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Community development planner salary
Average community development planner salary
$57,723
Understanding Community Development Planner Salaries
A Community Development Planner plays an essential role in enhancing community sustainability and livability. As of October 2025, the average salary for this position is $57,723 annually. However, this figure fluctuates depending on various factors, including state, years of experience, and specific responsibilities.
Salary by State
For instance, planners in states like California and New York tend to earn higher salaries, reflecting the cost of living and demand for planning professionals in urban areas. In contrast, states with lower living costs may offer reduced salaries.
Career Advancement
Experience significantly impacts earnings. Entry-level positions may start lower, but as planners gain expertise, they can expect substantial increases. Specialized roles in urban design, zoning, or environmental planning often command higher salaries. By understanding these dynamics, aspiring community development planners can make informed career decisions and identify opportunities for professional growth.
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Where can a Community Development Planner earn more?
Community development planner salary estimates from across the web
Average community development planner salary by state
The highest-paying states for community development planners are Massachusetts, Oregon, and Washington. The lowest average community development planner salary states are Alabama, Mississippi, and South Carolina.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for community development planners
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nevada | $70,241 | $33.77 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $84,868 | $40.80 |
| 3 | District of Columbia | $85,550 | $41.13 |
| 4 | Oregon | $81,407 | $39.14 |
| 5 | Alaska | $71,119 | $34.19 |
| 6 | North Dakota | $63,083 | $30.33 |
| 7 | Washington | $78,585 | $37.78 |
| 8 | Minnesota | $73,093 | $35.14 |
| 9 | California | $76,626 | $36.84 |
| 10 | Michigan | $62,741 | $30.16 |
| 11 | Vermont | $75,070 | $36.09 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $73,006 | $35.10 |
| 13 | New York | $71,403 | $34.33 |
| 14 | Ohio | $62,981 | $30.28 |
| 15 | Virginia | $70,366 | $33.83 |
| 16 | Delaware | $69,892 | $33.60 |
| 17 | Kansas | $61,025 | $29.34 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | $59,429 | $28.57 |
| 19 | Connecticut | $65,660 | $31.57 |
| 20 | Texas | $57,835 | $27.81 |
| 21 | Wyoming | $65,351 | $31.42 |
| 22 | Wisconsin | $58,244 | $28.00 |
| 23 | Montana | $57,725 | $27.75 |
| 24 | Maryland | $66,497 | $31.97 |
| 25 | Nebraska | $56,097 | $26.97 |
| 26 | Maine | $63,667 | $30.61 |
| 27 | Illinois | $63,123 | $30.35 |
| 28 | New Hampshire | $61,442 | $29.54 |
| 29 | Hawaii | $55,852 | $26.85 |
| 30 | Colorado | $61,069 | $29.36 |
| 31 | South Dakota | $54,527 | $26.21 |
| 32 | Kentucky | $53,737 | $25.84 |
| 33 | Indiana | $52,682 | $25.33 |
| 34 | Idaho | $59,712 | $28.71 |
| 35 | New Jersey | $62,455 | $30.03 |
| 36 | Missouri | $52,388 | $25.19 |
| 37 | Iowa | $52,690 | $25.33 |
| 38 | Louisiana | $51,920 | $24.96 |
| 39 | Arizona | $46,060 | $22.14 |
| 40 | Utah | $56,632 | $27.23 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $47,951 | $23.05 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $50,058 | $24.07 |
| 43 | Georgia | $45,415 | $21.83 |
| 44 | West Virginia | $47,589 | $22.88 |
| 45 | North Carolina | $50,647 | $24.35 |
| 46 | Alabama | $45,051 | $21.66 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $40,121 | $19.29 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $44,782 | $21.53 |
| 49 | New Mexico | $39,176 | $18.83 |
| 50 | Florida | $42,610 | $20.49 |
| 51 | South Carolina | $44,535 | $21.41 |
Highest paying cities for community development planners
The highest-paying cities for community development planners are Brookline, MA, Reno, NV, and Los Angeles, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brookline, MA | $84,962 | $40.85 |
| 2 | Reno, NV | $76,602 | $36.83 |
| 3 | Los Angeles, CA | $73,667 | $35.42 |
| 4 | Mankato, MN | $72,333 | $34.78 |
| 5 | Annapolis, MD | $66,368 | $31.91 |
| 6 | Cleveland, OH | $65,224 | $31.36 |
| 7 | Topeka, KS | $61,721 | $29.67 |
| 8 | Denver, CO | $61,197 | $29.42 |
| 9 | Williamsport, PA | $60,174 | $28.93 |
| 10 | West Bend, WI | $58,583 | $28.16 |
| 11 | Houston, TX | $56,522 | $27.17 |
| 12 | Saint Louis, MO | $52,562 | $25.27 |
