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Best states for a city planner
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
It seems like city planners are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for city planners aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. In fact, our research shows that Nevada is the best state for city planners in America. The best city in America for city planners with the highest pay is San Francisco, CA.
In order to get you the best states for city planners, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.We found that Nevada is the best state for city planner jobs, whereas West Virginia is the worst.
10 best states for city planners in 2025
1. Nevada
Total city planner jobs: 72 Average annual salary: $70,389 Lowest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location Quotient: 1.54
2. District of Columbia
Total city planner jobs: 38 Average annual salary: $86,852 Lowest 10 percent earn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $122,000 Location Quotient: 1.01
3. California
Total city planner jobs: 949 Average annual salary: $77,319 Lowest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $109,000 Location Quotient: 1.45
4. Oregon
Total city planner jobs: 100 Average annual salary: $72,681 Lowest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Location Quotient: 1.08
5. Massachusetts
Total city planner jobs: 188 Average annual salary: $74,244 Lowest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $104,000 Location Quotient: 0.92
6. New York
Total city planner jobs: 371 Average annual salary: $69,555 Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Location Quotient: 1.29
7. Vermont
Total city planner jobs: 15 Average annual salary: $70,126 Lowest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Location Quotient: 0.87
8. Washington
Total city planner jobs: 164 Average annual salary: $69,800 Lowest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Location Quotient: 1
9. Rhode Island
Total city planner jobs: 22 Average annual salary: $69,611 Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Location Quotient: 0.81
10. Minnesota
Total city planner jobs: 144 Average annual salary: $68,370 Lowest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $91,000 Location Quotient: 0.97
City planner jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a city planner
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a city planner
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nevada | $70,389 | $50,000 | 2,998,039 | 72 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $86,852 | $61,000 | 693,972 | 38 |
| 3 | California | $77,319 | $54,000 | 39,536,653 | 949 |
| 4 | Oregon | $72,681 | $53,000 | 4,142,776 | 100 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $74,244 | $52,000 | 6,859,819 | 188 |
| 6 | New York | $69,555 | $49,000 | 19,849,399 | 371 |
| 7 | Vermont | $70,126 | $50,000 | 623,657 | 15 |
| 8 | Washington | $69,800 | $52,000 | 7,405,743 | 164 |
| 9 | Rhode Island | $69,611 | $49,000 | 1,059,639 | 22 |
| 10 | Minnesota | $68,370 | $51,000 | 5,576,606 | 144 |
| 11 | Delaware | $69,954 | $49,000 | 961,939 | 20 |
| 12 | Maryland | $67,246 | $47,000 | 6,052,177 | 186 |
| 13 | Connecticut | $63,305 | $45,000 | 3,588,184 | 97 |
| 14 | Texas | $63,374 | $43,000 | 28,304,596 | 399 |
| 15 | Colorado | $63,133 | $47,000 | 5,607,154 | 163 |
| 16 | Kansas | $66,103 | $48,000 | 2,913,123 | 40 |
| 17 | Ohio | $62,281 | $44,000 | 11,658,609 | 174 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | $58,680 | $41,000 | 12,805,537 | 298 |
| 19 | Alaska | $67,971 | $58,000 | 739,795 | 12 |
