Urban and Regional Planners earn $89,320 nationally at the median. The middle 50% of workers fall between $72,020 and $110,030. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and experience.
Develop comprehensive plans and programs for use of land and physical facilities of jurisdictions, such as towns, cities, counties, and metropolitan areas.
Also known as:
Urban and Regional Planners earn $89,320 nationally, above the national median for college graduates. The middle 50% of earners fall between $72,020 and $110,030. Actual pay varies by employer, specialization, and location.
Above the national median for college graduates.
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
O*NET data identifies 5 core activities and 5 measurable skills for Urban and Regional Planners roles. Use this section to judge whether the day-to-day reality aligns with what you actually want to spend time doing.
This career demands analytical thinking: researching problems, interpreting data, and applying logical reasoning to find practical solutions.
Leadership, influence, and business acumen are rewarded here, where managing teams, driving decisions, or persuading others shapes career outcomes.
Success depends on precision and structured processes, where detail-oriented people who work consistently within established systems perform best.
What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.
Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.
Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.
Low time pressure. Work pace is typically steady and self-directed.
The BLS projects +3.4% employment change for Urban and Regional Planners through 2034, below the national average of +5%. About 3,400 openings per year keep the field accessible to new entrants.
About as fast as average.
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
Total US employment as of BLS May 2024.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2024.
The five states below employ the most Urban and Regional Planners professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $89,320 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.
| # | State | Jobs | Median Wage | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 7,630 | $105,230 | +17.8% |
| 2 | Washington | 2,840 | $98,190 | +9.9% |
| 3 | Florida | 2,640 | $77,190 | -13.6% |
| 4 | Texas | 2,150 | $78,180 | -12.5% |
| 5 | New York | 2,100 | $94,740 | +6.1% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
Most Urban and Regional Planners positions require a master's degree to qualify. The 6 programs below are the most common academic pathways into this field, ranked by how many graduates they produce each year.
Extensive education (usually a master's or doctoral degree) plus years of field experience is required to qualify for most positions.
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Public Administration | 15,867 | $65,093 | 496 |
| 2 | Sustainability Studies | 4,382 | $57,887 | 263 |
| 3 | City & Regional Planning | 2,481 | $66,874 | 140 |
| 4 | Urban Studies/Affairs | 1,301 | $62,532 | 125 |
| 5 | Environmental Design | 719 | $57,461 | 61 |
| 6 | Real Estate Development | 549 | $106,061 | 21 |
Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.
| # | College | UCD Score | Net Price | Salary 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CUNY Bernard M Baruch College New York, NY | 93 | $3,033 | $75,971 |
| 2 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | 93 | $12,548 | $82,511 |
| 3 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CA | 93 | $12,470 | $84,943 |
| 4 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA | 93 | $13,481 | $92,446 |
| 5 | University of Florida Gainesville, FL | 93 | $6,541 | $71,588 |
| 6 | University of California-Irvine Irvine, CA | 92 | $14,251 | $80,735 |
Once you've sized up Urban and Regional Planners, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.
See if the degree that leads to Urban and Regional Planners pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
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The data on Urban and Regional Planners shows 2 measurable strengths and 1 real trade-offs. All points are drawn from BLS wage data, employment projections, and IPEDS program completions.
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