Best cities for a city planner
The best cities for city planners are Portland, OR, Las Vegas, NV, and North Las Vegas, NV, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for city planners vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for city planners in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a city planner or considering a move, this list of the best cities for city planners to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for city planners. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a city planner. While the absolute best city for city planners is Portland, OR, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for city planners in 2024.
If you're looking for a city planner job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for city planners in 2025
1. Portland, OR
Total city planner jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $72,472 Lowest 10 percent warn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Location quotient: 17.75 2. Las Vegas, NV
Total city planner jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $70,013 Lowest 10 percent warn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location quotient: 0.00 3. North Las Vegas, NV
Total city planner jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $69,920 Lowest 10 percent warn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location quotient: 0.00 4. Henderson, NV
Total city planner jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $69,807 Lowest 10 percent warn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location quotient: 0.00 5. Cleveland, OH
Total city planner jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $63,038 Lowest 10 percent warn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Location quotient: 12.69 6. Reno, NV
Total city planner jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $72,696 Lowest 10 percent warn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $101,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. Toledo, OH
Total city planner jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $62,371 Lowest 10 percent warn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Columbus, OH
Total city planner jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $62,255 Lowest 10 percent warn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Wichita, KS
Total city planner jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $66,229 Lowest 10 percent warn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $90,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Washington, DC
Total city planner jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $86,985 Lowest 10 percent warn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $123,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for city planners
- Portland, OR
- Las Vegas, NV
- North Las Vegas, NV
- Henderson, NV
- Cleveland, OH
- Reno, NV
- Toledo, OH
- Columbus, OH
- Wichita, KS
- Washington, DC
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Detailed list of the best cities for a city planner
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portland, OR | $72,472 | $53,000 | 639,863 | 9 |
| 2 | Las Vegas, NV | $70,013 | $49,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 3 | North Las Vegas, NV | $69,920 | $49,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 4 | Henderson, NV | $69,807 | $49,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 5 | Cleveland, OH | $63,038 | $45,000 | 385,809 | 3 |
| 6 | Reno, NV | $72,696 | $51,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 7 | Toledo, OH | $62,371 | $44,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 8 | Columbus, OH | $62,255 | $44,000 | 860,090 | - |
| 9 | Wichita, KS | $66,229 | $48,000 | 389,902 | - |
| 10 | Washington, DC | $86,985 | $61,000 | 681,170 | - |
| 11 | San Francisco, CA | $81,926 | $56,000 | 870,887 | - |
| 12 | Oakland, CA | $81,747 | $56,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 13 | Boston, MA | $74,120 | $52,000 | 673,184 | - |
| 14 | Cincinnati, OH | $61,349 | $43,000 | 298,800 | 3 |
| 15 | Fremont, CA | $81,510 | $56,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 16 | San Jose, CA | $81,399 | $56,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 17 | Saint Paul, MN | $68,488 | $51,000 | 302,398 | - |
| 18 | Stockton, CA | $80,894 | $56,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 19 | Minneapolis, MN | $68,466 | $51,000 | 413,651 | - |
| 20 | New Orleans, LA | $63,915 | $41,000 | 391,495 | - |
| 21 | Sacramento, CA | $80,835 | $56,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 22 | El Paso, TX | $64,993 | $45,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 23 | Fort Worth, TX | $63,532 | $44,000 | 854,113 | - |
| 24 | San Antonio, TX | $63,536 | $42,000 | 1,492,510 | - |
| 25 | Arlington, TX | $63,489 | $44,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 26 | Fresno, CA | $79,512 | $55,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 27 | Lubbock, TX | $64,312 | $45,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 28 | Irving, TX | $63,462 | $44,000 | 238,289 | - |
| 29 | Austin, TX | $63,508 | $42,000 | 947,890 | - |
| 30 | Dallas, TX | $63,432 | $44,000 | 1,317,929 | - |
| 31 | Plano, TX | $63,403 | $44,000 | 286,057 | - |
| 32 | Garland, TX | $63,395 | $44,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 33 | Detroit, MI | $59,963 | $43,000 | 672,795 | 4 |
| 34 | Houston, TX | $62,903 | $41,000 | 2,303,482 | - |
| 35 | Laredo, TX | $63,263 | $42,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 36 | Corpus Christi, TX | $62,806 | $41,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 37 | Seattle, WA | $70,104 | $52,000 | 704,352 | - |
| 38 | Lexington, KY | $58,074 | $41,000 | 318,449 | - |
| 39 | Los Angeles, CA | $76,001 | $53,000 | 3,976,322 | - |
| 40 | Bakersfield, CA | $77,815 | $54,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 41 | Philadelphia, PA | $58,854 | $41,000 | 1,567,872 | - |
| 42 | Long Beach, CA | $75,590 | $53,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 43 | Anchorage, AK | $67,881 | $58,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 44 | Anaheim, CA | $75,488 | $53,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 45 | Louisville, KY | $57,703 | $41,000 | 597,337 | - |
| 46 | Santa Ana, CA | $75,372 | $53,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 47 | Riverside, CA | $75,268 | $53,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 48 | Irvine, CA | $75,254 | $53,000 | 266,122 | - |
| 49 | Pittsburgh, PA | $57,804 | $41,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 50 | San Diego, CA | $74,319 | $52,000 | 1,406,630 | - |
Highest paying cities for city planners
| Rank | City | Avg. city planner salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $81,926 |
| 2 | Visalia, CA | $78,891 |
| 3 | Portland, OR | $72,472 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $69,690 |
| 5 | Forest Lake, MN | $68,528 |
| 6 | Eden Prairie, MN | $68,423 |
| 7 | Lonsdale, MN | $68,386 |
| 8 | Baltimore, MD | $67,319 |
| 9 | Boulder, CO | $63,185 |
| 10 | Denver, CO | $63,170 |
| 11 | Loveland, CO | $63,122 |
| 12 | Cleveland, OH | $63,038 |
| 13 | Stafford, TX | $62,923 |
| 14 | Alvin, TX | $62,863 |
| 15 | Cincinnati, OH | $61,349 |
| 16 | Detroit, MI | $59,963 |
| 17 | Dover, NH | $57,295 |
| 18 | Durham, NC | $56,595 |
| 19 | Omaha, NE | $56,588 |
| 20 | Hampton, VA | $55,576 |
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Updated January 8, 2025