Careers with an MPA Degree

“The Masters of Public Administration (MPA) degree is the core professional degree for a management career in public service. The curriculum is designed to aid students in developing the skills and techniques used by leaders and managers to implement policies, projects, and programs that resolve important societal problems. Graduates of an MPA program work in all levels of government (federal, state, and local), in nonprofits, in international organizations, consulting firms, and in the private sector.” (for further information see: NASPAA, MPA.net and Public Services Careers). 

“Since the degree programs offer so many different specializations and class options, assembling a comprehensive list of jobs that graduates may have is impossible. Common starting jobs for graduates include policy analysts, program managers, grant writers, researchers, and budget analysts. As their experience grows, many graduates rise to upper-level positions in government, nonprofit and even business organizations. The MPA degree program will help you to ascend the ladder.” (NASPAA)

The following is an excerpt from the MPA Employer Survey of 2016 conducted by the MPA student, Gerald Schneider, as part of the culminating MPA 780 Capstone Seminar project in the MPA program at UW Oshkosh. The survey reveals data about the relevance of the MPA program to local government employers in Wisconsin. 

• MPA Employer Survey of 2016

• According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projection program, organizations and government employed 377,800 administrative services managers in 2022, expected to grow by 5% by the year of 2032 or 397,700. See the annual wage.
• The industries employing the most administrative service managers in 2022 were education; manufacturing; health care and social assistance; state and local government; administrative and support and waste management and remediation services.
• Employment by Major Industry Sector 2022 Data provided by the Unites States Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that demand for health care and social assistance jobs is likely to increase by 2032.
• Occupations with Most Job Growth 2019 Data provided by the Unites States Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that demand especially for medical and health services managers is likely to increase by 2032.

• NASPAA’s website provides information about MPA graduates and employment facts, career resources and alumni survey salary data.
• Salary information for medical and health services managers (nursing home administrators, clinical managers, health information managers, assistant administrators, and similar occupations) can be found on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and Payscale.com. Health care administration salaries vary depending on the size of the organization, the corresponding level of responsibility, as well as career experience. An MPA graduate degree with health care  agency administration emphasis is the first step toward earning a higher salary in the field.