Urban Planners
Impact: Community Development, Environmental Sustainability, Infrastructure Planning
Develop comprehensive plans and programs for use of land and physical facilities of jurisdictions, such as towns, cities, counties, and metropolitan areas.
What the day looks like
- People interaction
- Extensive
- Team vs solo
- 60% Team / 40% Solo
- Client facing
- Frequent
- Impact visibility
- High
- Travel
- 10-20% local travel for site visits and meetings
- Schedule flexibility
- Moderate
- Remote work
- Limited Remote
- Typical work hours
- 40-50 hours/week
- Stress level
- Moderate
At a glance
- Median salary
- $83,720
- Entry-level
- $55,000 - $65,000
- Senior
- $120,000 - $140,000
- Growth by 2033
- 3% (as fast as average)
- Demand
- Stable
- Freelance potential
- Low
- Salary growth potential
- High to 100-150% growth from entry to senior
- Typical student debt
- $40,000 - $80,000
Skills you'll use
Hard skills
- GIS Software
- Data Analysis
- Urban Planning Software
- Policy Analysis
- Project Management
Soft skills
- Communication
- Critical Thinking
- Analytical Skills
- Interpersonal Skills
- Leadership Skills
Technical complexity: High
How to get there
- Minimum education
- Master's Degree
- Licensing
- Varies by State
- Years to mid-career
- 3-5 years
- Years to senior
- 7-10 years
- Career switching
- Moderate
Where this career leads
How people arrive here
Where you can go from here
Typical progression
- Junior Planner
- Planner
- Senior Planner
- Planning Manager/Director
Future outlook
- Automation probability
- 15% to low risk due to complex problem-solving and public engagement
- AI disruption risk
- Low
- Demand trend
- Stable
How people feel about it
- Overall satisfaction
- 3.5/10
- Meaning
- 4/10
- Work-life balance
- 3.2/10
- Prestige
- 7.5/10
- Social perception
- High