Master of Public Administration (MPA) Degree Salary

MPA Degree Salaries and Career Options

The Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree is a two-year professional graduate degree that focuses on preparing graduates for work in governmental or nonprofit organizations. With core curriculum focusing on microeconomics, public finance, statistics, and policy analysis, an MPA degree is increasingly seen as an essential prerequisite for governmental or NGO manager positions. International, non-U.S. versions of the MPA often contain a business component, making the degree more similar to an MBA. Compare MPA to MBA Salaries for common positions.

While job opportunities at NGOs may have diminished recently, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts a greater increase in jobs in government than the private sector over the next five years. This is partly due to large numbers of federal and state employees retiring as well as increased staffing requirements associated with changes in health care. For a detailed look at Nonprofit Salaries, view the PayScale salary report for an executive director of a nonprofit organization.