When you want to obtain a high-paying career in government, your choices can be limited. If you decide to pursue an MPA, a Master’s of Public Administration degree, then you can increase your earning power. People who have an MPA can be spotted working within the current Obama Administration and earning well over $100,000 per year. Whether you decide that you want to focus more on communications or finances, you can turn your MPA degree into an investment that provides you with the ability to pursue your true passion and earn a high salary at the same time. People who have a deep desire to work in government should seriously consider pursuing a Master’s of Public Administration degree.
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1. Budget Analyst
As a budget analyst, you will be responsible for determining whether a county, city, state or nation is spending within its means. In most cases, you have the task of creating plans that offer suggestions for places where spending cuts can be made. If you are the type of person who has a passion for fiscal spending in the government, then this career is perfect for you. Conservative and liberal politicians both have a need for budget analysts that can make significant cuts for government spending. The starting salary for a budget analyst is $71,000. From 2010 to 2020, the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics estimates that an additional 6,000 jobs will be added onto the already existing 60,000 jobs within this career field.
2. Human Resources Analyst
A human resources analyst has the task of managing the payroll for government officials. He or she will also make sure that a new job candidate has submitted all necessary paperwork before starting to work in his or her position. A human resources analyst also must see where a branch of government can reduce its labor force or where it must expand the number of laborers it hires. The starting salary for someone who decides to be a human resources specialist is $52,000. There are tremendous growth opportunities in this career field, and a person may ultimately make $80,000 or $90,000 if he or she becomes the head of a human resources department.
3. Administrative Officer
An administrative officer is required to organize communications with outside parties, organize events and oversee the operation of an organization. Administrative officers are given many responsibilities, but they are also given a nice salary to compensate for this work. Administrative officers typically start out with a salary of $77,000.
4. Press Secretary
A press secretary is responsible for making statements to the public from a political figure. Many politicians rely heavily on press secretaries for correcting any misconceptions that the public may have about a piece of legislation. As a press secretary, you will be required to have excellent presentation skills. You should also be prepared for being featured on television as a press secretary. A press secretary for the president makes about $177,000.
5. Speech Writer
Being a speech writer for a political figure can be a highly profitable career. As a speech writer, you can make up to $150,000 a year. The current speech writer for President Obama makes about $160,000 a year.
When you want to achieve a prestigious position in the government, it is essential to have an MPA degree. This degree will open up opportunities that would have been closed to you otherwise. The reason government officials want to hire individuals with this degree is because they know that achieving this degree requires excellent time management skills, determination and communication skills.
Kevin Mallory is a human resources analyst and guest author of MPA Degree, a site with ratings of the top MPA degree programs.