diff --git a/HISTORY.md b/HISTORY.md
index 43b2a77..8853fff 100644
--- a/HISTORY.md
+++ b/HISTORY.md
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 - **authentik client auth method**: Admin OIDC settings now include an advanced `client_secret_basic` / `client_secret_post` token endpoint authentication method selector. The default remains `client_secret_basic`, matching the previous `openid-client` behavior.
 - **Admin user role management**: Admin Users table now lets an admin promote another user to `admin` or demote an admin back to `user`, with protections against changing your own role or removing the last admin account.
 - **Single-user mode recovery**: User Settings now shows a Login Mode section while single-user mode is active, allowing the default user to restore multi-user login without needing access to Admin routes.
+- **Admin navigation parity**: Admin users now keep the normal app navigation and get an Admin link after Status; `/admin` uses the same top nav so admins can return to Tracker/Bills/Categories/Profile/Settings/Status without typing a URL. Backend `/admin` protection remains unchanged.
 - **Admin-controlled auth method toggles** in Admin panel (Authentication Methods card):
   - `local_login_enabled` — enable/disable local username/password login (default: enabled)
   - `oidc_login_enabled` — enable/disable OIDC/authentik login (default: disabled)
diff --git a/client/App.jsx b/client/App.jsx
index 3864ccf..3a20eb4 100644
--- a/client/App.jsx
+++ b/client/App.jsx
@@ -35,8 +35,10 @@ function RequireAuth({ children, role }) {
     return <Navigate to="/login" state={{ from: location }} replace />;
   }
 
+  const roleAllowed = !role || user.role === role || (role === 'user' && user.role === 'admin');
+
   // Role mismatch
-  if (role && user.role !== role) {
+  if (!roleAllowed) {
     return <Navigate to={user.role === 'admin' ? '/admin' : '/'} replace />;
   }
 
diff --git a/client/components/layout/Sidebar.jsx b/client/components/layout/Sidebar.jsx
index c047dff..e1e2385 100644
--- a/client/components/layout/Sidebar.jsx
+++ b/client/components/layout/Sidebar.jsx
@@ -98,14 +98,16 @@ function UserMenu({ adminMode = false }) {
       </DropdownMenuTrigger>
       <DropdownMenuContent align="end" className="w-52">
         <DropdownMenuLabel className="truncate">{name}</DropdownMenuLabel>
-        {!adminMode && (
-          <>
-            <DropdownMenuSeparator />
-            <DropdownMenuItem onSelect={() => navigate('/profile')}>
-              <User className="h-4 w-4" />
-              Profile
-            </DropdownMenuItem>
-          </>
+        <DropdownMenuSeparator />
+        <DropdownMenuItem onSelect={() => navigate('/profile')}>
+          <User className="h-4 w-4" />
+          Profile
+        </DropdownMenuItem>
+        {user?.role === 'admin' && !adminMode && (
+          <DropdownMenuItem onSelect={() => navigate('/admin')}>
+            <ShieldCheck className="h-4 w-4" />
+            Admin
+          </DropdownMenuItem>
         )}
         <DropdownMenuSeparator />
         <DropdownMenuItem destructive onSelect={handleLogout}>
@@ -119,7 +121,10 @@ function UserMenu({ adminMode = false }) {
 
 export default function Sidebar({ adminMode = false }) {
   const [mobileOpen, setMobileOpen] = useState(false);
-  const items = adminMode ? adminNavItems : userNavItems;
+  const { user } = useAuth();
+  const items = user?.role === 'admin'
+    ? [...userNavItems, ...adminNavItems]
+    : userNavItems;
 
   return (
     <header className="sticky top-0 z-40 border-b border-border/70 bg-background/85 shadow-sm shadow-foreground/5 backdrop-blur-xl supports-[backdrop-filter]:bg-background/70">
diff --git a/middleware/requireAuth.js b/middleware/requireAuth.js
index 9bce5dd..6e571d3 100644
--- a/middleware/requireAuth.js
+++ b/middleware/requireAuth.js
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ function requireAuth(req, res, next) {
 }
 
 function requireUser(req, res, next) {
-  if (req.user?.role !== 'user') {
+  if (!['user', 'admin'].includes(req.user?.role)) {
     return res.status(403).json({ error: 'Access denied: user account required' });
   }
   next();