Regional and Urban Planner Training and Jobs
Schools and Degrees
Many schools offer master's degrees in urban or regional planning. Some schools provide a bachelor's degree in urban planning. Applicable undergraduate degrees include geography, economics, environmental design and political science. Most of the college and university planning departments provide areas of specialization.
Training and Education
Expect to get a master's degree for this occupation. The share of employees with a bachelor's degree or higher is 92%.
Job Overview
Regional and urban planners are involved in developing short-term and long-term plans for the use of land as well as the growth and revitalization of suburban, urban and rural communities. Urban and regional planners also assist local officials in alleviating economic, social and environmental problems by recommending locations for schools, roads and other types of infrastructure. Regional and urban planners also suggest zoning regulations for private property. They are sometimes called community planners or city planners.
Job Requirements
Most of the entry-level positions in local, state and federal government agencies require a master's degree in urban or regional planning or in a related field such as urban design, geography or environmental planning.
Nature of Work
- Recommend approval, denial or conditional approval of proposals
- Compile and evaluate data on social, economic, regulatory and physical factors which affect land use
- Determine the effects of regulatory limitations on projects
- Discuss with planning officials the purpose of land use projects such as conservation, transportation, commercial, residential, industrial and community use
Area Job Conditions
Olympia (Washington), Santa Cruz (California), and Bellingham (Washington) boast the most regional and urban planners for their size population. Wichita (Kansas), Buffalo (New York), and Knoxville (Tennessee) have the fewest.
The highest salaries for workers are in and around Napa (California), San Francisco (California), and San Jose (California). The lowest-paying areas are Syracuse (New York), McAllen (Texas), and Lancaster (Pennsylvania).
Part-Time and Self Employment
It is estimated that 6% of regional and urban planners work less than full time.
Career Videos
Regional and Urban Planners by Metropolitan Area (city and its surroundings)
In the table below, a Job Density near 0% means the area has an average number of people in this occupation, for its population. A higher or lower Job Density (e.g., +22% or -45%) tells you there are that many more or fewer workers of that type there than in the average US metro area. So, the higher the number, the more common the occupation.
Alabama
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | $60,000 | 60 | -55% |
| Huntsville | $55,000 | 40 | -27% |
| Montgomery | $54,000 | 120 | +182% |
Alaska
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage | $74,000 | 120 | +175% |
Arizona
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix | $66,000 | 410 | -15% |
| Tucson | $61,000 | 110 | +20% |
Arkansas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville | $51,000 | 30 | -44% |
| Little Rock | $46,000 | 30 | -68% |
California
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield | $74,000 | 100 | +45% |
| Chico | $73,000 | 40 | +135% |
| Fresno | $73,000 | 190 | +122% |
| Los Angeles | $78,000 | 1,760 | +59% |
| Modesto | $73,000 | 40 | -1% |
| Napa | $98,000 | 40 | +163% |
| Oakland | $82,000 | 940 | +246% |
| Oxnard | $82,000 | 180 | +127% |
| Riverside | $74,000 | 660 | +101% |
| Sacramento | $79,000 | 680 | +188% |
| Salinas | $85,000 | 110 | +164% |
| San Diego | $78,000 | 730 | +104% |
| San Francisco | $86,000 | 1,230 | +355% |
| San Jose | $93,000 | 590 | +142% |
| San Luis Obispo | $67,000 | 90 | +287% |
| Santa Ana | $81,000 | 660 | +66% |
| Santa Barbara | $79,000 | 130 | +197% |
| Santa Cruz | $75,000 | 120 | +452% |
