Transportation Planners
Prepare studies for proposed transportation projects. Gather, compile, and analyze data. Study the use and operation of transportation systems. Develop transportation models or simulations.
Also called: Airway Transportation Systems Specialist (ATSS), Fleet Coordinator, Planner, Program Officer, Traffic Analyst, Transit Planner
Median pay
$101,110
Pay for the broader BLS group “Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other”
Pay range (10th–90th)
$66,120 – $160,300
People employed
37,100
Whole BLS group
Holland code
ICR
Investigative · Conventional · Realistic
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Do you want variety, with new tasks often?
- 2.Do you prefer a steady pace without constant deadlines?
- 3.Are you comfortable sitting at a desk most of the day?
- 4.Are you happy working mostly on your own, with little contact with others?
- 5.Do you want a job with little physical risk?
Transportation Planners pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (48 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, for the broader group “Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other”.
What transportation planners do
- 01Define regional or local transportation planning problems or priorities.
- 02Participate in public meetings or hearings to explain planning proposals, to gather feedback from those affected by projects, or to achieve consensus on project designs.
- 03Prepare reports or recommendations on transportation planning.
- 04Collaborate with engineers to research, analyze, or resolve complex transportation design issues.
- 05Recommend transportation system improvements or projects, based on economic, population, land-use, or traffic projections.
- 06Develop computer models to address transportation planning issues.
Skills that matter most
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Speaking
- Active Learning
Knowledge
- Transportation
- English Language
- Mathematics
- Geography
- Law and Government
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Intellectual Curiosity
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a bachelor's degree (O*NET Job Zone 4).
- Related work experience: over 2 years, up to and including 4 years.
- On-the-job training: over 3 months, up to and including 6 months.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from transportation planners
- Logistics Engineers88% · group pay
- Logisticians87% · —
- Transportation Engineers87% · group pay
- Logistics Analysts85% · group pay
- Management Analysts79% · —
Change into transportation planners
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Transportation Engineers87% · $100,840
- Logistics Analysts78% · $82,320
- Logistics Engineers78% · $82,320
- Logisticians77% · $82,320
- Security Management Specialists77% · $83,050
Majors that lead here
- Energy and Environmental Policy
- Educational Evaluation and Research
- Educational Statistics and Research Methods
- Educational Assessment, Testing, and Measurement
- Learning Sciences
- Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research, Other
- Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services, Other
- Adult Development and Aging
- Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution
- Biopsychology
- Gerontology
- Behavioral Sciences
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.