Urban and Regional Planners: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)
Life, Physical, and Social Science · SOC 19-3051 · O*NET 19-3051.00
Develop comprehensive plans and programs for use of land and physical facilities of jurisdictions, such as towns, cities, counties, and metropolitan areas.
Urban and Regional Planners fall under the Life, Physical, and Social Science category in the U.S. occupational classification. Urban and Regional Planners earn a median salary of $83,720 per year, ranking in the top 21% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +3.4% job growth through 2034, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Entry into this field typically requires a bachelor's degree, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.
What parents should know about urban and regional planners right now
Urban and regional planners develop the long-term plans that shape neighborhoods, transportation, parks, and housing. It is a strong career for teens who care about cities, climate, equity, or design, and who like research and public service. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 3 percent employment growth from 2024 to 2034, about as fast as the average for all occupations, with about 3,400 openings each year. The median annual wage was $83,720 in May 2024; the lowest 10 percent earned less than $55,590 and the highest 10 percent earned more than $128,550. Urban and regional planners typically need a master's degree in urban or regional planning, public policy, or a related field; bachelor's programs in geography, environmental studies, economics, or political science are common feeders. Most employers prefer or require certification through the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), which requires experience plus a comprehensive exam. The American Planning Association's 2025 Trend Report highlights the issues defining the next decade: a severe housing affordability crisis (households now need roughly $47,000 more income than four years ago to afford a single-family home), climate-driven insurance and resilience challenges, and population shifts toward the South and West despite increasing climate risks. Demand for planners with skills in GIS, climate adaptation, housing finance, and community engagement is rising. Encourage civics, statistics, geography, and a teen-friendly project like mapping their own neighborhood.
What do urban and regional planners earn?
The median annual wage for urban and regional planners is $83,720. That puts urban and regional planners at #172 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is above the U.S. median for individual workers and reflects a stable, credentialed occupation. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.
| 10th percentile (entry-level) | $55,590 |
| 25th percentile | $66,210 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $83,720 |
| 75th percentile | $104,450 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $128,550 |
| Median hourly wage | $40.25/hr |
Is urban and regional planners a growing career?
The 10-year outlook for urban and regional planners is +3.4%, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 44K positions in 2024 to 46K in 2034, a net change of 2K. Average growth signals a healthy, resilient occupation that mirrors broader U.S. employment trends. Job availability tends to track regional economic conditions.
What do urban and regional planners do every day?
According to O*NET task surveys of working urban and regional planners, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.
- 1.Hold 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.
- 2.Keep informed about economic or legal issues involved in zoning codes, building codes, or environmental regulations.
- 3.Determine the effects of regulatory limitations on land use projects.
- 4.Review and evaluate environmental impact reports pertaining to private or public planning projects or programs.
- 5.Coordinate work with economic consultants or architects during the formulation of plans or the design of large pieces of infrastructure.
- 6.Investigate property availability for purposes of development.
- 7.Advise planning officials on project feasibility, cost-effectiveness, regulatory conformance, or possible alternatives.
- 8.Create, prepare, or requisition graphic or narrative reports on land use data, including land area maps overlaid with geographic variables, such as population density.
Top skills for urban and regional planners
O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.
What education does my child need to become urban and regional planner?
The standard path into urban and regional planners begins with a bachelor's degree in a related field, followed by entry-level experience or internships during college. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.
Based on O*NET surveys of incumbents — what people in this job actually have, not what employers list as required.
Related careers your child might also consider
How parents help teens explore careers like this
Solyo helps parents map a teen's interests to specific careers, then back to the colleges and majors that lead there. Salary, outlook, and education data come from BLS and O*NET — the same sources high school counselors use — but presented for the parent's planning lens, not the student's exploration view.
Common questions parents ask about urban and regional planners
What is the median salary for urban and regional planners?
The median annual salary for urban and regional planners is $83,720 according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Is urban and regional planners a growing career?
BLS projects +3.4% growth for urban and regional planners from 2024 through 2034, which is average growth projected to grow at roughly the US average.
What education does my child need to become urban and regional planner?
The typical entry path requires a bachelor's degree, plus any state licensure or certification specific to the role. Programs that align well with this career can be filtered inside Solyo's college search.
What careers are similar to urban and regional planners?
Related occupations within the Life, Physical, and Social Science category share education paths and skill profiles, so they're a useful starting set when a teen is uncertain. The "Related careers" section below lists nearby options.
Salary data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics program. Skills, tasks, and education distribution from the O*NET database. Job outlook from the BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 release.