How to Become a City Manager

Working in municipal government is a rewarding and challenging job for many, and especially for city managers. City managers oversee the administration of a city’s government, which includes a variety of responsibilities that are vital to the community’s functioning. A typical city manager might oversee, if not outright supervise, operational areas that include, but are not limited to, the following:

How to become a city manager – the road to city management! -- looks different for everyone, but there are some concrete steps you can take toward this goal. Read on to find out more about what a city manager does and how YOU can move into such a role. 

What Is the Role of a City Manager?

With a list of responsibilities that is both long and broad, functioning as a good city manager requires a unique skill set. City managers essentially function as the COO of a city and must juggle many tasks, working not only with professionals from many city departments and organizations, but also local community leaders and other stakeholders. City managers provide:

• Administrative oversight of multiple departments, including public works, fire departments, parks and recreation, and more
• Communication between the city council, staff members, and various other services
• Goal setting for various government departments
• Implementation of the city council’s legislation, ensuring compliance with laws
• Budget management, including preparing and executing a city’s annual budget
• Crisis management in case of natural disasters or public health emergencies

Some city managers assume additional responsibilities depending on their city's size and the challenges their communities face. 

Who Does a City Manager Work With?

A better question would be, “Who doesn’t a city manager work with?”

While it is typically not an elected role, city managers regularly collaborate with elected officials, including mayors and members of the city council. They also collaborate with various departments, including law enforcement, school districts, sanitation departments, and emergency services. City managers often spend time with the public, earning their trust and addressing their needs. After all, everyone depends on a city manager to provide a fine-tuned, cost efficient, smoothly operating city government.

What Are the Challenges of Working in a Local Government?

There are plenty of challenges that can arise in local government, depending of course on the city's specific needs. Some of these challenges include:

• Employee retention:Just like any organization, cities must work to keep their employees by addressing needs and budgets.
• Community challenges:City managers must address things like affordable housing, delivering education, handling natural disasters, and more.
• Public opinion:Although often not elected, city managers must earn the trust of both the communities they serve and the officials they work with.

How city managers address these challenges depends on the specific circumstances and the city manager’s leadership style.

What Are City Manager Job Requirements?

A bachelor’s degree is needed for most jobs in public administration and local government management. For many government jobs, especially leadership roles, a master’s degree is preferred and may even come to be the minimum requirement in the years ahead. You can get a head start with the following two courses offered in Ohio University’s Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree program:

• Financial Management in Government
• Civic Innovation and Citizen Engagement

In fact, you can choose an area concentration in state and local government management, a choice that would allow for career advancement in state or local government. 

City managers often have copious experience working in public administration or government. They usually begin their careers in policy or administrative positions and then serve as assistant city managers. ¹ Early on, internships in government can be extremely beneficial. Choosing a program that features internship credit can help accelerate your career in city government. 

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Start Your City Management Journey Today! 

View the Online MPA 

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Skills Needed for Local Government Management

Some key skills necessary for a career as a city manager:

It’s also vital for city managers to be adaptable, trustworthy, and committed to the welfare of their community. Cross-functional work is also vital, so understanding how the city government functions and the key roles it plays is necessary.

City Manager Career Outlook

Demand for administrative services and facilities managers, like city managers, is expected to grow 6% between 2023 and 2033. Eight percent of administrative services managers work in local government, making a median annual wage of $107,490. ²

How Do You Become a City Manager?

City managers often start their careers in entry-level roles in government planning, finance, or administration. They often progress to roles like assistant city manager or serve as a department head for a government agency before becoming a city manager.

A Master of Public Administration degree can help fast-track your career toward a city manager role by ensuring you take courses specifically designed to prepare you for the challenges and opportunities associated with leading a city. 

Ohio University graduate and city manager Larry M. Lester, Jr., highlighted the importance of his MPA, saying, “The Executive MPA program at Ohio University has a strong emphasis on servant leadership and equipped me with essential skills that have directly advanced my career. I learned to process complex information efficiently, enhanced my research and writing capabilities, and developed data analysis skills to support informed decision-making. Most importantly, the program provided the foundation for my successful transition from public works to city management.”

Expand Your Local Impact With an MPA

OHIO’s Online Master of Public Administration program provides the specialized education city managers need, with concentrations in Public Leadership and Management, State and Local Government Management, and Non-Profit Management, as well as the option to complete a Project Management Certificate as part of the program. You can also choose the Executive MPA program, which is designed for mid-career professionals. As an R1 Carnegie Classification school, Ohio University ensures that students receive research-backed, academically excellent education that prepares them for the complex challenges of municipal leadership. 

OHIO’s MPA program combines rigorous coursework with the flexibility of online learning, preparing you to be an ethical and effective leader. You’ll connect with expert faculty and tap into real-world experiences . With three concentrations to choose from, you will tailor this 36-credit program to help you pursue your passions, whether you seek leadership roles in nonprofits, state and local governments, or the public sector.

OHIO also offers a campus-based One-Year Master of Public Administration program, allowing you to find an option that fits your needs and goals.

Apply today to begin your journey with OHIO.

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Related Resources

• Success In Action: Applying OHIO’s Executive MPA Skills Worldwide
• How Real-World Experience Enhances Your MPA Education
• Top Careers in Public Administration
• How Ohio University Supports Veterans in the Executive MPA and Beyond

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Sources

1. International City/County Management Association, What It Takes to Be a Professional Local Government Manager. Retrieved July 16, 2025, from   https://icma.org/what-it-takes-be-professional-local-government-manager .
2. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook , Administrative Services and Facilities Managers. Retrieved July 16, 2025, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/administrative-services-managers.htm .

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