Best cities for a planning analyst
The best cities for planning analysts are Greensboro, NC, Madison, WI, and Detroit, MI, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for planning analysts vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for planning analysts in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a planning analyst or considering a move, this list of the best cities for planning analysts to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for planning analysts. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a planning analyst. While the absolute best city for planning analysts is Greensboro, NC, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for planning analysts in 2024.
If you're looking for a planning analyst job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for planning analysts in 2025
1. Greensboro, NC
Total planning analyst jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $68,790 Lowest 10 percent warn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $99,000 Location quotient: 3.71 2. Madison, WI
Total planning analyst jobs: 15 Average annual salary: $69,662 Lowest 10 percent warn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location quotient: 2.92 3. Detroit, MI
Total planning analyst jobs: 13 Average annual salary: $68,290 Lowest 10 percent warn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Location quotient: 2.17 4. Hempstead, NY
Total planning analyst jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $75,655 Lowest 10 percent warn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $107,000 Location quotient: 10.64 5. Durham, NC
Total planning analyst jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $69,225 Lowest 10 percent warn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $99,000 Location quotient: 2.17 6. Columbus, OH
Total planning analyst jobs: 36 Average annual salary: $61,273 Lowest 10 percent warn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Location quotient: 2.86 7. Raleigh, NC
Total planning analyst jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $69,179 Lowest 10 percent warn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $99,000 Location quotient: 1.49 8. Arlington, TX
Total planning analyst jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $63,856 Lowest 10 percent warn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Location quotient: 5.16 9. Charlotte, NC
Total planning analyst jobs: 24 Average annual salary: $67,388 Lowest 10 percent warn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Location quotient: 1.43 10. Fort Worth, TX
Total planning analyst jobs: 12 Average annual salary: $63,880 Lowest 10 percent warn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Location quotient: 2.57
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Best cities for planning analysts
- Greensboro, NC
- Madison, WI
- Detroit, MI
- Hempstead, NY
- Durham, NC
- Columbus, OH
- Raleigh, NC
- Arlington, TX
- Charlotte, NC
- Fort Worth, TX
- (8 planning analyst jobs)
- (15 planning analyst jobs)
- (13 planning analyst jobs)
- (1 planning analyst jobs)
- (10 planning analyst jobs)
- (36 planning analyst jobs)
- (11 planning analyst jobs)
- (7 planning analyst jobs)
- (24 planning analyst jobs)
- (12 planning analyst jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a planning analyst
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Greensboro, NC | $68,790 | $47,000 | 287,027 | 8 |
| 2 | Madison, WI | $69,662 | $49,000 | 252,551 | 15 |
| 3 | Detroit, MI | $68,290 | $47,000 | 672,795 | 13 |
| 4 | Hempstead, NY | $75,655 | $53,000 | 759,757 | 1 |
| 5 | Durham, NC | $69,225 | $47,000 | 263,016 | 10 |
