12 High-Paying Jobs for MPA Graduates: The Top Highest Paying Jobs for Master of Public Administration (MPA) Graduates.
Earning a Master of Public Administration (MPA) credential offers numerous rewards, both intrinsic and financial. Many individuals working in the public sector find fulfillment in making a positive difference in the world around them.
However, MPA jobs can also be financially rewarding. In this article, we’ll explore the highest paying jobs for professionals with an MPA degree.
It’s important to note that the salary for MPA graduates can vary based on factors such as the specific position, level of experience, and sector in which they work. Whether they are employed by a non-profit or government agency can also impact their wages.
While some MPA salaries may start around $35,000 annually, others can reach six-digit figures. In this ranking, we highlight the top 12 highest paying jobs for MPA graduates.
12 High-Paying Jobs for MPA Graduates
1. Government Affairs Executive
Prominent government affairs professionals may hold positions at the federal and state levels. These executives work for organizations, managing government and regulatory affairs. They examine proposed laws and any effects they might have, if any, on the organization.
Executives in charge of government affairs also ascertain the company’s stance on particular laws and rules, communicating this information to the appropriate parties (internally and externally). The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that senior executives who work for government organizations often earn about $113,000 annually.
Despite a steady increase in demand, there is fierce rivalry for top executive roles. To be eligible for the position, MPA graduates probably need years of prior experience.
2. Urban and Regional Planner
By creating plans for making the most use of the available space and amenities, urban and regional planners enhance their communities. While some of these experts are employed by engineering and architectural firms, the majority of these specialists are employed by the local government.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that there is a consistent need for urban and regional planners, with job opportunities expanding at a rate roughly equivalent to the national average. The BLS states that the typical annual wage in this field is roughly $75,000, despite the fact that the highest earners in this field make well over six figures annually.
3. Budget Analyst
Graduates of MPA programs with a focus on finance might work as budget analysts. Within the field of public administration, budget analysts oversee expenditures and resources on behalf of their organizations.
Their particular responsibilities could be assessing funding bids, counseling CEOs on financial matters, and assessing how much an organization spends. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that despite a slowdown in overall demand, budget analysts will still be in high demand in public administration because of the need for more effective use of public resources.
The Bureau also provides encouraging data regarding the salaries of budget analysts. Although the average yearly salary for budget analysts in 2020 was only $78,970, it was higher for those who worked for the federal government, or $86,480 on average.
4. Auditor/Accountant
Many people who get an MPA eventually work in finance to some extent. For accountants and auditors, this is undoubtedly true. These financial experts are in charge of making sure that a company’s financial records comply with the most recent legal requirements.
This covers the company’s tax documentation. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates that the average yearly salary for accountants and auditors in 2020 will be almost $73,500. Government employees received a little lower pay ($72,260). Additionally, until 2030, the BLS projects a stable expansion in the need for accountants and auditors.
5. Information and Data Management Officer
Officers in charge of information and data management oversee the knowledge and information produced across an organization, as their title suggests. They compile digital data, choose appropriate research approaches, pinpoint data sources, carry out relevant information evaluations, and offer advice on digital data policies and practices.
Following information analysis, their primary goal is to keep up, organize, and preserve the relevant paperwork. The CIA frequently employs information and data management officers. Earnings for most information and data management officers can vary from $40,500 to $100,000 based on industry, region, and experience.
6. Emergency Management Director
For good reason, one of the most sought-after specializations for MPA students is emergency management. Not only are emergency management directors among the highest paid positions in public administration, but there is a steady increase in the need for specialists in this industry.
Directors of emergency management departments are crucial members of a community because they make sure that procedures are in place to protect people in the event of a natural disaster or other emergency.
In order to determine the likelihood of a local emergency, they must carry out research, prepare strategies to lessen casualties and injuries in the event of a disaster and work with federal and local authorities to carry out emergency preparations.
Directors of emergency management receive a competitive salary for carrying out these responsibilities; the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that the median yearly compensation for this field is a little over $76,000. According to the Bureau, employment opportunities for recent MPA graduates are also increasing gradually, with a 6% rise anticipated over the next ten years.
7. Operations Research Analyst
Operations research analysts in the realm of public administration use analytical and quantitative concepts to assist businesses in solving challenges. They contribute to these organizations’ increased efficacy and efficiency by doing this.
The need for operations research analysts is rising as a result of the volume of data that firms are able to access. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects a 25% rise in jobs for these experts by 2030. The field’s pay is also greater than normal; in 2020, the median annual salary was $82,200. The average salary for federal government analysts was substantially higher, at $119,720.
8. Administrative Services Manager
Because administrative services managers are so important to public organizations, they get competitive compensation in the field of public administration. Their responsibilities and tasks are extensive and cover almost every facet of an organization’s operations, including communications, finances, scheduling, and more.
These administrative specialists, who go by the name of “business office managers,” frequently serve as the senior executives’ right hand in the workplace. They might also oversee the work of other staff members.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates that administrative services managers in municipal government make little over $95,000 a year on average. In 2020, the top 10% of managers of administrative services earned around $170,000 annually. Growth estimates for this profession are also positive with a 9% rise in job vacancies anticipated by the BLS by the end of the decade.
9. Medical/Health Services Manager
In addition to being among the highest paying MPA professions, positions as managers of medical and health services are among the fastest-growing. Because the healthcare industry is currently growing at an unprecedented rate, there is a great need for qualified managers in this field.
Over the next ten years, jobs in this occupational area are expected to expand by 32%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Medical and health services managers, often known as healthcare administrators, are not medical professionals; rather, they create and oversee healthcare delivery systems that optimize a facility’s effectiveness and caliber.
The BLS reports that managers in the healthcare industry typically make little over $104,000 a year, with the possibility of earning significantly more.
10 Economist
A common specialization in Master of Public Administration degrees is economics. Even dual degrees in economic development and public administration are offered by certain institutions and universities. Economists in public administration carry out significant studies that have an influence on communities and organizations.
Their research frequently has a significant impact on how public policy is shaped. Economists are paid handsomely for their work, which is not unexpected. The average yearly salary for these professions is about $108,000, with the top 10% earning close to $200,000.
This information comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Economist career opportunities are expanding faster than normal, making this a favorable moment to pursue this path in public administration.
11. Postsecondary Education Administrator
The work of a postsecondary education administrator does support the abilities one learns in a Master in Public Administration program, despite the fact that it is not a particularly frequent career route for MPA graduates.
It is also a very profitable career; average yearly compensation, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), is $97,500; however, administrators at universities are said to earn around $10,000 more than those at community or junior colleges.
Administrators in postsecondary education use their expertise in public administration to manage the day-to-day operations of a college or university, such as admissions, research, and/or instruction. Education administrators may work in a single department or across several departments, depending on the size of the organization.
Over the next ten years, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment opportunities for administrators of postsecondary education will expand by 8%, or roughly average.
12. Training and Development Manager
Top training and development organizations frequently demand candidates have a graduate degree, such as a Master of Public Administration (MPA). These experts are in charge of developing training curricula for staff members of a company.
Managers of training and development are employed in many different sectors of the economy, such as healthcare, technology, education, and finance. Organizations constantly require training and development managers to teach staff members new skills as these fields grow.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that the rate of increase in job vacancies for this specific occupation is now higher than usual. Additionally well-paid are training and development managers; as of 2020, the BLS claims a median yearly salary of about $115,000.