Urban and Regional Planners Pay Range in California
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$77,430
- 25th Percentile — Junior$90,330
- 50th Percentile — Median$109,610
- 75th Percentile — Senior$136,070
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$166,950
Half of Urban and Regional Planners in California earn more than $109,610. The top 10% make $166,950 or more, while entry-level workers start around $77,430.
Urban and Regional Planners in California: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- California ranks 2nd of 51 states for Urban and Regional Planners pay, at $116,480 per year (22.9% above the U.S. average of $94,750).
- 7,460 people work as Urban and Regional Planners in California — 16.9% of all U.S. Urban and Regional Planners jobs.
- Location quotient 1.44: Urban and Regional Planners jobs are more concentrated in California than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $77,430; the top 10% earn over $166,950.
- Hourly equivalent: $56.0 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $135,050.
- Among science jobs in California, Physicists pays the most ($201,930).
Urban and Regional Planners Job Market in California
Key factors affecting compensation
California's key industries are Technology, Entertainment, Agriculture, and its job market is rated very strong. Urban and Regional Planners here earn $116,480 on average, placing the state 2nd nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.42 (U.S. = 1.00), a California salary of $116,480 is roughly equivalent to $82,028 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, District of Columbia ($135,050), Colorado ($103,950), Connecticut ($103,430) are the closest alternatives for Urban and Regional Planners weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Science Jobs in California
Related career salary benchmarks
- Physicists $201,930/yr California +73.4% vs this role
- Materials Scientists $189,460/yr California +62.7% vs this role
- Biochemists and Biophysicists $148,550/yr California +27.5% vs this role
- Medical Scientists $140,120/yr California +20.3% vs this role
- Economists $133,680/yr California +14.8% vs this role
- Atmospheric and Space Scientists $127,330/yr California +9.3% vs this role
- Sociologists $123,090/yr California +5.7% vs this role
- Hydrologists $122,940/yr California +5.5% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Urban and Regional Planners salary in California?
The average Urban and Regional Planners salary in California is $116,480 per year (median $109,610), which is 22.9% above the national average of $94,750.
How does California rank for Urban and Regional Planners pay?
California ranks 2nd out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is District of Columbia ($135,050/yr).
How much do entry-level Urban and Regional Planners make in California?
The lowest-paid 10% of Urban and Regional Planners in California earn about $77,430 per year and the 25th percentile is $90,330.
How much do Urban and Regional Planners make per hour in California?
About $56.0 per hour, based on the $116,480 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Urban and Regional Planners work in California?
BLS counts 7,460 Urban and Regional Planners jobs in California (OEWS May 2025).
Related Salary Pages
Explore more salary data