAffairs:7

  • Explain the organization’s policies to stakeholders.
  • Help policymakers and legislators improve the organization’s policies.
  • Collect and provide information about stakeholders.
  • Lobby for issues that are important to stakeholders.

Although public affairs jobs have varying job titles, some roles are prevalent. These high-paying public affairs jobs and salaries are listed below.

  1. Regulatory affairs manager
    $136,550 median wage in 20248
    Regulatory affairs encompass legislative laws and policies that govern an organization’s standards, especially in the healthcare industry. Regulatory affairs managers must stay up to date on relevant regulations and guide their organization to follow them.
  2. Government affairs director
    $112,706 average base salary9
    Government affairs directors are high-level managers in large companies that work within Federal regulations. They supervise teams of analysts, working together to determine how up-and-coming legislation is likely to affect their company. Payscale asserted that government affairs directors maintain a “company-friendly government environment.”7
  3. Director of public affairs
    $100,754 average base salary10
    These executive directors are responsible for every aspect of public affairs for their organization. Public affairs directors communicate with the media, act as spokespersons, delegate public affairs responsibilities and oversee day-to-day workflow.
  4. Public affairs officer
    $90,190 average base salary11
    Public affairs officers study the public’s responses to their efforts, ensuring their agency and programs succeed. Their responsibilities could include surveys, events, awareness campaigns and releasing information to the public.
  5. Public affairs specialist
    $71,155 average base salary12
    Public affairs specialists help ensure their organization is viewed positively through marketing and communications. This often involves relationships with media and news outlets.

Accelerated MPA Pathway to Jobs Through the 3+2 B.S./B.A. PPPA + MPA Program

When you choose EOU’s online B.S./B.A. PPPA + MPA 3+2 program, you’ll earn two degrees in one. The B.S./B.A. in Politics, Policy, and Public Administration brings you a deeper understanding of your role as a public servant. You’ll gain substantive knowledge, analytical skills and perspective to enter the field.

The Master of Public Administration (MPA) expands your knowledge and skills to prepare you for advancement. Take part in valuable hands-on experience through team collaboration and optional internships.

Take advantage of several benefits from the online 3+2 degree, including the ability to save time and money. On average, students take four years to complete a bachelor’s degree and two years to complete a master’s degree. With a combined bachelor’s + master’s program, you’ll earn two degrees in just five years, at a lower cost than completing two full degree programs.

Graduates are equipped to succeed in careers in public administration. Whether pursuing careers in government, nonprofits, urban planning, policy analysis and public affairs, graduates are armed with the skills to manage projects, shape policy and drive meaningful change. This accelerated path boosts your competitiveness in the job market and fast-tracks career growth, empowering you to make a lasting difference.

If you’d like to take the fast-track toward career advancement through the B.S./B.A. PPPA + MPA online degrees accelerated pathway, contact an EOU enrollment counselor at 855-805-5399 or complete the request for information form, and we will be in touch.

Sources

  1. Collaborative Research Group (CRG). “Public Administration | Structure, Functions and Characteristics.” Retrieved April 30, 2025, from https://crgsoft.com/public-administration-structure-functions-and-characteristics/.
  2. Indeed. “Guide to Public Administration Jobs: Finding Your Role.” Retrieved April 30, 2025, from https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/public-administration-jobs.
  3. CareerExplorer. “What Does a Public Administrator Do?” Retrieved April 30, 2025, from https://www.careerexplorer.com/careers/public-administrator/.
  4. ZipRecruiter. “Public Administrator Salary.” Retrieved April 30, 2025, from https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Public-Administrator-Salary.
  5. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. Occupational Outlook Handbook. “Economists.” Retrieved May 12, 2025, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/economists.htm.
  6. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. Occupational Outlook Handbook. “Urban and Regional Planners.” Retrieved May 12, 2025, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/urban-and-regional-planners.htm.
  7. PubAffairs Public Affairs Networking. “What is Public Affairs?” Retrieved April 30, 2025, from https://www.publicaffairsnetworking.com/what-is-public-affairs.php.
  8. O*NET Online, U.S. Department of Labor. “Regulatory Affairs Managers.” Retrieved May 12, 2025, from https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/11-9199.01.
  9. Payscale. “Average Government Affairs Director Salary.” Retrieved April 30, 2025, from https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Government_Affairs_Director/Salary.
  10. Payscale. “Average Director of Public Affairs Salary.” Retrieved April 30, 2025, from https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Director_of_Public_Affairs/Salary.
  11. Payscale. “Average Public Affairs Officer Salary.” Retrieved April 30, 2025, from https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Public_Affairs_Officer/Salary.
  12. Payscale. “Average Public Affairs Specialist Salary.” Retrieved April 30, 2025, from https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Public_Affairs_Specialist/Salary.

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