| Santa Rosa | $81,000 | 70 | +54% |
| Stockton | $71,000 | 70 | +27% |
| Vallejo | $78,000 | 70 | +128% |
| Visalia | $68,000 | 40 | +15% |
Colorado
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder | $66,000 | 160 | +302% |
| Colorado Springs | $72,000 | 50 | -25% |
| Denver | $70,000 | 360 | +6% |
| Fort Collins | $65,000 | 60 | +86% |
Connecticut
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport | $65,000 | 50 | -56% |
| Hartford | $80,000 | 100 | -36% |
Delaware
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | $64,000 | 100 | +15% |
District of Columbia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $73,000 | 930 | +40% |
Florida
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Coral | $63,000 | 70 | +38% |
| Deltona | $58,000 | 40 | +0% |
| Fort Lauderdale | $67,000 | 220 | +16% |
| Gainesville | $59,000 | 50 | +61% |
| Jacksonville | $61,000 | 130 | -20% |
| Lakeland | $64,000 | 50 | +1% |
| Miami | $78,000 | 200 | -25% |
| Naples | $75,000 | 40 | +40% |
| Orlando | $62,000 | 280 | +1% |
| Palm Bay | $52,000 | 40 | -23% |
| Panama City | $68,000 | 40 | +137% |
| Pensacola | $48,000 | 50 | +30% |
| Port St Lucie | $58,000 | 50 | +64% |
| Sarasota | $62,000 | 50 | -23% |
| Tallahassee | $55,000 | 120 | +186% |
| Tampa | $65,000 | 380 | +22% |
| West Palm Beach | $65,000 | 190 | +36% |
Georgia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | $60,000 | 400 | -37% |
| Augusta | $46,000 | 60 | +11% |
Idaho
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boise | $60,000 | 170 | +144% |
| Coeur Dalene | $53,000 | 30 | +149% |
Illinois
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $77,000 | 340 | -67% |
| Springfield | $67,000 | 50 | +83% |
Indiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evansville | $52,000 | 40 | -11% |
| Gary | $56,000 | 30 | -58% |
| Indianapolis | $55,000 | 170 | -30% |
| South Bend | $50,000 | 30 | -10% |
Iowa
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Davenport | $62,000 | 40 | -18% |
Kansas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Topeka | $61,000 | 40 | +42% |
| Wichita | $63,000 | 30 | -61% |
Kentucky
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville | $51,000 | 50 | -70% |
Louisiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans | $48,000 | 100 | -30% |
Maine
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | $65,000 | 50 | -5% |
Maryland
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore | $69,000 | 690 | +93% |
| Bethesda | $73,000 | 110 | -30% |
| Hagerstown | $60,000 | 40 | +64% |
Massachusetts
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | $73,000 | 720 | +51% |
| Framingham | $70,000 | 30 | -30% |
| Haverhill | $56,000 | 40 | +96% |
| Leominster | $66,000 | 30 | +155% |
| Lowell | $73,000 | 30 | -3% |
| Worcester | $65,000 | 80 | +20% |
Michigan
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor | $66,000 | 80 | +83% |
| Grand Rapids | $67,000 | 60 | -41% |
| Lansing | $68,000 | 150 | +187% |
| Niles | $47,000 | 50 | +257% |
| Warren | $63,000 | 200 | -32% |
Minnesota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duluth | $56,000 | 40 | +20% |
| Minneapolis | $66,000 | 700 | +44% |
Mississippi
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gulfport | $38,000 | 40 | +46% |
Missouri
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City | $56,000 | 220 | -20% |
| St Louis | $52,000 | 170 | -53% |
Montana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Missoula | $50,000 | 50 | +299% |
Nebraska
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha | $65,000 | 120 | -6% |
Nevada
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas | $78,000 | 170 | -26% |
| Reno | $78,000 | 60 | +19% |
New Hampshire
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashua | $61,000 | 50 | +41% |
| Rochester | $57,000 | 30 | +133% |
New Jersey
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edison | $79,000 | 120 | -57% |
