Long-Term Prospects

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Job Satisfaction

General quality of life statement

Public administration majors have it really, amazingly, ridiculously, markedly...okay. The starting salary's not great, but it'll keep you comfortable. And over the years, it can get pretty high. That's not to say that you'll be living it up in a mansion with an indoor tennis court and a butler to hit tennis balls at, but you won't be living in a refrigerator box under a bridge, either. That's always a plus. The job satisfaction is above 50%, too, so your chances of liking your job are higher than not.

You'll probably start your career as an intern, stay there for a few years, and then start scrabbling up the ladder. There will be lots of meetings, paperwork, and bureaucratic red tape. Why it's red? We're not really sure, but rest assured, it will be.

It'll take some practice to get used to the system that you're working in (whether it's a hospital or City Hall), and you might get shuffled around from place to place for a while before finding your niche. Outside of work, you'll be living pretty comfortably. You'll be able to afford that gym membership and your daily low-fat mochaccino. Sure, you'll be driving a secondhand car for some time, but so will everyone else.

As always, we should probably point out that your salary will be lower than if you had majored in a STEM field. Unfortunately, that's just the way the world works. On the other hand, unless all governments are overthrown and anarchy becomes the reigning political system, public administration is going to be around for a long time. Your future is secure…if not wallpapered with Benjamins.

We think you're better off without the money wallpaper. All those faces on your wall would get pretty creepy.

25th Percentile Salary

Median Salary

75th Percentile Salary

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