All About Urban and Regional Planners

Job Description & Duties Develop comprehensive plans and programs for use of land and physical facilities of jurisdictions, such as towns, cities, counties, and metropolitan areas.

What Do Urban and Regional Planners Do On a Daily Basis?

• Advocate for sustainability to community groups, government agencies, the general public, or special interest groups.
• Discuss with planning officials the purpose of land use projects, such as transportation, conservation, residential, commercial, industrial, or community use.
• Design, promote, or administer government plans or policies affecting land use, zoning, public utilities, community facilities, housing, or transportation.
• Coordinate work with economic consultants or architects during the formulation of plans or the design of large pieces of infrastructure.
• Mediate community disputes or assist in developing alternative plans or recommendations for programs or projects.
• Assess the feasibility of land use proposals and identify necessary changes.

What Every Urban & Regional Planner Should Know

These are the skills Urban and Regional Planners say are the most useful in their careers:

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Systems Analysis: Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.

Types of Urban & Regional Planner Jobs

• Planning Director
• Developer Advocate
• Planner
• Program Services Planner
• Housing Grant Analyst

Job Opportunities for Urban and Regional Planners

There were about 36,000 jobs for Urban and Regional Planner in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 12.8% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 4,600 new jobs for Urban and Regional Planner by 2026. There will be an estimated 3,500 positions for Urban & Regional Planner per year.

The states with the most job growth for Urban & Regional Planner are Utah, West Virginia, and Texas. Watch out if you plan on working in Alaska, Maryland, or New Jersey. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

What is the Average Salary of an Urban & Regional Planner

The typical yearly salary for Urban and Regional Planners is somewhere between $45,180 and $114,170.

Urban and Regional Planners who work in District of Columbia, California, or Nevada, make the highest salaries.

Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Urban and Regional Planners in different U.S. states.

State	Annual Mean Salary
Alabama	$59,630
Alaska	$83,630
Arizona	$70,860
Arkansas	$53,750
California	$93,790
Colorado	$75,610
Connecticut	$79,500
Delaware	$64,120
District of Columbia	$110,100
Florida	$72,910
Georgia	$60,270
Hawaii	$76,230
Idaho	$61,320
Illinois	$74,420
Indiana	$56,800
Iowa	$66,160
Kansas	$67,370
Kentucky	$53,330
Louisiana	$71,570
Maine	$67,730
Maryland	$77,750
Massachusetts	$81,660
Michigan	$65,390
Minnesota	$73,330
Mississippi	$57,330
Missouri	$71,080
Montana	$58,600
Nebraska	$68,490
Nevada	$81,300
New Hampshire	$62,430
New Jersey	$74,120
New Mexico	$59,980
New York	$76,730
North Carolina	$66,650
North Dakota	$72,310
Ohio	$69,950
Oklahoma	$62,860
Oregon	$81,590
Pennsylvania	$67,720
Rhode Island	$74,510
South Carolina	$64,700
South Dakota	$56,780
Tennessee	$60,030
Texas	$69,070
Utah	$67,660
Vermont	$60,780
Virginia	$73,770
Washington	$81,250
West Virginia	$57,170
Wisconsin	$69,840
Wyoming	$63,380

What Tools do Urban and Regional Planners Use?

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Urban and Regional Planners may use on a daily basis:

• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Office
• Hypertext markup language HTML
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Microsoft Outlook
• Web browser software
• Microsoft Access
• Word processing software
• SAP
• Microsoft Project
• Autodesk AutoCAD
• Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
• Spreadsheet software
• Microsoft SharePoint
• Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
• Database software
• Structured query language SQL
• Adobe Systems Adobe Illustrator
• Extensible markup language XML

Becoming an Urban & Regional Planner

Learn what Urban and Regional Planner education requirements there are.

How Long Does it Take to Become an Urban & Regional Planner?

Where Urban and Regional Planners Are Employed

Below are examples of industries where Urban and Regional Planners work:

You May Also Be Interested In…

Those thinking about becoming an Urban and Regional Planner might also be interested in the following careers:

• Curators

References:

• Bureau of Labor Statistics
• College Factual
• O*NET Online

Image Credit: Arcaddmarketing via Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported

More about our data sources and methodologies.