Salary
Average Salary: $59,000
Expected Lifetime Earnings: $2,463,132
Since so many different kinds of public, non-profit, and private services are available as career choices for public administrators, you shouldn't be surprised to find that the salary range is incredibly wide. By incredibly wide, we mean from $40,000 or less to almost $140,000 or more.
That's at least a hundred thousand dollar difference between the top and the bottom, and that's only talking about people without a Dr. in front of their name.
Some of that difference definitely depends on your degree. The proof is in the salary pudding: the average annual income for a BS in public administration is $59,000, while a masters will up that by an additional $20,000 a year (source).
Of course, if you have a masters, you're more qualified for certain positions, especially the more specialized gigs. Making more money naturally comes with the territory. That'll be helpful when you finally have to enter the real world and pay for all those student loans you've racked up.
The kinds of benefits you can earn, unsurprisingly, are all over the place. Pretty much every government employee can expect health care coverage, but private companies are under no obligation to do so for their independent contractors (which is what you would be). Pension all depends on the jurisdiction, because some cities or states don't think old people really need money.
If you're a U.S. Government employee, you can look forward to additional pay because of where you live or how long you've worked (source). Say what you will about him, Uncle Sam loves his coworkers.
Side note: lawmakers are on their own level as far as salary goes. U.S. Congress-people typically earn $174,000, while a small village mayor may only receive a light stipend for things like gas and stationary, and have to keep another "real" job.
We don't typically play politics, but that definitely seems a little backwards.