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Job outlook for city planners in the United States
Are city planner jobs in demand?
City planner job and salary trends over time
City planner jobs over time
City planner job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,064 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 2,024 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 2,044 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 2,006 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 1,871 | 0.00% |
Average city planner salary over time
City planner salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $64,562 | $31.04 | +2.2% |
| 2024 | $63,201 | $30.39 | +1.8% |
| 2023 | $62,096 | $29.85 | +2.2% |
| 2022 | $60,770 | $29.22 | +2.1% |
| 2021 | $59,521 | $28.62 | +2.6% |
City planner jobs by state
Most common states for city planners
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 38 | 5% |
| 2 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 53 | 4% |
| 3 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 279 | 3% |
| 4 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 188 | 3% |
| 5 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 186 | 3% |
| 6 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 163 | 3% |
| 7 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 144 | 3% |
| 8 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 97 | 3% |
| 9 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 86 | 3% |
| 10 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 85 | 3% |
| 11 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 51 | 3% |
| 12 | California | 39,536,653 | 949 | 2% |
| 13 | New York | 19,849,399 | 371 | 2% |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 298 | 2% |
| 15 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 164 | 2% |
| 16 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 100 | 2% |
| 17 | Nevada | 2,998,039 | 72 | 2% |
| 18 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 22 | 2% |
| 19 | Delaware | 961,939 | 20 | 2% |
| 20 | Vermont | 623,657 | 15 | 2% |
Most common cities for city planners
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dover | 1 | 3% | $57,295 |
| 2 | Hagerstown | 1 | 2% | $67,070 |
| 3 | Chicago | 1 | 0% | $59,672 |
City Planner job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of city planner experts
Augsburg University
What general advice would you give to a City Planner?
Nancy Fischer: I imagine that the skills that will become important over the next 3-5 years are probably both new and old skills. New skills in the sense that urban planners and those who work with urban-oriented non-profits are trying to figure out whether there are ways Artificial Intelligence can make their work lives better in terms of helping with repetitive, less engaging aspects of the job that are rather formulaic. Second, in Urban Studies it's also really important to be able to communicate data-driven and complex arguments to lay people. So, studying things like data visualization could be helpful. But in terms of skills that always pay off, I hear from our alumni that cultivating excellent social skills and storytelling are really important - to be able to tell a story around why a change (or no change) is needed in the urban realm and communicate that to people whether political leaders or the general public compellingly can take you a long way.
What City Planner skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Nancy Fischer: In terms of maximizing salary potential in the field, if one is going into Urban Planning, then having a Master's degree in Urban Planning means climbing the ladder more quickly - in 10 -15 years one could be in leadership positions. One needs to be able to work with data, and understand how cities operate when entering the field, but as one rises into senior positions, it's that big-picture thinking about policy, the politics of city decision-making and the social skills to work well with teams, with the public, and with political leaders that really pay off.
What will help City Planners increase their earning potential?
Nancy Fischer: My general advice for people beginning careers in urban studies is to approach your first position in the field as a learning opportunity. Learn the norms of that particular urban sector and how things are done, and also learn about yourself and what you like to do, what you're good at doing, and where you need to build skills in order to get a sense of mastery. Talk with people all over the organization and learn about the different directions you can take your career over the long term.