| 6 | Columbus, OH | $61,273 | $42,000 | 860,090 | 36 |
| 7 | Raleigh, NC | $69,179 | $47,000 | 458,880 | 11 |
| 8 | Arlington, TX | $63,856 | $43,000 | 392,772 | 7 |
| 9 | Charlotte, NC | $67,388 | $46,000 | 842,051 | 24 |
| 10 | Fort Worth, TX | $63,880 | $44,000 | 854,113 | 12 |
| 11 | San Antonio, TX | $64,737 | $43,000 | 1,492,510 | 16 |
| 12 | Houston, TX | $64,530 | $43,000 | 2,303,482 | 50 |
| 13 | Saint Paul, MN | $64,558 | $46,000 | 302,398 | 12 |
| 14 | Milwaukee, WI | $70,504 | $49,000 | 595,047 | 5 |
| 15 | New York, NY | $75,580 | $53,000 | 8,537,673 | 123 |
| 16 | Pittsburgh, PA | $67,038 | $46,000 | 303,625 | 7 |
| 17 | Dallas, TX | $63,776 | $44,000 | 1,317,929 | 28 |
| 18 | Gilbert, AZ | $60,320 | $41,000 | 237,133 | 4 |
| 19 | Boston, MA | $75,632 | $53,000 | 673,184 | 19 |
| 20 | Jersey City, NJ | $78,294 | $55,000 | 264,152 | 9 |
| 21 | Mesa, AZ | $60,321 | $41,000 | 484,587 | 5 |
| 22 | Scottsdale, AZ | $60,373 | $41,000 | 246,645 | 9 |
| 23 | Chandler, AZ | $60,338 | $41,000 | 247,477 | 10 |
| 24 | Austin, TX | $64,720 | $43,000 | 947,890 | 24 |
| 25 | Bakersfield, CA | $70,843 | $47,000 | 376,380 | 10 |
| 26 | Fremont, CA | $74,948 | $50,000 | 233,136 | 9 |
| 27 | Oakland, CA | $75,248 | $50,000 | 420,005 | 4 |
| 28 | Colorado Springs, CO | $63,140 | $45,000 | 465,101 | 23 |
| 29 | Philadelphia, PA | $68,493 | $48,000 | 1,567,872 | 4 |
| 30 | Seattle, WA | $70,161 | $50,000 | 704,352 | 33 |
| 31 | Cleveland, OH | $62,558 | $43,000 | 385,809 | 2 |
| 32 | Winston-Salem, NC | $68,548 | $47,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 33 | Long Beach, CA | $68,246 | $46,000 | 470,130 | 7 |
| 34 | Saint Louis, MO | $60,877 | $43,000 | 311,404 | 15 |
| 35 | Louisville, KY | $59,764 | $41,000 | 597,337 | 7 |
| 36 | Phoenix, AZ | $60,412 | $41,000 | 1,615,017 | 33 |
| 37 | Chicago, IL | $70,482 | $49,000 | 2,704,958 | 14 |
| 38 | Newark, NJ | $78,267 | $55,000 | 281,764 | 1 |
| 39 | Toledo, OH | $61,729 | $43,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 40 | San Francisco, CA | $75,421 | $50,000 | 870,887 | 36 |
| 41 | Denver, CO | $63,098 | $45,000 | 693,060 | 58 |
| 42 | El Paso, TX | $65,985 | $44,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 43 | Minneapolis, MN | $64,497 | $46,000 | 413,651 | 13 |
| 44 | Brookhaven, NY | $75,768 | $53,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 45 | Islip, NY | $75,738 | $53,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 46 | Virginia Beach, VA | $72,635 | $50,000 | 452,602 | - |
| 47 | Cincinnati, OH | $60,172 | $42,000 | 298,800 | 4 |
| 48 | Oyster Bay, NY | $75,658 | $53,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 49 | Norfolk, VA | $72,555 | $50,000 | 245,115 | - |
| 50 | Anchorage, AK | $70,466 | $60,000 | 298,192 | - |
Highest paying cities for planning analysts
| Rank | City | Avg. planning analyst salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $77,647 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $75,632 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $75,580 |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | $75,421 |
| 5 | Annapolis, MD | $73,108 |
| 6 | Hartford, CT | $72,568 |
| 7 | Richmond, VA | $72,464 |
| 8 | Chicago, IL | $70,482 |
| 9 | Seattle, WA | $70,161 |
| 10 | Madison, WI | $69,662 |
| 11 | Durham, NC | $69,225 |
| 12 | Detroit, MI | $68,290 |
| 13 | Pittsburgh, PA | $67,038 |
| 14 | San Antonio, TX | $64,737 |
| 15 | Hillsboro, OR | $64,163 |
| 16 | Colorado Springs, CO | $63,140 |
| 17 | Columbus, OH | $61,273 |
| 18 | Atlanta, GA | $61,015 |
| 19 | Saint Louis, MO | $60,877 |
| 20 | Phoenix, AZ | $60,412 |
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Updated January 8, 2025