What Does a City Manager Do?
A city manager oversees all aspects of a city's government operations. This may include coordinating the activities of multiple government departments, planning future city programs, directing the city's media relations, managing the city's internal affairs, implementing policies established by the city's council members, arbitrating complaints between government employees and the city and preparing a budget for the city council to approve.
Many city managers are appointed to office by city council members and oversee a staff of deputy and administrative city managers. The work can be highly stressful and requires individuals to have strong people skills and negotiation skills. However, it can also be very rewarding for those who aspire to develop initiatives that will help a community and then see those initiatives carried out.
City Manager Qualifications
| Degree Level | Master's preferred; bachelor's may be acceptable |
| Degree Field | Public administration, business administration, or a related field |
| Experience | 5 years municipal government experience |
| Key Skills | Writing and public speaking skills; knowledge of municipal and administrative laws and procedures; management theory and practices and dispute resolution procedures |
| Median Salary (2021) | $92,054 (for city managers) |
Sources: PayScale.com
How to Become a City Manager
Interested in learning how to be a city manager? Follow these steps:
- Earn an undergraduate degree
- Earn a graduate degree
- Work as an assistant or deputy city manager
- Consider earning city manager certification
Step 1: Earn an Undergraduate Degree
Most cities require that city manager job applicants have at least a bachelor's degree in public administration or business administration; there is no specific city manager degree, so you should choose your major based on the skills that will help you pursue this career. Public administration programs provide instruction about the theory and practice of managing people and departments in the public sector. These programs may include classes in topics like statistics, administrative processes, public service leadership and managing public resources.
Bachelor's degree programs in business administration provide instruction in topics like operations management, marketing, human resource management and organizational behavior. These programs focus more on preparing graduates to oversee a business' operations rather than manage in the public sector.
Some schools allow students in public administration programs to complete an internship. These internships provide hands-on experience working for or within a city government.
Aspiring city managers should attend an internship or a fellowship offered by the International City/County Management Association (ICMA). Internships are available to undergraduate students, while fellowships are available to recent graduates. These programs provide hands-on experience working in a city management office, which is something employers may find attractive in job candidates.
At times, city managers may need to research issues so that they can develop policies or procedures to handle them. Completing a directed-research project allows students to obtain experience conducting this type of research.
Step 2: Earn a Graduate Degree
Most city manager positions require a master's degree in public or business administration. Master of Public Administration degree programs are often geared towards working students by offering courses in the evenings, online or on the weekends. Classes in these programs cover topics like policy analysis, government administration, budgetary politics and administrative theory. These programs may also offer students the opportunity to complete internships or directed-research projects.
Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree programs often focus on preparing students to manage a business' operations. These programs include classes in marketing, managerial accounting, operations and financial management and statistics. MBA programs are often designed for working students and may be offered entirely online.
Step 3: Work as an Assistant or Deputy City Manager
Most city manager job positions require extensive amounts of experience. To acquire this experience, many city managers begin their careers by working for a specific city department, such as the department of sanitation, before moving into a position as an assistant city manager. After gaining several years of experience as an assistant city manager, individuals often advance into deputy city manager positions.
The International City/County Management Association (ICMA) is the main association for individuals who work in city management. This organization offers training and education opportunities to its members. Joining this association might also provide individuals with the ability to network with other professionals, which could lead to career advancement opportunities.
Step 4: Consider Earning City Manager Certification
Certification for city managers is usually optional, but it can be extremely valuable for career advancement. The kinds of certification available will vary by location, so you should check out what is most applicable in your state before choosing the best certification for you. You will need to look for a Certified Public Manager (CPM) program, which is the best option for providing you with certification that will be recognized in most states. Such programs are offered through the National Certified Public Manager Consortium (NCPMC) and are hosted by universities and institutions across the country. The NCPMC has an interactive map that can show you the programs offered in your state.
Required Skills
City managers may benefit from cultivating some or all of the following skills throughout their careers in order to be effective public servants:
- Excellent communication skills
- Attention to detail
- Interpersonal skills
- Ability to look at the bigger picture
- Ability to cultivate a vision for a city
- Understanding of a particular city's socioeconomic challenges and assets
- Strong knowledge of local history and culture
- Adaptability
City Manager Career Outlook and Salary
According to Payscale.com, city managers made an average salary of $92,054 as of January, 2021. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics also reported that urban and regional planners could expect 11% growth in their job field between 2019 and 2029, which is much faster than the national average for all jobs in the U.S.
Typically, a master's degree in public administration or business administration is required to be considered for appointment to a city manager position, and extensive experience is also needed.
