“A public administrator manages and oversees government programs and services,” explains Dr. Wendy Eaton, chair of Franklin University's Master of Public Administration program. “They work closely with elected officials and community leaders to develop and implement public policy at the local, state and federal level.”

Yes—with roles like healthcare administrator, urban planner and nonprofit director, these individuals perform fulfilling work that can create meaningful societal change. Payscale data indicates that professionals with M.P.A.s earn strong salaries of around $77,000 per year.

Several types of public administration have emerged throughout this complex field's evolution, including classical public administration, new public management, and finally, postmodern public administration.