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Planner: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 28, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$89,320median pay per year, or $42.94 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $60,010lowest 10% earn less
  2. $72,02025th percentile
  3. $89,320median
  4. $110,03075th percentile
  5. $134,490top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[3]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[4]

Urban and regional planners, the official category for a city planner, had a median wage of $89,320 a year in May 2025[1]. BLS projects 3.9% job growth from 2025 to 2035[2].

Job growth, 2025–35
+3.9%[2]
Openings per year
3,200[5]
Typical entry education
Master's degree[6]

How much do planners make?

The median wage for Urban and Regional Planners was $89,320 a year, or $42.94 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The mean (average) was $94,750 a year, or $45.55 an hour[7].

The median for all occupations in the US was $50,980[4]. So the typical planner earned well above the typical US worker.

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $60,010 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $134,490[3]. BLS says a percentile is a boundary and does not publish a starting salary[8].

Annual wage point Amount
10th percentile[3] $60,010
25th percentile[3] $72,020
Median[1] $89,320
75th percentile[3] $110,030
90th percentile[3] $134,490

Per hour, the same points run from $28.85 to $64.66[9]. These figures cover wage and salary workers only. They leave out the self-employed and do not include benefits or some bonuses[10].

Pay by state and city

The District of Columbia had the highest median at $137,000, followed by California at $109,610 and Oregon at $103,070[11]. Among the states, Mississippi ($60,300) and West Virginia ($61,390) had the lowest medians[11].

California had the most jobs (7,460), followed by Washington (3,180), Florida (2,620), New York (2,420) and Texas (2,190)[12].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, the highest medians were in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara ($139,360), San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont ($136,250) and Salinas ($125,300)[13]. The Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim area had the most jobs, at 1,920[14].

Show median pay in 50 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
District of Columbia[11]$137,000120
California$109,6107,460
Oregon$103,0701,010
Arizona$102,4001,330
Colorado$101,3401,300
Washington$100,9903,180
Nevada$100,040270
Connecticut$99,880350
Massachusetts$99,7801,540
Minnesota$97,060860
Alaska$93,860230
Illinois$91,3601,140
Rhode Island$90,210160
New York$89,6302,420
Maryland$88,570900
New Jersey$86,280790
Virginia$86,0301,740
Hawaii$85,590450
Vermont$84,750100
Utah$84,360500
Wisconsin$84,2901,100
Texas$82,8302,190
Kansas$82,330250
Oklahoma$81,520350
North Carolina$81,2301,630
Pennsylvania$80,810860
Montana$80,770270
Florida$80,7202,620
Missouri$80,720440
Georgia$80,0301,150
Ohio$79,950760
Maine$79,120190
Iowa$79,100300
Tennessee$78,970310
Michigan$78,5101,380
North Dakota$78,500210
New Mexico$77,710270
Idaho$76,500350
South Carolina$75,810530
Nebraska$74,830360
Louisiana$74,500240
New Hampshire$73,860260
South Dakota$71,180210
Indiana$70,760620
Alabama$70,710520
Wyoming$70,190110
Delaware$67,110290
Kentucky$65,000180
Arkansas$63,53080
West Virginia$61,390160
Mississippi$60,300200

How to become a planner

BLS lists a master's degree as the typical entry education, with no related work experience and no on-the-job training[6]. The Occupational Outlook Handbook adds that planners typically need a bachelor's or master's degree from an accredited planning program[15].

In an O*NET survey of 25 workers, 56% said a master's degree was required and 40% said a bachelor's degree[19]. This is a small survey, so treat it as a rough guide.

Licensing is rare. Most states do not require planners to be licensed, and New Jersey is an exception[20]. Employers may prefer or require certification[21].

What planners do

O*NET describes planners as people who develop plans and programs for how towns, cities, counties and metro areas use land and physical facilities[22]. Common tasks include[23]:

Workers report job titles such as city planner, community planner and planning consultant[24]. Useful skills include analysis, communication, decision-making and leadership[25][26][27][28].

