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Best states for a planning analyst
Quoted expert
Dr. Richard Greggory Johnson III
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Planning analyst opportunities vary in different parts of the country. In order to help you determine the best states for planning analysts, we ranked all fifty states from best to worst for planning analysts.Pay, benefits, and opportunities vary greatly by state, and it's no different for planning analysts. We found that Rhode Island is the best state in the nation for planning analysts, and people in Newport earn the most in the field.
To do that, we looked at the most recent data we have available for the following criteria -- average annual wages, and availability of jobs for planning analysts.If you are currently seeking employment as a planning analyst, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for planning analysts in 2025
1. Rhode Island
Total planning analyst jobs: 177 Average annual salary: $78,317 Lowest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $110,000 Location Quotient: 1.12
2. New Jersey
Total planning analyst jobs: 1,096 Average annual salary: $78,258 Lowest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $110,000 Location Quotient: 1.06
3. Massachusetts
Total planning analyst jobs: 1,328 Average annual salary: $75,695 Lowest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $106,000 Location Quotient: 1.11
4. District of Columbia
Total planning analyst jobs: 836 Average annual salary: $77,628 Lowest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $110,000 Location Quotient: 3.84
5. New York
Total planning analyst jobs: 2,293 Average annual salary: $75,502 Lowest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $106,000 Location Quotient: 1.38
6. Virginia
Total planning analyst jobs: 2,419 Average annual salary: $72,519 Lowest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $103,000 Location Quotient: 1.98
7. Delaware
Total planning analyst jobs: 225 Average annual salary: $70,724 Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Location Quotient: 1.38
8. Maryland
Total planning analyst jobs: 1,242 Average annual salary: $72,993 Lowest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $104,000 Location Quotient: 1.51
9. Illinois
Total planning analyst jobs: 1,734 Average annual salary: $70,155 Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $99,000 Location Quotient: 1.12
10. Connecticut
Total planning analyst jobs: 441 Average annual salary: $72,586 Lowest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $102,000 Location Quotient: 1.02
Planning analyst jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a planning analyst
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a planning analyst
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island | $78,317 | $55,000 | 1,059,639 | 177 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $78,258 | $55,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,096 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $75,695 | $54,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,328 |
| 4 | District of Columbia | $77,628 | $54,000 | 693,972 | 836 |
| 5 | New York | $75,502 | $53,000 | 19,849,399 | 2,293 |
| 6 | Virginia | $72,519 | $50,000 | 8,470,020 | 2,419 |
| 7 | Delaware | $70,724 | $49,000 | 961,939 | 225 |
| 8 | Maryland | $72,993 | $51,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,242 |
| 9 | Illinois | $70,155 | $49,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,734 |
| 10 | Connecticut | $72,586 | $51,000 | 3,588,184 | 441 |
| 11 | North Carolina | $68,350 | $47,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,205 |
| 12 | Wisconsin | $70,227 | $49,000 | 5,795,483 | 548 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $68,226 | $47,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,330 |
| 14 | California | $70,289 | $47,000 | 39,536,653 | 4,164 |
| 15 | Washington | $69,694 | $50,000 | 7,405,743 | 853 |
| 16 | Michigan | $68,039 | $47,000 | 9,962,311 | 761 |
| 17 | Alaska | $70,631 | $60,000 | 739,795 | 97 |
| 18 | Texas | $64,279 | $43,000 | 28,304,596 | 2,670 |
| 19 | New Hampshire | $66,740 | $47,000 | 1,342,795 | 168 |
