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Salary Information for MPAs/MPPs
Nonprofit Organizations
Federal Government
Municipal Governments
Additional Websites
Salary Statistics for MPA/MPP Degree Graduates
If you earn an MPA/MPP as part of your career plan in public service, your salary is likely to increase by a substantial amount.
General Salary Statistics for Master’s Degrees
According to the U.S. Bureau of Census, in 2004 for people 25 years and over, the median income was $53,581 for a Bachelor’s Degree and $67,361 for a Master’s.
Average Salaries for an MPA/MPP by Job Type
| Job Type |
Salary Range |
Median Salary |
|
Executive Director, NPO |
$34,000 - $66,500 |
$60,000 |
|
Human Resources Director |
$79,525 - $97,750 |
$88,000 |
|
Management Analyst |
$43,750 - $56,163 |
$51,000 |
|
Policy Analyst |
$35,000 - $53,844 |
$45,000 |
|
Consultant, Business |
$57,500 - $74,500 |
$60,000 |
|
Program Administrator, NPO |
$40,000 - $55,000 |
$40,000 |
|
Director of Program Management, Human Services |
$55,000 - $70,000 |
$60,000 |
|
Purchasing Manager |
$48,750 - $56,250 |
$52,500 |
|
Entry-Level Federal Position (Grade 11) |
$46,189 - $60,049 |
$53,000 |
|
Mid-Career Federal Position (Grade 13) |
$65,832 - $85,578 |
$75,000 |
Private sector salary information from PayScale. Federal Government salary information from the US Office of Personal Management. This information does not account for different localities or the cost of living.
Case Study: Average salaries for MPA’s who graduated from Baruch College (2003)
 |
|
As the two pie charts show, MPA graduates earn higher salaries—over half earn $50,000 or more—as opposed to non-MPA’s, less than a fourth of whom earn the same amount. |
 |
Charts derived from information on the Baruch College website.The line graph to the left accentuates this point by showing that a higher percentage of MPA’s are in the higher income brackets. The bottom line is, MPA’s earn more than those only with a graduate degree. |
AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARIES IN NONPROFITS: 2002*
What kind of salary does the average nonprofit employee make? Well, in 2001, The Washington Council of Agencies did a survey of median salaries for people working in the “voluntary sector.” Many of these people hold MPAs/MPPs, and the salaries just might surprise you!
To see the median salaries for nonprofit employees in the Washington Metro area, click here.
In a February 2002 survey, The Nonprofit Times surveyed 3,000 organizations to find out what their managers were earning.
For salary data by region and across 10 professions, click here.
|
Position |
Salary ($) |
Bonus ($) |
|
Top government- affairs executive |
100,400 |
9,119 |
|
Top development executive |
86,500 |
6,000 |
|
Top program executive |
85,250 |
6,909 |
|
Top publications executive |
71,295 |
3,722 |
|
Top grant administrator |
60,000 |
650 |
|
Top membership executive |
70,135 |
3,715 |
|
Director of chapter/affiliate |
76,613 |
6,314 |
|
Director of volunteer services |
41,650 |
2,227 |
|
Research director |
66,091 |
-- |
|
Fundraising manager |
49,341 |
1,859 |
|
Top marketing executive |
89,000 |
4,890 |
|
Top research executive |
101,800 |
10,000 |
|
Research manager |
58,973 |
2,500 |
|
Production director |
56,650 |
-- |
|
Program director |
52,500 |
1,464 |
|
Education director |
59,817 |
3,500 |
|
MIS director |
80,000 |
5,974 |
|
Web-site director |
60,261 |
4,200 |
|
Special-events planner |
41,600 |
1,742 |
|
Advertising director |
75,886 |
-- |
|
Advertising manager |
52,138 |
-- |
|
Marketing director |
63,856 |
4,214 |
|
Marketing manager |
45,000 |
1,000 |
|
Managing editor |
58,000 |
2,867 |
|
Systems analyst |
55,568 |
2,867 |
|
Grant-proposal manager |
48,740 |
-- |
|
Editor |
45,000 |
2,736 |
|
Writer |
40,183 |
1,200 |
|
Fulfillment manager |
46,913 |
-- |
* Source: The Nonprofit Times, 2002; Click here (2002 Salary Survey).
SALARIES IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT: 2006
The federal government has a General Schedule (GS) pay scale that is based upon grades and steps. In the two tables below, you see how much an individual earns at each grade and step. When individuals enter the federal government after earning their undergraduate degrees, they will usually enter as a GS-7. On the other hand, the lowest grade at which a person who has completed a masters program, such as an MPA or MPP, will enter is a GS-9 (and many enter at higher grades). Federal employees' salaries tend to advance about 2 steps per year.
In the tables below, the GS-7 pay rates for 2006 are highlighted in blue, while the GS-9 pay rates are highlighted in red. Comparing the GS-7 and GS-9 pay rates illustrates the higher salaries associated with MPA/MPP degrees.
The first table below shows the base General Schedule pay rates for 2006. The second table shows the 2006 General Schedule pay rates for the Washington, DC area.