Where they work

Local government, excluding education and hospitals, was the largest employer of planners in 2025 at 74%[29]. Planners may travel to inspect sites and proposed changes[30].

Full-time work is typical. Some planners work evenings or weekends so they can meet with officials, planning commissions and neighborhood groups[31]. Only 0.9% were self-employed in 2025[32].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment of urban and regional planners to grow 3.9% from 2025 to 2035, from about 45,800 to 47,600 jobs[2]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5%[33]. So growth is close to the average for all jobs.

About 3,200 openings a year are projected on average[5]. Openings include jobs left by people who retire or switch occupations, not only new jobs[5]. Each year, about 1.7% of workers leave the labor force and 4.7% move to a different occupation[34].

The wage data counted about 44,230 jobs[35], while the projection starts from about 45,800[2]. The first counts wage and salary jobs only, and the second includes the self-employed[35][2].

Is it a good fit?

The facts point to a job with pay well above the all-occupations median[1][4], but with a high education bar, since a master's degree is the typical entry level[6]. Growth is close to the average[2][33]. Local government is the main employer[29], and pay varies a lot by state[11]. The facts here do not say how long a degree takes or what it costs.

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[36].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a planner make an hour?
The median wage for Urban and Regional Planners was $42.94 an hour in May 2025[1]. The middle half earned between $34.63 and $52.90 an hour[9].
What degree do you need to be a planner?
BLS lists a master's degree as the typical entry education[6]. The Occupational Outlook Handbook says a bachelor's or master's degree from an accredited planning program is typical[15].
Is urban planning in demand?
Employment is projected to grow 3.9% from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations[2][33]. About 3,200 openings a year are projected[5].
Do planners need a license?
Most states do not require one, and New Jersey is an exception[20]. Employers may prefer or require certification[21].
What is the highest paying state for planners?
The District of Columbia had the highest median annual wage at $137,000 in May 2025, followed by California and Oregon[11].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Urban and Regional Planners in the US was $89,320 per year and $42.94 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Urban and Regional Planners is projected to grow 3.9% from 2025 to 2035, from about 45,800 to 47,600 jobs (a change of +1,800). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Urban and Regional Planners: 10th percentile $60,010, 25th percentile $72,020, 75th percentile $110,030, 90th percentile $134,490. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 3,200 openings for Urban and Regional Planners are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Urban and Regional Planners: education needed for entry: Master's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Urban and Regional Planners was $94,750 per year and $45.55 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Urban and Regional Planners: 10th percentile $28.85, 25th percentile $34.63, 75th percentile $52.90, 90th percentile $64.66. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. Median annual wage for Urban and Regional Planners in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Urban and Regional Planners jobs: California 7,460; Washington 3,180; Florida 2,620; New York 2,420; Texas 2,190. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Urban and Regional Planners (areas with at least 100 jobs): San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $139,360; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $136,250; Salinas, CA $125,300; Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $123,090; Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA $112,270; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $111,380; Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA $110,520; San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA $109,920. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Urban and Regional Planners jobs: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 1,920 (median $111,380); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 1,570 (median $99,150); Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 1,430 (median $108,040); San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA 1,250 (median $136,250); Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 1,250 (median $104,770); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 1,100 (median $103,460). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  16. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Other Experience. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. O*NET 19-3051.00 survey of workers (25 respondents), education level they say is required: Master's Degree 56%, Bachelor's Degree 40% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. O*NET description of Urban and Regional Planners. O*NET OnLine
  23. O*NET task list for Urban and Regional Planners. O*NET OnLine
  24. O*NET 19-3051.00 sample job titles reported by workers: City Planner, Community Development Planner, Community Planner, Development Technician, Housing Development Specialist, Neighborhood Planner, Planner, Planning Consultant. O*NET OnLine
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of urban and regional planners in 2025: Local government, excluding education and hospitals 74%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. BLS Employment Projections: 0.9% of Urban and Regional Planners were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  33. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  34. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Urban and Regional Planners: 1.7% of workers leave the labor force each year and 4.7% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  35. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 44,230 people were employed as Urban and Regional Planners in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  36. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.