| 20 | Colorado | $63,016 | $45,000 | 5,607,154 | 861 |
| 21 | Ohio | $61,594 | $43,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,043 |
| 22 | Minnesota | $64,561 | $46,000 | 5,576,606 | 768 |
| 23 | Oregon | $64,075 | $45,000 | 4,142,776 | 530 |
| 24 | Vermont | $62,590 | $45,000 | 623,657 | 96 |
| 25 | Arizona | $60,317 | $41,000 | 7,016,270 | 831 |
| 26 | Georgia | $61,040 | $42,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,250 |
| 27 | Kentucky | $59,750 | $41,000 | 4,454,189 | 343 |
| 28 | Alabama | $59,100 | $40,000 | 4,874,747 | 430 |
| 29 | Missouri | $59,937 | $42,000 | 6,113,532 | 591 |
| 30 | New Mexico | $59,266 | $41,000 | 2,088,070 | 191 |
| 31 | Utah | $54,952 | $39,000 | 3,101,833 | 437 |
| 32 | West Virginia | $58,129 | $40,000 | 1,815,857 | 108 |
| 33 | South Carolina | $58,707 | $40,000 | 5,024,369 | 332 |
| 34 | Wyoming | $52,035 | $37,000 | 579,315 | 82 |
| 35 | Maine | $56,598 | $41,000 | 1,335,907 | 117 |
| 36 | South Dakota | $55,158 | $40,000 | 869,666 | 94 |
| 37 | North Dakota | $53,229 | $38,000 | 755,393 | 100 |
| 38 | Kansas | $54,952 | $39,000 | 2,913,123 | 280 |
| 39 | Hawaii | $45,811 | $36,000 | 1,427,538 | 157 |
| 40 | Florida | $51,857 | $34,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,816 |
| 41 | Indiana | $53,461 | $37,000 | 6,666,818 | 630 |
| 42 | Louisiana | $56,132 | $38,000 | 4,684,333 | 217 |
| 43 | Nebraska | $51,758 | $37,000 | 1,920,076 | 232 |
| 44 | Tennessee | $52,028 | $36,000 | 6,715,984 | 545 |
| 45 | Nevada | $50,885 | $34,000 | 2,998,039 | 233 |
| 46 | Idaho | $51,560 | $36,000 | 1,716,943 | 181 |
| 47 | Iowa | $51,748 | $37,000 | 3,145,711 | 266 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $50,811 | $36,000 | 3,930,864 | 225 |
| 49 | Montana | $47,567 | $34,000 | 1,050,493 | 113 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $48,322 | $34,000 | 3,004,279 | 242 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $50,086 | $34,000 | 2,984,100 | 144 |
Highest paying states for planning analysts
| Rank | State | Avg. Planning Analyst Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island | $78,317 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $78,258 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $75,695 |
| 4 | District of Columbia | $77,628 |
| 5 | New York | $75,502 |
| 6 | Virginia | $72,519 |
| 7 | Delaware | $70,724 |
| 8 | Maryland | $72,993 |
| 9 | Illinois | $70,155 |
| 10 | Connecticut | $72,586 |
| 11 | North Carolina | $68,350 |
| 12 | Wisconsin | $70,227 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $68,226 |
| 14 | California | $70,289 |
| 15 | Washington | $69,694 |
| 16 | Michigan | $68,039 |
| 17 | Alaska | $70,631 |
| 18 | Texas | $64,279 |
| 19 | New Hampshire | $66,740 |
| 20 | Colorado | $63,016 |
| 21 | Ohio | $61,594 |
| 22 | Minnesota | $64,561 |
| 23 | Oregon | $64,075 |
| 24 | Vermont | $62,590 |
| 25 | Arizona | $60,317 |
| 26 | Georgia | $61,040 |
| 27 | Kentucky | $59,750 |
| 28 | Alabama | $59,100 |
| 29 | Missouri | $59,937 |
| 30 | New Mexico | $59,266 |
| 31 | Utah | $54,952 |
| 32 | West Virginia | $58,129 |
| 33 | South Carolina | $58,707 |
| 34 | Wyoming | $52,035 |
| 35 | Maine | $56,598 |
| 36 | South Dakota | $55,158 |
| 37 | North Dakota | $53,229 |
| 38 | Kansas | $54,952 |
| 39 | Hawaii | $45,811 |
| 40 | Florida | $51,857 |
| 41 | Indiana | $53,461 |
| 42 | Louisiana | $56,132 |
| 43 | Nebraska | $51,758 |
| 44 | Tennessee | $52,028 |
| 45 | Nevada | $50,885 |
| 46 | Idaho | $51,560 |
| 47 | Iowa | $51,748 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $50,811 |
| 49 | Montana | $47,567 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $48,322 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $50,086 |
Expert opinions on the best states for planning analysts
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for planning analysts to find work opportunities?
Dr. Richard Greggory Johnson III
Department Chair & Professor Director, USF Institutional Review Board (IRB/Ethics) Social Equity Fulbright Scholar, University of San Francisco
Nonprofits will still be a great place to find a position. Also, the public sector will hire, as well.
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Updated January 8, 2025