📊 BLS Official Data · May 2025 Release
Urban and Regional Planners Salary in the United States (2026)
Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data · Updated 2026 · Medium Demand
Average
$85,560
per year
Median
$81,950
per year
Hourly
$41.13
per hour
Salary Range & Percentiles
Pay distribution across experience levels
10th Percentile — Entry Level$55,516
25th Percentile — Junior$69,820
50th Percentile — Median$81,950
75th Percentile — Senior$102,004
90th Percentile — Top Earners$113,583
💡 The top 10% of Urban and Regional Plannerss earn $113,583 or more per year. Entry-level professionals can expect to start around $55,516, with significant growth over the first 5 years.
Salary Growth Trend (2021–2026)
Six-year compensation trajectory
$71.0k
2021
$73.7k
2022
$76.5k
2023
$79.4k
2024
$82.4k
2025
$85.6k
2026
📈 Urban and Regional Planners salaries have grown 3.8% year-over-year. Since 2020, the average salary has increased by approximately $14,556.
Salary by State
Geographic salary comparison
| State | Avg Salary | vs National | Demand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $132,618 | +55.0% | Medium |
| District of Columbia | $130,051 | +52.0% | Medium |
| California | $121,495 | +42.0% | Medium |
| New York | $118,073 | +38.0% | Medium |
| Alaska | $112,939 | +32.0% | Medium |
| Massachusetts | $111,228 | +30.0% | Medium |
| New Jersey | $109,517 | +28.0% | Medium |
| Washington | $106,950 | +25.0% | Medium |
| Connecticut | $104,383 | +22.0% | Medium |
| Maryland | $98,394 | +15.0% | Medium |
| Rhode Island | $98,394 | +15.0% | Medium |
| New Hampshire | $97,538 | +14.0% | Medium |
| Oregon | $95,827 | +12.0% | Medium |
| Colorado | $94,116 | +10.0% | Medium |
| Virginia | $94,116 | +10.0% | Medium |
| Vermont | $92,405 | +8.0% | Medium |
| Delaware | $89,838 | +5.0% | Medium |
| Illinois | $89,838 | +5.0% | Medium |
| Maine | $87,271 | +2.0% | Medium |
| Nevada | $87,271 | +2.0% | Medium |
| Minnesota | $85,560 | +0.0% | Medium |
| Utah | $85,560 | +0.0% | Medium |
| Arizona | $84,704 | -1.0% | Medium |
| Pennsylvania | $84,704 | -1.0% | Medium |
| Florida | $83,849 | -2.0% | Medium |
| Montana | $81,282 | -5.0% | Medium |
| Texas | $81,282 | -5.0% | Medium |
| Georgia | $79,571 | -7.0% | Medium |
| Idaho | $79,571 | -7.0% | Medium |
| Wyoming | $79,571 | -7.0% | Medium |
| North Dakota | $78,715 | -8.0% | Medium |
| Wisconsin | $78,715 | -8.0% | Medium |
| North Carolina | $77,860 | -9.0% | Medium |
| Michigan | $77,004 | -10.0% | Medium |
| Louisiana | $75,293 | -12.0% | Medium |
| Nebraska | $75,293 | -12.0% | Medium |
| New Mexico | $75,293 | -12.0% | Medium |
| Ohio | $75,293 | -12.0% | Medium |
| South Carolina | $75,293 | -12.0% | Medium |
| Tennessee | $75,293 | -12.0% | Medium |
| Alabama | $74,437 | -13.0% | Medium |
| Missouri | $74,437 | -13.0% | Medium |
| South Dakota | $74,437 | -13.0% | Medium |
| Iowa | $73,582 | -14.0% | Medium |
| Indiana | $72,726 | -15.0% | Medium |
| Kansas | $72,726 | -15.0% | Medium |
| Oklahoma | $71,870 | -16.0% | Medium |
| Arkansas | $71,015 | -17.0% | Medium |
| Kentucky | $71,015 | -17.0% | Medium |
| Mississippi | $68,448 | -20.0% | Medium |
| West Virginia | $66,737 | -22.0% | Medium |
What Factors Affect Urban and Regional Planners Salary?
Key factors affecting compensation
A Urban and Regional Planners's salary is influenced by several key factors including geographic location, years of experience, employer type, and educational background. States with higher costs of living — such as California, New York, and Washington — typically offer 20–40% higher salaries than the national average to compensate for living expenses.
Experience plays a major role in compensation. Entry-level Urban and Regional Plannerss typically earn $55,516–$69,820 per year, while senior professionals with 10+ years of experience can command $102,004–$113,583 annually. Specialization and advanced certifications can further boost earning potential.
Employer size also matters. Large corporations and government agencies tend to offer more competitive packages including benefits, retirement plans, and bonuses. The Urban and Regional Planners role currently has medium demand in the job market with a 3.8% growth rate, making it one of the steadily growing careers in the Science sector.
🏛️ 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 a Urban and Regional Planners?The average salary for a Urban and Regional Planners in the United States is $85,560 per year, with a median of $81,950.
-
What is the starting salary for a Urban and Regional Planners?Entry-level Urban and Regional Plannerss typically earn between $55,516 and $69,820 per year depending on location and employer.
-
What state pays Urban and Regional Plannerss the most?California, New York, and Washington typically pay Urban and Regional Plannerss the highest salaries due to high cost of living and strong job markets.
-
How much does a Urban and Regional Planners make per hour?Based on the average annual salary of $85,560, a Urban and Regional Planners earns approximately $41.13 per hour (based on 2,080 working hours/year).
-
Is Urban and Regional Planners a good career in 2026?Yes — the Urban and Regional Planners role has medium demand with 3.8% year-over-year salary growth, indicating a strong and growing career path.
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