Jobs for the Major
How this major affects a job search
A public administration degree can have some weird effects on the job search. On the one hand, you're being trained to enter a specific field. On the other hand, that specific field is super broad. Being a prison warden is nothing like being a tax examiner and with this degree, you could end up in either position.
Chances are pretty good that unless you know what you want to do after college, you're going to graduate feeling a little confused about what to do next. But at least you'll know how everyone else feels…womp womp.
You would, however, have a bit of a head start on your peers with internship under your belt. Interning somewhere is a great way to get your foot in the door and make some connections. You also have a whole bunch of skills, including critical thinking, problem-solving, budgeting, negotiating, policy formulation and implementation, and human resource relations—all of which could serve you well in fields like business or education. That is, if you feel like pursuing a secondary degree.
Public administration won't give you a one-size-fits-all skill set, but it also won't leave you stranded if you decide to break up.
Common Career Fields
City Manager (Master's Degree Encouraged). If you like the thought of being in charge but don't want to be a politician, then being a city manager is a good compromise. City managers are the head honchos in cities that have council-manager governmental systems (don't worry, you'll learn all about those in college). Since they're chosen by the city council, they usually don't represent any political parties. City managers are to cities what superintendents are to school districts. They get to whip up the yearly budget, hire and fire departmental heads, and speak for the entire city council. While you can get this job with just a Bachelor's degree, it's a popular choice for public administration grads, so we recommend getting a Master's to separate yourself from the pack.
Health Care Administrator (Master's Degree Required). Health care administrators—a.k.a. medical and health services managers—are in charge of hospitals and clinics. This is a big field; you might be a super specialized clinical health care administrator in charge of one department, like trauma or birthing wards…or you might be a general administrator who makes sure that the whole hospital is working perfectly. This is a pretty safe field to aim for—medical careers aren't going to go anywhere. Unless people stop getting sick, hurt, or having babies.
Human Resources Manager. Some people are just good with people. If you're one of those people, then human resources is right up your alley. HR managers are the liaison between institutions and people. These institutions are usually companies and businesses, but they can also be sociopolitical institutions like City Hall. An HR manager will recruit, interview, and place people within the company's structure in such a way that everyone will get along and work well together. They handle complaints and disputes between workers, crack down on troublemakers, and generally make sure that everyone's playing nice.
Parks and Recreation Director. That's right, Shmoopers—Leslie Knope's job exists in real life, and it could be yours someday. Parks and recreational facilities are super important to a city. Not only do they provide a means for people to stay fit, but they're also great for keeping them off the streets and out of trouble. Cities spend a lot of time, money, and effort on keeping a thriving parks and rec system going. They trust that their parks and recreation director will be able to keep things well in-hand.
Prison Warden. Once justice has been served, someone's got to put the leftovers in the
fridge and make sure they don't get moldy or squashed. Not that we should be comparing prisoners to leftovers. That's kind of messed up. Anyway, prison wardens are like superintendents. It's their job to make sure that all the prisons in their district are clean, safe, and lawful. They hire, fire, and monitor all of the staff working in prisons—not just the guards, but also cooks, doctors, and social workers. They organize and maintain the budget, set up rehabilitation and work programs, and step in if anyone else is stepping out of line.
Social Worker. If you want to take your love for your community to the next level, becoming a social worker is a solid—but tough—option. A social worker provides immediate and direct care to those who need it most. Social work is divided into two broad subcategories: direct-service and clinical. Direct-service social workers can help people cope with big changes, such as adopting a child or being diagnosed with cancer. Clinical social workers are licensed to treat mental illnesses, along with emotional and behavioral disorders. Social worker jobs vary dramatically depending on the field, but they can involve: loss, abusive relationships, highly dysfunctional families, violence in schools and at home, drug addictions, and homelessness.
Tax Examiner. If you're the nitpicky type who likes to make sure that everyone's playing by the rules…boy, have we got a job for you. Tax examiners find out who's trying to cheat on their taxes and hunt. Them. Down. They review everyone's taxes to make sure that they're all filed correctly. If they find any errors or…questionable content…they get in contact with whoever filed them and straighten things out. Since tax examiners deal with so many people, they have to be crazy organized. They keep careful notes on every case they come across. Tax examiners mostly deal with small businesses, while those who work with big, multinational companies are called revenue agents.
Current unemployment of the major
6%Percentage of majors who get a higher degree after college
44%Stats obtained from this source.