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Job outlook for community planners in the United States
Are community planner jobs in demand?
Community planner job and salary trends over time
Community planner jobs over time
Community planner job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 848 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 831 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 840 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 824 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 769 | 0.00% |
Average community planner salary over time
Community planner salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $65,352 | $31.42 | +2.2% |
| 2024 | $63,975 | $30.76 | +1.8% |
| 2023 | $62,856 | $30.22 | +2.2% |
| 2022 | $61,514 | $29.57 | +2.1% |
| 2021 | $60,249 | $28.97 | +2.6% |
Community planner jobs by state
Most common states for community planners
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 89 | 13% |
| 2 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 316 | 5% |
| 3 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 305 | 5% |
| 4 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 329 | 4% |
| 5 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 232 | 4% |
| 6 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 210 | 4% |
| 7 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 145 | 4% |
| 8 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 55 | 4% |
| 9 | Delaware | 961,939 | 35 | 4% |
| 10 | California | 39,536,653 | 1,098 | 3% |
| 11 | New York | 19,849,399 | 570 | 3% |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 399 | 3% |
| 13 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 372 | 3% |
| 14 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 326 | 3% |
| 15 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 209 | 3% |
| 16 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 141 | 3% |
| 17 | Nevada | 2,998,039 | 80 | 3% |
| 18 | Hawaii | 1,427,538 | 37 | 3% |
| 19 | Alaska | 739,795 | 23 | 3% |
| 20 | Vermont | 623,657 | 17 | 3% |
Most common cities for community planners
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Port Charlotte | 1 | 2% | $48,199 |
| 2 | San Mateo | 1 | 1% | $87,089 |
| 3 | New Orleans | 1 | 0% | $63,741 |
| 4 | Oakland | 1 | 0% | $87,020 |
| 5 | Urban Honolulu | 1 | 0% | $63,572 |
Community Planner job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of community planner experts
Augsburg University
Ohio University
Rollins College
What general advice would you give to a Community 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 Community 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 Community 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.
What skills stand out on Community Planner resumes?
Geoffrey Buckley: Experience in an internship looks really good on the resume. It can also be critical when it comes to lining up references. One of my students had "hands-on" local government experience thanks to an internship with the City of Athens Planner. This cemented her interest in a planning career and impressed the officials at the municipality that hired her. Two of my students participated in an urban sustainability-themed study away program in Edinburgh, Scotland. They were in the field often during this 5-week summer program, learning from experts in planning history and urban design. The experienced really sharpened their research, presentation, and team-building skills.
Bruce Stephenson Ph.D.
Professor of Environmental StudiesRollins College
Department of Environmental Studies
What skills stand out on Community Planner resumes?
Bruce Stephenson Ph.D.: Project portfolio.