Career and Industry Outlook
Public administration and policy careers span government, nonprofit, and private sectors, with steady demand projected across all levels of government and public service. Estimated salary ranges drawn from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (Chief Executives, May 2023), ICMA Salary & Compensation Surveys, Zip Recruiter, Payscale and alumni/LinkedIn self-reporting. Actual salaries vary by role, experience, and location.
•City Managers (median pay $95k–$115k)
•Director Roles in Mid-size or bigger Local Government (80,000-120,000)
•Policy Analyst or Legislative Aide (entry level $55k–$80k)
•Nonprofit Executive Director/CEO ($75k–$150k depending on organization size)
•Public Safety Leadership (Police/Fire Chiefs) (median pay $90k–$140k)
•Healthcare and Public Health Administration (Hospital & Community Health Executives) ($80k–$140k)
•Federal Analyst/Manager (HUD, CMS, SBA, FBI, SSA, etc.) ($70k–$120k+)
•International and NGO Roles (United Nations, global nonprofits) (variable, $80k–$150k)