| 13 | Oklahoma City, OK | $49,958 | $24.02 |
| 14 | Wilmington, NC | $49,268 | $23.69 |
| 15 | Lawrenceville, GA | $46,234 | $22.23 |
| 16 | Tampa, FL | $42,925 | $20.64 |
Community development planner salary details
A community development planner's salary ranges from $31,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $104,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a community development planner's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $104,000 | $8,667 | $50 |
| 75th Percentile | $78,000 | $6,500 | $38 |
| Average | $57,723 | $4,810 | $28 |
| 25th Percentile | $42,000 | $3,500 | $20 |
| 10th Percentile | $31,000 | $2,583 | $15 |
Highest paying community development planner jobs
The highest paying types of community development planners are business planner, urban renewal manager, and senior planner.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Urban Design Consultant | $63,960 | $5,330 | $30.75 | 41,918 |
| Planning Internship | $33,695 | $2,808 | $16.20 | 57,335 |
| Urban Renewal Manager | $80,064 | $6,672 | $38.49 | 2,808 |
| Planner | $63,161 | $5,263 | $30.37 | 15,269 |
| Transportation Planner | $68,983 | $5,749 | $33.16 | 21,425 |
| Space Planner | $64,516 | $5,376 | $31.02 | 14,044 |
Top companies hiring community development planners now:
Which companies pay community development planners the most?
Community development planner salaries at Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Inc. and WestRock are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average community development planner salary at companies like Adient US LLC and Lendlease are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Inc. | $79,198 | $38.08 |
| 2 | WestRock | $70,800 | $34.04 |
| 3 | Adient US LLC | $68,145 | $32.76 |
| 4 | Lendlease | $67,958 | $32.67 |
| 5 | City of Reno | $66,167 | $31.81 |
| 6 | Washington County | $63,628 | $30.59 |
| 7 | New Hanover County | $62,572 | $30.08 |
| 8 | Lake County | $61,605 | $29.62 |
| 9 | Anne Arundel County Public Schools | $59,057 | $28.39 |
| 10 | Peraton | $57,287 | $27.54 |
| 11 | Lee County | $57,138 | $27.47 |
| 12 | Minnesota Limited | $56,431 | $27.13 |
| 13 | Broken Hill Proprietary | $55,150 | $26.51 |
| 14 | Calhoun International | $52,627 | $25.30 |
| 15 | County of Lycoming | $52,497 | $25.24 |
| 16 | Gwinnett County | $52,304 | $25.15 |
| 17 | Americorps | $48,133 | $23.14 |
| 18 | City of Topeka | $44,052 | $21.18 |
| 19 | City of St. Louis | $36,473 | $17.54 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Community development planner salary trends
The average community development planner salary has risen by $9,006 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average community development planner earned $48,717 annually, but today, they earn $57,723 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for community development planners over the last decade.
Compare community development planner salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average community development planner salary over time
Compare community development planner salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Community development planner salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $57,700 | $27.75 | +2.1% |
| 2025 | $56,500 | $27.17 | +1.7% |
| 2024 | $55,500 | $26.69 | +2.1% |
| 2023 | $54,300 | $26.12 | +2.1% |
| 2022 | $53,200 | $25.58 | +2.6% |
Recently added community development planner salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nctcog | Environment & Development Planner II-Public Works, Sustainability | Arlington, TX | 06/20/2025 | $60,000 |
| The Community Action Organization of Western New York Inc. | Community Crisis Spec. | Buffalo, NY | 06/16/2025 | $33,392 |
| Caowny | Community Crisis Spec. | Buffalo, NY | 06/16/2025 | $33,392 |
| City of McKinney | Planner I/II: Development Review | Tye, TX | 06/14/2025 | $65,906 |
| Molina Healthcare | Growth & Community Engagement SPC (Field Based Norfolk Area) | Norfolk, NE | 05/22/2025 | $39,340 |
| City of Cheyenne | Planning and Development Planner I | Cheyenne, WY | 05/11/2025 | $58,196 |
| City of Chayenne, Wy | Planning and Development Planner I | Cheyenne, WY | 05/09/2025 | $58,196 |
| Adient Aerospace | Development Planner | Ione, CA | 05/07/2025 | $93,000 |
| City of Phoenix (Az | Zoning Division Planner I-Planning and Development | Phoenix, AZ | 04/24/2025 | $63,045 |
| Northern States Power Co | Planner Development I/II or Above | Welch, MN | 04/19/2025 | $101,595 |
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