Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Master's degree
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These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
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Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
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Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Urban and regional planners focus on shaping how communities grow and change over time. This role combines analytical thinking, problem solving, and communication to support decisions about land use and development. Nationally, there are about 45,000 jobs in this occupation, with a projected employment growth rate of 3.4%. Employers are expected to generate about 3,000 openings per year, offering a steady stream of opportunities for new and experienced planners. The national median salary for urban and regional planners is $83,720, with some states and metro areas offering substantially higher pay. The role calls for strong critical and analytical thinking, project management, and communication skills, along with creativity, leadership, and adaptability. A master’s degree is the typical educational path into this field. People considering this career can also explore related paths such as social sciences postsecondary teaching, fundraising, fundraising management, or business operations specialist roles as alternative options within a broad problem-solving and planning landscape.
Urban and regional planners earn a national median salary of $83,720, offering solid earning potential. Pay can vary significantly by location. Among the top states, California stands out with a median salary of $109,610, followed by Colorado at $101,340, Washington at $100,990, Massachusetts at $99,780, and New York at $89,630. These figures show that certain states provide notably higher median pay than the national level. At the metro level, the salary differences are even more pronounced. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA reports a median salary of $139,360, and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA is close behind at $136,250. Other high-paying metros include Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV at $104,770, Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH at $103,460, and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ at $99,150. These variations highlight how choosing certain regions can significantly influence a planner’s compensation over the course of a career.
Urban and regional planners have a national employment base of about 45,000 positions. The projected employment growth rate for this occupation is 3.4%, indicating that the field is expected to expand over time. In addition to growth, there are an estimated 3,000 annual openings, reflecting both new roles and turnover in existing positions. This combination of an established employment base and regular openings suggests that people entering or advancing in this field can expect ongoing opportunities to compete for roles. The same 3.4% growth rate appears in top states and metro areas listed, aligning local projections with the national outlook. While the data does not specify differences in growth between regions, the presence of multiple states and metropolitan areas with identified growth and opportunity scores gives career seekers several geographic options to consider when planning their long-term path in urban and regional planning.
Location plays a significant role in opportunity for urban and regional planners. Among states, California offers a median salary of $109,610 with 7,460 employed planners and an opportunity score of 67.38, indicating both scale and strong potential. Massachusetts and New York have opportunity scores above 65, with median salaries of $99,780 and $89,630 and employment of 1,540 and 2,420 respectively. Colorado and Washington also rank highly, with six-figure median salaries and opportunity scores in the mid‑50s. At the metro level, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA leads with an opportunity score of 77.42 and a median salary of $139,360, though with a relatively small employment base of 320. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ also has a very high opportunity score of 77.27 and employment of 1,570. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH combine strong salaries, employment levels around or above 1,100, and opportunity scores above 60, making them notable planning hubs within their regions.
Urban and regional planners typically enter the field with a master’s degree, reflecting the advanced knowledge and judgment required in this profession. This higher level of education supports the wide range of skills that are important for success in planning roles. Key skills for this occupation include critical and analytical thinking, problem solving and decision making, and project management. Strong speaking and listening, along with writing and reading, support communication with diverse stakeholders. Leadership, creativity and innovation, and adaptability help planners guide complex projects and respond to changing conditions. Additional capabilities such as mathematics and customer service round out the profile, supporting both technical analysis and interactions with the public or clients. Together, the master’s-level education and this broad skill set prepare planners for the analytical, interpersonal, and organizational demands of the career and can also be valuable if they later explore similar occupations such as fundraising management or business operations specialist roles.
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