Depending on the type of doctorate degree you are earning, you may choose to pursue a teaching position or continue in a research field. Typically, a PhD is the preferred degree for these types of careers. The salary of a professor at the university level can range from between $75,000 to upwards of $100,000 annually, however, many factors come in to play such as, the location, subject taught, in addition to, the size of the school.

However, with your online Doctor of Public Policy/Administration degree, or DPA, you can help a lot of people, as well. Those who choose to work in the public sector should consider themselves privileged to do so. Working to better everyday life for others, as well as yourself, is a very rewarding and satisfying opportunity. These positions are often ones that are earned by votes or appointed by government officials.

If you are elected to a public service position, you should have the skills and knowledge needed to be a leader. Salaries often range from between $50,000 to $200,000 per year for a government official. They are also eligible to earn additional dollars through speaking engagements and event appearances; however, the base salary can vary widely depending on location, title and at which government level they are serving. You may also choose to work in the fields of justice or international affairs.

If you are interested in the field of national security, your training will be most beneficial as you strive to keep our country safe. In this field, you will be responsible for conducting research, preparing intelligence reports and informing officials and the public of possible threats. Depending on the level in which you are working for, either local, state or federal, you can earn up to $120,000 or more per year.

The political scientist often is seen on television explaining the political views of our government officials in terms we can understand. While being on tv is not for everyone, you can still make a difference. With your online Doctor of Public Policy/Administration degree, you will have the skills needed to analyze, evaluate and suggest positive changes to our political systems. They often analyze political trends and public opinions to assess what the public needs within their communities. Job growth as a political scientist is expected to increase by 3% between now and 2024, with the average salary, as of May 2017, being approximately $115,110 annually. You can expect strong competition for the positions.

Many of our nation’s cities and towns need help. They need assistance in planning and repairing streets or by-passes, recreational parks for children to play in or perhaps, getting from point A to point B in a town is hard for those without personal vehicles. Residents may rely on the efficiency of the public transportation system to get to work and back. The city planner is often responsible for conducting research, analyzing data and implementing a plan to solve such issues. The average salary of a city planner can vary greatly depending on the size of their district, however, the average is approximately $70,020 annually.

Within any public position, strong problem-solvers are in demand. Only your online doctorate program will teach you the kind of skillset needed for the complex problems you will be required to solve. Your degree can also help you cross over into other industries in which you were not expecting to enter, for a doctoral degree of any kind can be used in a variety of ways. You may land that promotion you’ve been wanting or end up changing careers entirely. The sky’s the limit!

If you are interested in this field, please see our list of the Best Online Doctoral Degrees in Public Policy/Administration programs that we have compiled for your review.