A Master's degree in Public Administration sounds really interesting and challenging and so does working in the field. Public Administration degrees are mainly dedicated to people that see themselves as ethical persons, and are highly interested in making a difference for the greater welfare of the community.
But what can you do with a Master's in Public Administration? And why should you choose this career path? Well, Public Administration jobs are very rewarding, considering that after completing a degree, you can work for the government as a public administration consultant, city manager and you can even become a mayor one day.
Apart from a personal satisfaction, careers in Public Administration are extremely versatile, allowing you to explore jobs in various market sectors, public and private as well. Other great advantages of public administration jobs lie in their high level of security and stability and the fact that you can benefit from numerous chances to advance to higher positions.
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Here are a few universities we recommend for Public Administration studies:
- Wichita State University, the US
- University of Portsmouth, the UK
- University of Twente (UT), the Netherlands
- MPA at SDA Bocconi School of Management, Italy
- Central European University (CEU), Austria
- University of Birmingham, the UK
Once you complete a degree in Public Administration, career options are numerous, specifically in the government, NGOs and the private sector as well. Here are some of the most popular and hunted jobs in Public Administration:
1. Tax Examiner
Tax examiners make sure that federal, state, and local governments receive all their tax money from businesses, organisations and citizens. They are responsible for conducting audits, identify the taxes that are owed and collect overdue tax payments. If necessary, they assess penalties and make inclusive reports estimating current and future financial needs for government agencies.
2. Budget Analyst
Budget analysts have to find the most efficient ways to distribute funds and resources from various departments and programs within a governmental agency or institution. In addition to analysing and managing budgets, analysts evaluate the performance of a governmental program and draft the legislation for public budgets.
3. Public Administration Consultant
Public administration consultants focus on delivering policy recommendations for meeting budgets, deadlines, and so on in a governmental institution. They may acquire specialisation in a certain field and for instance, become public consultants in information systems or in logistics. Public administration consultants assist on projects in all the steps, from research to implementation.
4. City Manager
The job of a city manager is similar to the one of a CEO, in the sense that this person is responsible for making sure all the departments run efficiently and successfully. City managers are chosen by elected officials and can work for small towns or for large cities.
A city manager has to supervise all the activities of the city for which he/she works for and has to carefully manage all operations and budgets of each department within the city or county.
5. Mayor
Being elected as the mayor of a city is probably the dream job for many Public Administration graduates. You should know that the path to becoming a mayor may be a long one and it will only come after several years of experience in working in the public administration domain.
Usually, some of the basic requirements are proofs of good leadership and great results or a high level of performance in one or more job positions held in the public administration.
6. International Aid/Development Worker
Your work will involve travelling abroad and living in a foreign country (sometimes a war zone) for at least a few months and, for instance, be responsible for ensuring children in Africa get their basic vaccines or helping out survivors of the Syrian war.
Your job will be to assess emergency situations and closely collaborate with staff from various departments (doctors, police officers, social workers, etc.).
7. Fundraising Manager
As a fundraising manager, your main goal will be to raise money on behalf of non-profit organisations (NGOs or charities) that have as main goal to solve a social problem (help people in need), an environmental problem (reduce effects of pollution), etc.
Whether working independently or managing a team of fundraisers, your duties will include developing a fundraising strategy and implementing it.
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Explore careers in Public Administration until you find the perfect one for you
The knowledge and skills you learn during a Master's degree in Public Administration allow you to easily find plenty of jobs in the public and private sectors. Some of the jobs mentioned above, such as tax examiner, budget analyst or consultant are in high demand in private companies and businesses as well.
Public Administration graduates can pursue other jobs in the private sector and work as a human resource manager, legal counsellor, consultant, or marketing manager.
- Average salary in the USA for a government-employed public administrator: 60,000 USD/year
- Average salary in the Netherlands for a government-employed public administrator: 75,000 EUR/year
Salaries can get a bit higher for private sector employees, and a bit lower for those working in the non-profit sector. Regardless of the Public Administration career you will choose, ideally, you should have a strong motivation so you would successfully achieve your goals and do a professional job.
If you cannot study abroad right now, you can always choose an online Master's degree in Public Administration.