Urban and Regional Planners
SOC code 19-3051 · O*NET-SOC 19-3051.00 · Extensive preparation needed · Science and engineering
Urban and Regional Planners pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$89,320
a year
Hourly
$42.94
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$94,750
$45.55 per hour
Middle 50%
$72,020 – $110,030
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$60,010 – $134,490
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
44,230
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $60,010
- $28.85/hr
- 25th percentile
- $72,020
- $34.63/hr
- Median percentile
- $89,320
- $42.94/hr
- 75th percentile
- $110,030
- $52.90/hr
- 90th percentile
- $134,490
- $64.66/hr
Job outlook · federal projection 2024–34
+3%
Growing about as fast as average
44,700
jobs in 2024
46,200
projected for 2034
About 1,500 more jobs
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projections, 2024–34. Projections describe the broader occupation group and are estimates, not guarantees.
What do urban and regional planners do?
Develop comprehensive plans and programs for use of land and physical facilities of jurisdictions, such as towns, cities, counties, and metropolitan areas.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Design, promote, or administer government plans or policies affecting land use, zoning, public utilities, community facilities, housing, or transportation.
- Advise planning officials on project feasibility, cost-effectiveness, regulatory conformance, or possible alternatives.
- Create, prepare, or requisition graphic or narrative reports on land use data, including land area maps overlaid with geographic variables, such as population density.
- Hold public meetings with government officials, social scientists, lawyers, developers, the public, or special interest groups to formulate, develop, or address issues regarding land use or community plans.
- Mediate community disputes or assist in developing alternative plans or recommendations for programs or projects.
- Recommend approval, denial, or conditional approval of proposals.
- Conduct field investigations, surveys, impact studies, or other research to compile and analyze data on economic, social, regulatory, or physical factors affecting land use.
- Evaluate proposals for infrastructure projects or other development for environmental impact or sustainability.
How to qualify for this work
Most people in this role hold master's degree — 56% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.
Preparation level: zone 5 — Extensive preparation needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Education reported by people doing this job
- Master's Degree56%
- Bachelor's Degree40%
- First Professional Degree - awarded for completion of a program that: requires at least 2 years of college work before entrance into the program, includes a total of at least 6 academic years of work to complete, and provides all remaining academic requirements to begin practice in a profession.4%
Common questions
How much does an urban and regional planners earn?
The national median is $89,320 a year. The full range runs from $60,010 at the 10th percentile to $134,490 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become an urban and regional planners without a degree?
Not usually — this occupation sits in preparation zone 5, where the typical entry route is most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree). The education breakdown above shows what people in the role actually reported.
Is urban and regional planners in demand?
Federal projections expect employment to grow by about 3% between 2024 and 2034 — growing about as fast as average. Openings also come from people retiring or changing jobs, which the growth figure does not count.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Active Listening4.1/5
- Speaking4.1/5
- Reading Comprehension4.0/5
- Critical Thinking4.0/5
- Writing3.9/5
Knowledge areas
- Law and Government4.6/5
- English Language4.4/5
- Geography4.2/5
- Transportation4.0/5
- Communications and Media3.6/5
- Administration and Management3.4/5
- Sociology and Anthropology3.4/5
- Customer and Personal Service3.3/5
Transferable strengths: Judgment and Decision Making, Systems Analysis, Complex Problem Solving, Systems Evaluation, Social Perceptiveness.