Construction & Real Estate
Urban Planner Salary
Urban planners develop land use plans and programs to help create communities and accommodate population growth.
Median Salary
$79,540
Mean Salary
$83,600
Total Employed
39,000
Job Growth
+4%
Urban Planner Salary by Experience Level
Entry-level urban planners earn around $52,000 per year, while mid-career professionals earn $81,000. Senior-level urban planners can earn $118,000 or more.
Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$52,000 Mid Level (3-7 yrs)
$81,000 Senior Level (8+ yrs)
$118,000 Salary Percentile Breakdown
The salary range for urban planners varies significantly. The bottom 10% earn $50,000, while the top 10% earn $122,000.
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $50,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $63,000 |
| 50th Percentile (Median) | $79,540 |
| 75th Percentile | $100,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $122,000 |
Urban Planner Salary by State
Urban Planner salaries vary significantly by state due to cost of living, demand, and industry concentration. The highest paying state is Hawaii at $135,218, while Mississippi offers the lowest at $66,018.
| State | Median | |
|---|---|---|
| #1 Hawaii | $135,218 | Details → |
| #2 California | $109,765 | Details → |
| #3 Massachusetts | $107,379 | Details → |
| #4 Alaska | $98,630 | Details → |
| #5 New York | $97,039 | Details → |
| #6 New Jersey | $91,471 | Details → |
| #7 Washington | $91,471 | Details → |
| #8 Connecticut | $89,085 | Details → |
| #9 Maryland | $87,494 | Details → |
| #10 Oregon | $87,494 | Details → |
| #11 Colorado | $83,517 | Details → |
| #12 New Hampshire | $83,517 | Details → |
| #13 Rhode Island | $83,517 | Details → |
| #14 Virginia | $82,722 | Details → |
| #15 Delaware | $80,335 | Details → |
| #16 Vermont | $80,335 | Details → |
| #17 Florida | $77,949 | Details → |
| #18 Maine | $77,949 | Details → |
| #19 Arizona | $77,154 | Details → |
| #20 Minnesota | $77,154 | Details → |
| #21 Nevada | $77,154 | Details → |
| #22 Utah | $77,154 | Details → |
| #23 Pennsylvania | $76,358 | Details → |
| #24 Illinois | $75,563 | Details → |
| #25 Montana | $75,563 | Details → |
| #26 Idaho | $74,768 | Details → |
| #27 Georgia | $73,972 | Details → |
| #28 New Mexico | $73,972 | Details → |
| #29 North Carolina | $73,177 | Details → |
| #30 Texas | $73,177 | Details → |
| #31 Wisconsin | $73,177 | Details → |
| #32 Wyoming | $73,177 | Details → |
| #33 Louisiana | $72,381 | Details → |
| #34 Indiana | $71,586 | Details → |
| #35 Michigan | $71,586 | Details → |
| #36 Nebraska | $71,586 | Details → |
| #37 North Dakota | $71,586 | Details → |
| #38 Ohio | $71,586 | Details → |
| #39 Iowa | $70,791 | Details → |
| #40 South Carolina | $70,791 | Details → |
| #41 Tennessee | $70,791 | Details → |
| #42 Missouri | $69,995 | Details → |
| #43 South Dakota | $69,995 | Details → |
| #44 Alabama | $69,200 | Details → |
| #45 Kansas | $69,200 | Details → |
| #46 Kentucky | $69,200 | Details → |
| #47 Oklahoma | $68,404 | Details → |
| #48 Arkansas | $66,814 | Details → |
| #49 West Virginia | $66,814 | Details → |
| #50 Mississippi | $66,018 | Details → |
Key Responsibilities
- ● Develop comprehensive land use plans
- ● Analyze zoning and environmental regulations
- ● Review development proposals
- ● Conduct community meetings
- ● Create reports on planning recommendations
Top Skills
Urban Planning GIS Zoning Law Community Engagement Data Analysis AutoCAD
Education Required
Master's degree
Job Outlook
As fast as average — projected 4% growth over the next decade