2006 Federal Employee Pay Tables*
INCORPORATING A 1.50% GENERAL SCHEDULE INCREASE
Effective January 2006
Annual Rates by Grade and Step
| GS |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
|
7 |
31209 |
32249 |
33289 |
34329 |
35369 |
36409 |
37449 |
38489 |
39529 |
40569 |
|
8 |
34563 |
35715 |
36867 |
38019 |
39171 |
40323 |
41475 |
42627 |
43779 |
44931 |
|
9 |
38175 |
39448 |
40721 |
41994 |
43267 |
44540 |
45813 |
47086 |
48359 |
49632 |
|
10 |
42040 |
43441 |
44842 |
46243 |
47644 |
49045 |
50446 |
51847 |
53248 |
54649 |
|
11 |
46189 |
47729 |
49269 |
50809 |
52349 |
53889 |
55429 |
56969 |
58509 |
60049 |
|
12 |
55360 |
57205 |
59050 |
60895 |
62740 |
64585 |
66430 |
68275 |
70120 |
71965 |
|
13 |
65832 |
68026 |
70220 |
72414 |
74608 |
76802 |
78996 |
81190 |
83384 |
85578 |
|
14 |
77793 |
80386 |
82979 |
85572 |
88165 |
90758 |
93351 |
95944 |
98537 |
101130 |
|
15 |
91507 |
94557 |
97607 |
100657 |
103707 |
106757 |
109807 |
112857 |
115907 |
118957 |
* Source: U.S. Office of Personal Management; Click here
Pay Rate if enter without MPA/MPP (GS-7)
Pay Rate if enter after completing MPA/MPP (GS-9)
2006 Federal Employee Pay Table - Washington, DC/Baltimore*
INCORPORATING A LOCALITY PAY AREA OF WASHINGTON-BALTIMORE, DC-MD-VA-WV
(Click herefor definitions of locality pay areas.)
Effective January 2006
Annual Rates by Grade and Step
| GS |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
|
7 |
36671 |
37893 |
39115 |
40337 |
41559 |
42781 |
44003 |
45225 |
46447 |
47669 |
|
8 |
40612 |
41965 |
43319 |
44672 |
46026 |
47380 |
48733 |
50087 |
51440 |
52794 |
|
9 |
44856 |
46351 |
47847 |
49343 |
50839 |
52335 |
53830 |
55326 |
56822 |
58318 |
|
10 |
49397 |
51043 |
52689 |
54336 |
55982 |
57628 |
59274 |
60920 |
62566 |
64213 |
|
11 |
54272 |
56082 |
57891 |
59701 |
61510 |
63320 |
65129 |
66939 |
68748 |
70558 |
|
12 |
65048 |
67216 |
69384 |
71552 |
73720 |
75887 |
78055 |
80223 |
82391 |
84559 |
|
13 |
77353 |
79931 |
82509 |
85086 |
87664 |
90242 |
92820 |
95398 |
97976 |
100554 |
|
14 |
91407 |
94454 |
97500 |
100547 |
103594 |
106641 |
109687 |
112734 |
115781 |
118828 |
|
15 |
107521 |
111104 |
114688 |
118272 |
121856 |
125439 |
129023 |
132607 |
136191 |
139774 |
* Source: U.S. Office of Personal Management; Click here
Pay Rate if enter without MPA/MPP (GS-7)
Pay Rate if enter after completing MPA/MPP (GS-9)
NATIONAL AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARIES IN MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS: 2001*
Position |
Salary ($) |
|
Chief elected official |
20,719 |
|
City manager |
85,587 |
|
Chief administrative officer |
67,669 |
|
Primary assistant manager/CAO |
69,847 |
|
Clerk |
45,718 |
|
Chief financial officer |
66,923 |
|
Health officer |
59,286 |
|
Treasurer |
47,241 |
|
Public works director |
61,982 |
|
Engineer |
69,468 |
|
Human services director |
58,709 |
|
Public safety director |
63,629 |
|
Police chief |
65,024 |
|
Fire chief |
64,529 |
|
Economic development director |
65,591 |
|
Planning director |
64,155 |
|
Human Resources director |
60,313 |
|
Risk manager |
57,874 |
|
Parks and recreation director |
57,857 |
|
Superintendent of parks |
48,513 |
|
Recreation director |
49,416 |
|
Chief librarian |
50,078 |
|
Information services director |
67,034 |
|
Purchasing director |
52,156 |
* Source: International City/Council Management Association, 2001; Click here.
ADDITIONAL WEBSITES OFFERING SALARY INFORMATION
Career Journal from The Wall Street Journal
Search the database for salary data by job title, or review salary and hiring trends by industry or job title.
JobStar
JobStar provides links and descriptions of 300 + salary surveys or summaries. Evaluate information in terms of currency, geographic coverage and application to your individual situation.
Occupational Outlook Handbook
Published by the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Occupational Outlook Handbook is a nationally recognized source of career information designed to provide valuable assistance to individuals making decisions about their future work lives. The Handbook is revised every 2 years and describes working conditions, the training and education needed, earnings and expected job prospects in a wide range of occupations.
The Salary Calculator
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