Salary Range & Percentiles
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$60,010
- 25th Percentile — Junior$72,020
- 50th Percentile — Median$89,320
- 75th Percentile — Senior$110,030
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$134,490
The top 10% of Urban and Regional Planners earn $134,490 or more per year. Entry-level professionals can expect to start around $60,010, with significant growth over the first 5 years.
Salary by State
Geographic salary comparison
| State | Avg Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $135,050 | +42.5% |
| California | $116,480 | +22.9% |
| Colorado | $103,950 | +9.7% |
| Connecticut | $103,430 | +9.2% |
| Nevada | $103,380 | +9.1% |
| Washington | $101,590 | +7.2% |
| Oregon | $100,620 | +6.2% |
| Massachusetts | $100,590 | +6.2% |
| Arizona | $98,940 | +4.4% |
| New York | $98,560 | +4.0% |
| Illinois | $97,270 | +2.7% |
| Maryland | $96,740 | +2.1% |
| Minnesota | $95,430 | +0.7% |
| New Jersey | $94,620 | -0.1% |
| Virginia | $93,700 | -1.1% |
| Alaska | $90,480 | -4.5% |
| Rhode Island | $88,410 | -6.7% |
| North Dakota | $87,730 | -7.4% |
| Kansas | $87,620 | -7.5% |
| Utah | $87,220 | -7.9% |
| Florida | $87,080 | -8.1% |
| Texas | $86,240 | -9.0% |
| Hawaii | $85,560 | -9.7% |
| Wisconsin | $84,470 | -10.8% |
| Georgia | $84,400 | -10.9% |
| Oklahoma | $84,130 | -11.2% |
| Maine | $83,690 | -11.7% |
| Missouri | $83,680 | -11.7% |
| North Carolina | $83,610 | -11.8% |
| Vermont | $83,070 | -12.3% |
| Montana | $82,640 | -12.8% |
| Ohio | $81,960 | -13.5% |
| Pennsylvania | $81,790 | -13.7% |
| Tennessee | $81,750 | -13.7% |
| Louisiana | $81,070 | -14.4% |
| Michigan | $80,120 | -15.4% |
| Iowa | $79,990 | -15.6% |
| South Carolina | $79,550 | -16.0% |
| Alabama | $79,360 | -16.2% |
| New Mexico | $78,340 | -17.3% |
| New Hampshire | $78,280 | -17.4% |
| Idaho | $77,270 | -18.4% |
| Nebraska | $76,570 | -19.2% |
| Wyoming | $76,070 | -19.7% |
| South Dakota | $74,900 | -20.9% |
| Indiana | $74,550 | -21.3% |
| Delaware | $74,150 | -21.7% |
| Kentucky | $73,590 | -22.3% |
| Mississippi | $69,110 | -27.1% |
| West Virginia | $67,660 | -28.6% |
| Arkansas | $65,950 | -30.4% |
What Factors Affect Urban and Regional Planners Salary?
Key factors affecting compensation
Pay for Urban and Regional Planners is influenced by geographic location, years of experience, employer type, and educational background. Location alone is a large factor: District of Columbia pays an average of $135,050, while Arkansas pays $65,950 — a gap of $69,100 per year.
The middle half of Urban and Regional Planners earn between $72,020 and $110,030 per year. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $60,010, while the top 10% earn more than $134,490.
These figures are the wages employers report to BLS: base pay plus commissions, production bonuses and tips. They exclude overtime pay, shift differentials, year-end bonuses, benefits and self-employed workers, so total compensation can be higher than the numbers shown.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average salary for Urban and Regional Planners?
The average salary for Urban and Regional Planners in the United States is $94,750 per year, with a median of $89,320.
What is the starting salary for Urban and Regional Planners?
Entry-level Urban and Regional Planners typically earn between $60,010 and $72,020 per year depending on location and employer.
What state pays Urban and Regional Planners the most?
District of Columbia pays Urban and Regional Planners the most at $135,050 per year on average, followed by California ($116,480) and Colorado ($103,950).
How much do Urban and Regional Planners make per hour?
Based on the average annual salary of $94,750, Urban and Regional Planners earn approximately $45.55 per hour (based on 2,080 working hours/year).
Is Urban and Regional Planners a good career in 2026?
BLS counts 44,230 Urban and Regional Planners jobs in the United States, with a mean annual wage of $94,750 and a median of $89,320 (OEWS May 2025). This site does not publish job-growth projections; the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook covers the outlook for each occupation.
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