| 20 | New Hampshire | $57,748 | $41,000 | 1,342,795 | 53 |
| 21 | Hawaii | $63,466 | $50,000 | 1,427,538 | 32 |
| 22 | Louisiana | $64,274 | $42,000 | 4,684,333 | 34 |
| 23 | Wyoming | $63,684 | $48,000 | 579,315 | 4 |
| 24 | Michigan | $59,757 | $43,000 | 9,962,311 | 134 |
| 25 | Illinois | $59,526 | $43,000 | 12,802,023 | 247 |
| 26 | Nebraska | $56,580 | $42,000 | 1,920,076 | 51 |
| 27 | Kentucky | $57,788 | $41,000 | 4,454,189 | 62 |
| 28 | New Jersey | $61,198 | $43,000 | 9,005,644 | 146 |
| 29 | Maine | $59,516 | $43,000 | 1,335,907 | 15 |
| 30 | North Carolina | $56,099 | $38,000 | 10,273,419 | 198 |
| 31 | Utah | $55,221 | $41,000 | 3,101,833 | 86 |
| 32 | Wisconsin | $55,495 | $40,000 | 5,795,483 | 131 |
| 33 | Alabama | $54,672 | $37,000 | 4,874,747 | 96 |
| 34 | North Dakota | $58,041 | $44,000 | 755,393 | 13 |
| 35 | Virginia | $55,516 | $38,000 | 8,470,020 | 279 |
| 36 | Tennessee | $55,413 | $39,000 | 6,715,984 | 108 |
| 37 | Oklahoma | $57,728 | $41,000 | 3,930,864 | 31 |
| 38 | Georgia | $54,802 | $37,000 | 10,429,379 | 203 |
| 39 | Florida | $55,403 | $36,000 | 20,984,400 | 288 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $52,603 | $35,000 | 5,024,369 | 111 |
| 41 | Missouri | $56,325 | $41,000 | 6,113,532 | 97 |
| 42 | Iowa | $51,808 | $38,000 | 3,145,711 | 85 |
| 43 | Mississippi | $54,641 | $37,000 | 2,984,100 | 32 |
| 44 | Indiana | $53,217 | $38,000 | 6,666,818 | 120 |
| 45 | Arizona | $49,287 | $35,000 | 7,016,270 | 143 |
| 46 | Idaho | $54,624 | $41,000 | 1,716,943 | 15 |
| 47 | Montana | $52,938 | $41,000 | 1,050,493 | 16 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $46,889 | $33,000 | 3,004,279 | 53 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $51,892 | $39,000 | 869,666 | 7 |
| 50 | New Mexico | $43,363 | $31,000 | 2,088,070 | 34 |
| 51 | West Virginia | $48,536 | $34,000 | 1,815,857 | 11 |
Highest paying states for city planners
| Rank | State | Avg. City Planner Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nevada | $70,389 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $86,852 |
| 3 | California | $77,319 |
| 4 | Oregon | $72,681 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $74,244 |
| 6 | New York | $69,555 |
| 7 | Vermont | $70,126 |
| 8 | Washington | $69,800 |
| 9 | Rhode Island | $69,611 |
| 10 | Minnesota | $68,370 |
| 11 | Delaware | $69,954 |
| 12 | Maryland | $67,246 |
| 13 | Connecticut | $63,305 |
| 14 | Texas | $63,374 |
| 15 | Colorado | $63,133 |
| 16 | Kansas | $66,103 |
| 17 | Ohio | $62,281 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | $58,680 |
| 19 | Alaska | $67,971 |
| 20 | New Hampshire | $57,748 |
| 21 | Hawaii | $63,466 |
| 22 | Louisiana | $64,274 |
| 23 | Wyoming | $63,684 |
| 24 | Michigan | $59,757 |
| 25 | Illinois | $59,526 |
| 26 | Nebraska | $56,580 |
| 27 | Kentucky | $57,788 |
| 28 | New Jersey | $61,198 |
| 29 | Maine | $59,516 |
| 30 | North Carolina | $56,099 |
| 31 | Utah | $55,221 |
| 32 | Wisconsin | $55,495 |
| 33 | Alabama | $54,672 |
| 34 | North Dakota | $58,041 |
| 35 | Virginia | $55,516 |
| 36 | Tennessee | $55,413 |
| 37 | Oklahoma | $57,728 |
| 38 | Georgia | $54,802 |
| 39 | Florida | $55,403 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $52,603 |
| 41 | Missouri | $56,325 |
| 42 | Iowa | $51,808 |
| 43 | Mississippi | $54,641 |
| 44 | Indiana | $53,217 |
| 45 | Arizona | $49,287 |
| 46 | Idaho | $54,624 |
| 47 | Montana | $52,938 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $46,889 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $51,892 |
| 50 | New Mexico | $43,363 |
| 51 | West Virginia | $48,536 |
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Updated January 8, 2025