The information on this page is designed to help you explore possible careers. Use the links below to navigate to different areas of the page. We recommend working with a career counselor to help you identify careers based on your skills, interests, and values.
Students who earn a master's degree in public administration develop skills that are valued by employers. These skills include: research, analysis, writing, oral presentation, critical thinking, synthesis, and problem solving. Students and alumni may find employment in city, state, and federal government; nonprofits; social services; and educational institutions depending on their skills and experience. Career-related internships may be a prerequisite to finding employment.
Resources to Generate Ideas for Careers and/or Places of Employment
List of Employers and Job Titles Developed from Jobs Posted in Handshake for MPAs
The following list of employers and job titles was derived from the University Career Center's jobs database where the employer specifically requested master's in public administration. This list does not reflect all potential places of employment or kinds of jobs for master's in public administration. This list does not reflect current openings.
- Better Business Bureau (BBB) — Marketing Assistant
- Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) — Public Utilities Specialist
- C-Tran — Training & Benefits Specialist, Senior Transportation Planning Manager
- City of Beaverton — Organization Development Consultant, Senior Planner, Economic Development Project Coordinator, Mediation Services Program Coordinator, Purchasing Agent, Management Analyst, Program Manager
- City of Corvallis — Airport Coordinator Traffic Technician
- City of Eugene — Grant Management Analyst I/II
- City of Hillsboro — Management Analyst, Development Project Coordinator, Public Affairs Manager, Assistant Water Director, Water Resources Manager
- City of Milwaukie — Community Development/Public Works Director, Project Manager
- City of Portland — Children's Investment Fund Specialist, Management Auditor
- City of Salem — Public Works/Transportation Planning, Urban Planning Administrator, Treasury Manager, Management Analyst I, Contract Administrator, Natural Resources Outreach Specialist
- City of Tigard — Management Analyst, Right-of-Way Administrator
- City of Vancouver — Innovative Funding Manager, Human Resources Specialist, Financial Analyst - Fire, Parks & Recreation Director
- Coalition for a Livable Future — Development Coordinator
- Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission — Public Information Specialist
- Construction Contractors Board — Principal Executive Manager B
- Corvallis Neighborhood Housing Services (CNHS) — Housing Developer, Home Ownership Program Assistant, Microenterprise Program Coordinator
- Cowlitz County — Senior Planner - Quality Manager, Associate Planner
- Douglas County — Deputy Administrator
- FACT - Foundation for Accountability — Finance Director
- Housing Authority of Portland (HAP) — Community Revitalization Director, Sector 8 Director
- Housing Division of Oregon and Community Services — Governmental Auditor 2
- Human Services Council — Employment Transportation Coordinator I
- IRCO - Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization — Events Planner
- Independent Living Resources — Director of Programs and Services
- Lattice Semiconductor Corporation — Sales Analyst I
- League of Oregon Cities — Staff Associate
- Legislative Administration — Policy Director, Senior Budget Analyst, Committee Administrator, Publications Coordinator, Office Manager
- McCullough Research — Energy Consultant Associate
- Metro/MERC — Financial Planning Manager, Deputy Finance and Administrative Services Director
- Montana State University - Billings — Coordinator of Services Programs, Development and Marketing Coordinator
- Multnomah County Sheriff's Office — Finance Manager
- Native American Youth Association — NAYALP Education Coordinator, VISTA Financial Analyst
- Northwest Jewish Environmental Project — Washington Program Director
- Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board — Adult Tobacco Survey Specialist
- NPC Research (Northwest Professional Consortium, Inc.) — Data Collector/Interviewer (Community Research Project)
- Oregon Board of Tax Practitioners — Principal Executive/Manager C
- Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services — Human Resources Analyst 3
- Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) — Principal Contributor 1, Budget Analyst, Air Quality Program Analyst, Land Quality Division Manager
- Oregon Department of Human Services — Child Welfare Program Supervisor
- Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) — Bridge/Landscape Maintenance Manager, Technical Support Manager, Process Improvement Lead - Project Manager, Management Analyst 2, Procurement & Contract Specialist 1, Agreement Specialist
- Oregon Food Bank — Public Policy Advocate II
- Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) —Research Unit Manager, Budget & Resources Management Director
- Oregon Lottery — Internal Audit Assistant
- Oregon Army National Guard, The — Human Resources Analyst I
- Oregon Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) — Human Resources Analyst 1, Training and Development Specialist I, Program Technician I
- Oregon Secretary of State Audits Division — Records Management Analyst 1, State Auditor 1
- Oregon State Bar — Human Resources Manager
- Oregon State University (OSU) — Licensing & Marketing Coordinator, Program Coordinator for Community and Diversity
- Portland Community College (PCC) — Grants Officer, Replication Training Coordinator, Employee and Labor Relations Manager
- Portland Development Commission (PDC) — Senior Operations Manager - Development, Senior Development Manager, Asset/Portfolio Manager, Real Estate Coordinator, Risk Management Coordinator, Project/Program Coordinator, Housing Director
- Portland Public Schools — Compensation and Benefits Manager
- Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center — Medical Administration Specialist Trainee
- Raphael House of Portland — Project Coordinator
- Salem Area Mass Transit District — Specialized Transportation Director, Procurement Specialist, Human Resources Specialist
- Seattle-Northwest Securities — Public Finance Associate
- Springdale Job Corps Center — Transition Coordinator, Specialized Transportation Program Coordinator
- Tacoma Public Schools — Legislative and Labor Relations Director
- TriMet — Planner III - Elderly & Disabled Planning Coordinator, Director of Community Affairs, Executive Director of Government Affairs, Fixed Route Accessibility Programs Manager, Event Representative
- Umatilla County — Director of Economic Development
- US Department of Agriculture (USDA) — Agricultural Marketing Specialist
- US District Court - Oregon — Division Manager
- US Forest Service — Student Career Experience Program
- Vancouver Housing Authority — Emergency Shelter Clearinghouse Coordinator
Return to the top
Vocational Biographies
Vocational Biographies describes the career success stories of 1001 real people. Search by career title, keyword, topic, and career cluster. Username: portlandsu and password: 3W9N
- City Management Analyst
- Economic Development Director
- Economic Diversification Coordinator
- Municipal Budget Director
- University Government Relations Lobbyist
- Victim's Impact Panel Director
Return to the top
Professional Associations
Return to the top