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Public Administration Salary in the United States

How much does a Public Administration make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Public Administration in the United States is $40,426 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $19.

However, a Public Administration's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $48,150
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $36,092 to $44,469
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $32,146
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Public Administration Salaries

A Public Administration's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Do Public Administration Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Public Administrations. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $44,760.
  • California: $44,590.
  • Massachusetts: $43,996.

Top Paying Cities for Public Administrations

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $50,989
  • San Francisco: $50,431
  • Oakland: $49,368

What Skills Can Increase a Public Administration's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Scheduling (Mentioned in 35.64% Job Postings): Scheduling is the process of arranging, controlling and optimizing work and workloads in a production process or manufacturing process.
  • Prior Authorization (Mentioned in 2.45% Job Postings): Prior authorization is a utilization management process used by some health insurance companies in the United States to determine if they will cover a prescribed procedure, service, or medication.
  • Microsoft Office (Mentioned in 1.25% Job Postings): Microsoft Office is a suite of desktop productivity applications that is designed by Microsoft for business use. You can create documents containing text and images, work with data in spreadsheets and databases, create presentations and posters.
Skills Demand Percentage
Scheduling 35.64%
Prior Authorization 2.45%
Microsoft Office 1.25%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Public Administration's salary.

  • Acute Care: Can increase your salary by up to 18%.
  • Decision Making: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
  • Commitment: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Acute Care $47,703
18%
Decision Making $44,873
11%
Commitment $44,468
10%
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Public Administration Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Public Administration roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 25% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Healthcare, offers compensation 10% above the average. Conversely, Public Administration positions in Edu., Gov't & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Public Administration as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Public Administration

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$44,468$21.010%

How Education impacts a Public Administration's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Public Administrations enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Public Administration with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $43,764 and $45,963).

Public Administration Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Public Administration
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 63.1%
High School 63.1%
Associates 21.3%
Bachelors 13.1%
Masters 2.5%
Doctorate 0.0%
View as Graph

Public Administration Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Public Administration's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$36,092
Average $40,426/year
$44,469
$3,008
Average $3,369/month
$3,706
$694
Average $777/week
$855
$17
Average $19/hour
$21
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $44,469 $3,706 $855 $21
Average $40,426 $3,369 $777 $19
25th Percentile $36,092 $3,008 $694 $17

Most common benefits for Public Administration

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Public Administration

Here are companies hiring for Public Administration and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Public Administration

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Public Administration?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Public Administration roles, with salaries approximately 10% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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