How to Become an Urban Planner
Develop plans and programs for the use of land, design communities, and accommodate population growth in urban areas. It typically requires a master's degree, with a median salary of $89,320 per year and about average projected job growth.
Median pay
$89,320/yr
Middle half
$72,020 to $110,030
Job growth
About average
Openings / yr
3,400
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Land Use Planning
- GIS
- Zoning Regulations
- Community Engagement
- Data Analysis
Helpful certifications
- AICP (American Institute of Certified Planners)
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
52/100
Work-life balance
72/100
Stress level
32/100
Satisfaction
75/100
Frequently asked questions
How much does an Urban Planner make?
The median pay for an Urban Planner is $89,320 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $72,020 and $110,030 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become an Urban Planner?
The usual entry point is a master's degree. Common majors are Urban Planning, Urban Studies, Geography, Public Policy, Environmental Studies, and Landscape Architecture.
Is Urban Planner a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is about average (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 3,400 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does an Urban Planner use most?
Common skills for this role are Land Use Planning, GIS, Zoning Regulations, Community Engagement, and Data Analysis.
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).