Career paths within the field of public administration are varied. Perhaps the most visible public administrators are elected officials such as the U.S. president, senators, town mayors and judicial servants. However, other career paths include city management, education planning and social work.
Because many public administration careers involve the management of employees, government funds, or both, managerial skills are often important to the success of people pursuing a career in the field. A strong understanding of financial planning, ethics, marketing and public relations are also important.
Most careers related to public administration require a college degree. A bachelor's degree in public administration is a popular degree program offered by many traditional and online colleges. For more lucrative, high-level positions, a Master's of Public Administration (MPA) may be required. Such upper-level programs allow students to specialize in sub-fields, such as government management and public health.
While most public administrators go on to work for the government, some apply their skills to the business realm. As non-profit organizations hold similar social standards and ideals as government agencies, graduates of a public administration program often find work with charities or similar socially minded institutes. Public administration skills can also be applied to the traditional corporate world.
Public administration is a rather lucrative career field overall. Top-level politicians and city officials often earn six-figure salaries. However, the majority of individuals in this industry tend to earn somewhere between $50,000 and $80,000 annually.