| Newark | $60,000 | 90 | -67% |
| Trenton | $78,000 | 80 | +33% |
New Mexico
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | $58,000 | 70 | -33% |
New York
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany | $58,000 | 120 | -2% |
| Binghamton | $64,000 | 30 | +4% |
| Buffalo | $57,000 | 100 | -33% |
| Ithaca | $63,000 | 30 | +214% |
| Nassau | $70,000 | 130 | -62% |
| New York | $67,000 | 740 | -48% |
| Poughkeepsie | $59,000 | 80 | +22% |
| Rochester | $65,000 | 80 | -42% |
| Syracuse | $45,000 | 80 | -5% |
| Utica | $72,000 | 40 | +25% |
North Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asheville | $52,000 | 90 | +94% |
| Charlotte | $63,000 | 340 | +46% |
| Durham | $60,000 | 70 | -5% |
| Fayetteville | $59,000 | 30 | -8% |
| Greensboro | $58,000 | 70 | -27% |
| Greenville | $55,000 | 30 | +81% |
| Hickory | $48,000 | 40 | +5% |
| Raleigh | $55,000 | 240 | +71% |
| Wilmington | $56,000 | 60 | +70% |
| Winston Salem | $54,000 | 60 | +8% |
North Dakota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo | $58,000 | 40 | +28% |
Ohio
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akron | $63,000 | 70 | -19% |
| Cincinnati | $58,000 | 140 | -49% |
| Cleveland | $61,000 | 120 | -57% |
| Columbus | $52,000 | 80 | -68% |
| Dayton | $63,000 | 90 | -13% |
| Toledo | $57,000 | 30 | -62% |
| Youngstown | $44,000 | 70 | +17% |
Oklahoma
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City | $65,000 | 70 | -55% |
Oregon
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bend | $70,000 | 60 | +290% |
| Corvallis | $78,000 | 50 | +731% |
| Eugene | $64,000 | 80 | +120% |
| Medford | $51,000 | 100 | +421% |
| Portland | $71,000 | 680 | +144% |
| Salem | $65,000 | 120 | +210% |
Pennsylvania
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allentown | $55,000 | 100 | +7% |
| Erie | $40,000 | 30 | -9% |
| Harrisburg | $50,000 | 160 | +86% |
| Johnstown | $41,000 | 50 | +269% |
| Lancaster | $43,000 | 40 | -36% |
| Philadelphia | $60,000 | 520 | 0% |
| Pittsburgh | $46,000 | 220 | -30% |
| Scranton | $38,000 | 80 | +15% |
| York | $47,000 | 80 | +73% |
Rhode Island
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence | $66,000 | 180 | +19% |
South Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $54,000 | 50 | -35% |
| Columbia | $61,000 | 80 | -15% |
| Greenville | $54,000 | 40 | -50% |
Tennessee
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | $50,000 | 50 | -17% |
| Knoxville | $47,000 | 40 | -55% |
| Memphis | $52,000 | 80 | -52% |
| Nashville | $54,000 | 140 | -31% |
Texas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin | $56,000 | 310 | +45% |
| College Station | $47,000 | 70 | +201% |
| Dallas | $66,000 | 260 | -55% |
| Fort Worth | $61,000 | 200 | -15% |
| Houston | $59,000 | 210 | -71% |
| Mcallen | $47,000 | 40 | -34% |
| San Antonio | $59,000 | 150 | -37% |
Utah
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ogden | $57,000 | 50 | -5% |
| Provo | $65,000 | 50 | +12% |
| Salt Lake City | $61,000 | 130 | -21% |
Vermont
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington | $53,000 | 110 | +286% |
Virginia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlottesville | $57,000 | 70 | +223% |
| Richmond | $59,000 | 210 | +26% |
| Roanoke | $51,000 | 50 | +23% |
| Virginia Beach | $61,000 | 320 | +55% |
Washington
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bremerton | $73,000 | 80 | +286% |
| Kennewick | $65,000 | 50 | +97% |
| Mount Vernon | $62,000 | 40 | +285% |
| Olympia | $70,000 | 310 | +1139% |
| Seattle | $73,000 | 1,450 | +278% |
| Spokane | $59,000 | 110 | +103% |
| Tacoma | $72,000 | 150 | +113% |
| Wenatchee | $73,000 | 30 | +233% |
| Yakima | $59,000 | 70 | +235% |
Wisconsin
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green Bay | $58,000 | 60 | +36% |
| Madison | $68,000 | 150 | +65% |
| Milwaukee | $107,000 | 190 | -16% |
| Oshkosh | $52,000 | 40 | +82% |