Urban and Regional Planners
Develop comprehensive plans and programs for use of land and physical facilities of jurisdictions, such as towns, cities, counties, and metropolitan areas.
Also called: Campus Planner, City Designer, City Planner, City Planning Engineer, Community Development Planner, Community Development Technician
Median pay
$89,320
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$60,010 – $134,490
People employed
44,230
Holland code
IEC
Investigative · Enterprising · Conventional
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 enjoy serving customers or the public?
- 3.Are you comfortable following clear instructions?
- 4.Are you comfortable sitting at a desk most of the day?
The hard parts
- Tight deadlines are common
Urban and Regional Planners pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (50 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What urban and regional planners do
- 01Design, promote, or administer government plans or policies affecting land use, zoning, public utilities, community facilities, housing, or transportation.
- 02Advise planning officials on project feasibility, cost-effectiveness, regulatory conformance, or possible alternatives.
- 03Create, prepare, or requisition graphic or narrative reports on land use data, including land area maps overlaid with geographic variables, such as population density.
- 04Hold 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.
- 05Mediate community disputes or assist in developing alternative plans or recommendations for programs or projects.
- 06Recommend approval, denial, or conditional approval of proposals.
Skills that matter most
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Active Learning
Knowledge
- Law and Government
- English Language
- Geography
- Transportation
- Communications and Media
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Integrity
- Intellectual Curiosity
- Cooperation
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a graduate degree (O*NET Job Zone 5).
- Related work experience: over 1 year, up to and including 2 years.
- On-the-job training: none or short demonstration.
- A certification can help.
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 urban and regional planners
- Chief Sustainability Officers88% · group pay
- Climate Change Policy Analysts84% · group pay
- Sustainability Specialists83% · group pay
- Environmental Restoration Planners78% · group pay
- Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers78% · group pay
Change into urban and regional planners
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Chief Sustainability Officers85% · $213,990
- Climate Change Policy Analysts81% · $82,220
- Sustainability Specialists75% · $83,050
- Environmental Restoration Planners71% · $82,220
- Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary63% · $98,070
Majors that lead here
- City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning
- Sustainable Design/Architecture
- Real Estate Development
- Sustainability Studies
- Design for Human Health
- Transportation and Infrastructure Planning/Studies
- Urban Studies/Affairs
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.