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Job outlook for planners in the United States
Planner job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected planner job growth rate is 4% from 2018-2028.
About 1,600 new jobs for planners are projected over the next decade.
Planner salaries have increased 8% for planners in the last 5 years.
There are over 24,664 planners currently employed in the United States.
There are 15,269 active planner job openings in the US.
The average planner salary is $63,161.
Are planner jobs in demand?
Planner job and salary trends over time
Planner jobs over time
Planner job growth rate over time
Year  | # Of Jobs | % Of Population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 24,664 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 24,432 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 24,790 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 24,232 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 22,605 | 0.01% |
Average planner salary over time
Planner salary by year
| Year | Avg. Salary | Hourly Rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $63,161 | $30.37 | +2.2% |
| 2024 | $61,830 | $29.73 | +1.8% |
| 2023 | $60,749 | $29.21 | +2.2% |
| 2022 | $59,452 | $28.58 | +2.1% |
| 2021 | $58,229 | $27.99 | +2.6% |
Planner jobs by state
Most common states for planners
| Rank | State | Population | # of Jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 45 | 6% |
| 2 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 282 | 3% |
| 3 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 192 | 3% |
| 4 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 185 | 3% |
| 5 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 177 | 3% |
| 6 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 100 | 3% |
| 7 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 46 | 3% |
| 8 | Hawaii | 1,427,538 | 37 | 3% |
| 9 | California | 39,536,653 | 918 | 2% |
| 10 | New York | 19,849,399 | 332 | 2% |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 268 | 2% |
| 12 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 242 | 2% |
| 13 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 147 | 2% |
| 14 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 135 | 2% |
| 15 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 122 | 2% |
| 16 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 118 | 2% |
| 17 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 73 | 2% |
| 18 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 68 | 2% |
| 19 | Nevada | 2,998,039 | 51 | 2% |
| 20 | Delaware | 961,939 | 20 | 2% |
Most common cities for planners
| Rank | City | # of Jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Annapolis | 5 | 13% | $63,228 |
| 2 | Ontario | 5 | 3% | $79,297 |
| 3 | Atlanta | 10 | 2% | $49,193 |
| 4 | Miami | 8 | 2% | $49,585 |
| 5 | Tampa | 8 | 2% | $50,127 |
| 6 | San Francisco | 10 | 1% | $89,559 |
| 7 | Washington | 10 | 1% | $88,209 |
| 8 | Boston | 7 | 1% | $67,198 |
| 9 | Sacramento | 7 | 1% | $89,186 |
| 10 | Oakland | 6 | 1% | $89,440 |
| 11 | San Jose | 6 | 1% | $89,002 |
| 12 | Indianapolis | 5 | 1% | $45,465 |
| 13 | New Orleans | 5 | 1% | $54,394 |
| 14 | Urban Honolulu | 5 | 1% | $58,680 |
| 15 | Colorado Springs | 4 | 1% | $60,871 |
| 16 | San Diego | 7 | 0% | $77,408 |
| 17 | Los Angeles | 6 | 0% | $79,897 |
Planner job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of planner experts
Augsburg University
Michigan State University
School for International Training
University of Oregon
Portland State University
De Paul College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
What general advice would you give to a Planner?
Nancy Fischer: I imagine that the skills that will become important over the next 3-5 years are probably both new and old skills. New skills in the sense that urban planners and those who work with urban-oriented non-profits are trying to figure out whether there are ways Artificial Intelligence can make their work lives better in terms of helping with repetitive, less engaging aspects of the job that are rather formulaic. Second, in Urban Studies it's also really important to be able to communicate data-driven and complex arguments to lay people. So, studying things like data visualization could be helpful. But in terms of skills that always pay off, I hear from our alumni that cultivating excellent social skills and storytelling are really important - to be able to tell a story around why a change (or no change) is needed in the urban realm and communicate that to people whether political leaders or the general public compellingly can take you a long way.
What Planner skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Nancy Fischer: In terms of maximizing salary potential in the field, if one is going into Urban Planning, then having a Master's degree in Urban Planning means climbing the ladder more quickly - in 10 -15 years one could be in leadership positions. One needs to be able to work with data, and understand how cities operate when entering the field, but as one rises into senior positions, it's that big-picture thinking about policy, the politics of city decision-making and the social skills to work well with teams, with the public, and with political leaders that really pay off.
What will help Planners increase their earning potential?
Nancy Fischer: My general advice for people beginning careers in urban studies is to approach your first position in the field as a learning opportunity. Learn the norms of that particular urban sector and how things are done, and also learn about yourself and what you like to do, what you're good at doing, and where you need to build skills in order to get a sense of mastery. Talk with people all over the organization and learn about the different directions you can take your career over the long term.
Patricia Machemer
ProfessorMichigan State University
Environmental Design
What will help Planners increase their earning potential?
Patricia Machemer: Be observant and open to learning, you are just at the start of your journey.
Dr. Alyson Dagang Ph.D.
ChairSchool for International Training
Sustainable Development department
What general advice would you give to a Planner?
Dr. Alyson Dagang Ph.D.: I would recommend to graduates to not be hurried. They are starting a new journey; however, there will be many journeys. It is important to enjoy each journey as well as engage in service during all journeys. Hone their leadership skills and soft skills as these are skills they will need on every journey. Don't be afraid to change paths when the signs are leading you in a different direction. If you start a new path, leave a trail of positive experiences and interactions to ensure that you will have contacts and a network to call on for professional support. Entrepreneurial skills can be helpful and applied to any job or endeavor. Don't be afraid to take good risks; don't be afraid to fail. The best growth can come from failure; and there will always be a new journey ahead.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Planners?
Linda Zimmer: This is anyone's guess. Many firms remained busy during the pandemic, from what I was hearing, but were reluctant to bring inexperienced designers on while everyone was working from home. Several of my students had "soft offers" of jobs from internship experiences in winter and early spring, and firms could not follow through by summer.
If the economy returns to normal, I expect that our graduates who did not find work last summer will be working or pursuing other prospects by spring; however, the apparent danger is that if design firms are idle for too long, new graduates (and laid off recent graduates) gravitate to other fields and don't want to or can't afford to restart design careers.
This happened in the 2008 recession. Within five years, design firms that talked to us reported that they had a generational hole of 5-7 year talent that was problematic. They joked about recruiting the "unicorns" of that generation, which remained a problem for an extended time.
What general advice would you give to a Planner?
Connie Ozawa Ph.D.: Think about what impact you want to have on your community, and then be open about what job titles might help you to achieve it. Planning graduates successfully obtain jobs at public agencies, non-profit organizations, and private planning firms at the local, state, regional, and federal level. Treat your first job as your first - you may stay there the rest of your working life, or you may move on after a year. Don't hold out for the "perfect job." With a positive attitude and a spirit of inquiry and discovery, you'll learn through doing the work what excites you and the type of colleagues and organizations that will provide the most fulfilling environment for you.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Planners?
Alec Brownlow Ph.D.: So this is a bit of a different question than the enduring impact on the future of urban studies. This year's graduates find themselves in the grips of a downward spiraling economy and the reality of office closures and social distancing. The class of 2020 can be described as unprecedentedly 'remote.' Students/graduates should take this to heart, and do whatever they can to equip themselves (skills, training, technology, etc.) to be a competitor in a 'foreign' labor market. If working from home/remotely is the 'new normal,' at least for the foreseeable future, students who bemoan the situation will struggle when in competition with students who recognize and embrace it. GIS, for example, is a skill that does not require a physical location in an office. Familiarity with, and comfort in using, social interfaces (Zoom, WebX, etc.) is a must.