Those working in public administration management tend to split into two camps:

• government
• private sector

In government, public administrators work on all levels from local to federal. The skills an individual can gain working for a government agency is very valuable to the private sector. The opposite is also true. Public administrators act as the nation’s civil servants in government, administering policy set by the country’s elected leaders while at the same time assessing the effectiveness of current government projects.

In the private sector, managers in public administration have roughly the same responsibilities as a manager in a corporation; they are responsible for the people working under them in making sure the company’s and or non-profit’s goals are met.The private sector holds many opportunities:

• Special interest groups
• Religious organizations
• Political groups

A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university is a definite must in pursuing a career in public administration. Though majoring in public administration is not a written requirement for job applications, employers would like to see that recent graduates have taken courses in (and performed well in):

• Economics
• Mathematics
• Political science
• Business

Though the specialty of the company or agency ultimately determines a desirable employee, employers in public administration want analytical thinkers who excel in problem solving under time constraints.

Like many fields, an advanced degree in public administration can open doors for both recent college graduates and those already working in public administration. For those wishing to earn a graduate degree in public administration, a Masters of Public Education(MPA) is most commonly pursued route.

The Career outlook for an individual largely depends on both experience in the field of public administration and job performance. Though those with an MPA are often hired into a higher position due to their advanced degree.

Salaries in public administration depend on a variety of factors. Is the job part time or for only a few months a year? A part time council member may only earn a few thousand dollars a year while salaries in public administration are known to have gone as high as $400,000 a year.

Generally, initial salary outlook largely depends on the level of education the person has when going into public administration. Depending on the specialty, a new employee with an MPA degree can expect to earn roughly $45,000 their first year on the job. This figure is a median salary between government and private sector positions. Salaries in government agencies tend to be lower, roughly six thousand dollars a year less for a MPA degree holder right out of school.

The median salary increases to $74,000 after ten years and tops off at $86,000 after twenty or more years of experience. Some of the highest paid holders of MPA degrees work as city managers ($100,000/yr.) while program coordinators in non-profit organizations tend to have the lowest salaries of MPA holders ($39,000/yr.).

Community Development Specialists are those government and non-profit workers who work at the community level. They work within local communities to plan programs that encourage the health and safety of a community. Their work often includes raising awareness or funds in order to implement changes or programs that will encourage changes that address the needs of a community.

Those who want to work in community development should have an interest in helping others. Helpful skills for successful community development include:

• Good Communication Skills
• Self Motivation
• Interest in Community

Program research analysts are responsible for the research and assessment of public programs and policies. As an analyst they are responsible for determining if a program is effective. If a program is seen as ineffective based on their research Program Research Analysts' may research possible policy changes and their expected effect. Their suggestions influence an employer’s next step in regards to the research and policy.

Program research analysts often analyze how program money is spent, draft program plans and budgets, and create reports on the program achievements. Different types of programs require program research analysts with different strengths. However, no matter what type of program an analyst is working on it is important to have:

• High Quality Research Background
• Basic Budgeting Knowledge
• Good Presentation Skills

Town/City Managers are appointed officials who supervise the daily operations of all city departments. They often interact with residents to understand the needs of the community. The town/city manager oversees all:

• Municipal Planning
• Public Works
• Police
• Fire
• Emergency Services
• Economic Development

Both Towns and City’s provide many services, run by many different departments, the role of the Town/City Manager is to oversee all of these services and departments. Though citizens get to vote on major issues concerning the municipal district, day to day issues are taken care of by the Town/City Manager.

Managers in charities and other non-profit organizations build and encourage productive workforces within their organization. Like their government counterparts, non-profit managers are not concerned with the “bottom line”.

The success of the non-profit’s objective is top priority. Like other Public Administration careers non-profit managers oversee community improvement programs through the management of:

• Charitable fundraisers
• Donations
• Community events

Though working for a nonprofit can be less profitable than working for a corporation, there are many non-financial benefits to nonprofit work. These benefits include:

• Knowledge that you are helping others
• Positive work environment
• High level of job satisfaction