What Is the Typical Salary for a Public Administrator?
The role and typical duties of a public administrator can vary widely according to what kind of agency or organization you work for and what kind of policies or programs you oversee. While you could obtain a position with only a bachelor's degree in public administration, many public administrators hold a master's degree, and your salary is likely to depend on your education, experience and employer. Schools offering Public Administration degrees can also be found in these popular choices.
Public Administrator Description
As a public administrator, you could work for a federal, state or local agency or for a nonprofit organization. Your responsibilities may include managing the operation or implementation of policies or services among various fields, policy analysis, fiscal administration, human resources management or management of a nonprofit organization. In addition to the field of public service, public administrator jobs can be found in economic and healthcare industries, among others.
Duties
Depending on your job and the industry you work in, you might analyze existing or proposed policies, programs, services or needs, coordinate fundraising, write grants or prepare budgets. You could oversee healthcare, transportation, benefits or financial aid distribution programs. You might also generally oversee and manage office operations.
General Salary Information
Salary estimates can vary based on education attained, job title and place of employment. According to the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs (NASPA), in 2011, federal employees with a bachelor's degree typically earned a starting salary of $33,979, while those with a master's degree in public administration or public policy typically earned a starting salary of $41,563 (naspa.org).
Salary Information for Specific Positions
PayScale.com reported in November 2011 that the 10th-90th salary percentile for policy analysts, a job title that falls within the purview of public administration, ranged from $34,082-$86,438, including salary and bonuses, while the same salary percentile for public health administrators, another job title that falls within public administration, ranged from $33,552-$87,642, including salary and bonuses.
Experience also plays a role in how much you might earn working as a public administrator. In November 2011, PayScale.com also reported that policy analyst salaries between the 10th and 90th percentile for those with less than one year of experience fell between $20,729 and $53,952, while those with 5-9 years of experience and in the same percentile range for salary took home $41239-$96,035.
According to PayScale.com, in November 2011, the 10th-90th percentile pay range for public heath administrators with less than one year of experience was $35,608-$58,958 annually, while those with 5-9 years of experience who earned a salary in that same percentile range took home $35,531-$68,784.
To continue researching, browse degree options below for course curriculum, prerequisites and financial aid information. Or, learn more about the subject by reading the related articles below:
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