Program planner vs urban planner

The differences between program planners and urban planners can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a program planner and an urban planner. Additionally, an urban planner has an average salary of $65,316, which is higher than the $64,782 average annual salary of a program planner.

The top three skills for a program planner include program planning, program management and master schedule. The most important skills for an urban planner are GIS, infrastructure, and visualization.

Program planner vs urban planner overview

	Program Planner	Urban Planner
Yearly salary	$64,782	$65,316
Hourly rate	$31.15	$31.40
Growth rate	4%	4%
Number of jobs	70,996	13,883
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 69%	Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Average age	42	42
Years of experience	2	2

What does a program planner do?

A program planner is responsible for facilitating and developing program agendas according to business requirements and specifications. Program planners manage program activities by following budget limitations, identifying resources, and finalizing the total count of participants. They also coordinate with professional event planners for recovery solutions should any issues arise. A program planner must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in updating the program manager of updates and plan adjustments as needed to achieve program goals and objectives.

What does an urban planner do?

An urban planner is responsible for evaluating land use and condition and providing comprehensive plans and programs that would be beneficial for the entire community. Urban planners' tasks also cover conducting field investigations and collect environmental studies, performing market research and creating proposals for approval of the officials, reviewing recommendations and addressing issues which concern the land and resources, and strategizing comprehensive area plans. An urban planner must consider the community's best interest that would promote growth and development.

Program planner vs urban planner salary

Program planners and urban planners have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Program Planner	Urban Planner
Average salary	$64,782	$65,316
Salary range	Between $49,000 And $84,000	Between $47,000 And $89,000
Highest paying City	San Francisco, CA	Washington, DC
Highest paying state	California	California
Best paying company	SMTC	Mapbox
Best paying industry	Technology	Construction

Differences between program planner and urban planner education

There are a few differences between a program planner and an urban planner in terms of educational background:

	Program Planner	Urban Planner
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 69%	Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Most common major	Business	Urban Planning
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	University of Pennsylvania

Program planner vs urban planner demographics

Here are the differences between program planners' and urban planners' demographics:

	Program Planner	Urban Planner
Average age	42	42
Gender ratio	Male, 48.2% Female, 51.8%	Male, 66.6% Female, 33.4%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.7% Asian, 9.5% White, 67.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%	Black or African American, 4.6% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.3% Asian, 9.3% White, 67.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage	13%	13%

Differences between program planner and urban planner duties and responsibilities

Program planner example responsibilities.

Create and manage integrated master project plans with detail WBS structures.
Manage part parameters in order to run MRP effectively to maintain a continuous supply chain at the targeted inventory levels.
Display excellent leadership skills in directing the performance of the IPT leads and integrate program level performance for program monthly reviews.
Conduct intensive interfacing with engineering and IPT leads to analyze complex schedules and develop viable action plans for scheduling risk mitigation.
Develop and manage the SharePoint database.
Resolve issues regarding logistics, repair cycles, materials returns and cross-contamination; manage all supply-chain relate escalated issues.

Urban planner example responsibilities.

Manage all aspects of production plan in direct compliance with MRP and master schedule.
Guide production planning activities ranging from developing and revising production schedules, forecasting trends and customer demand, and managing logistics.
Coordinate allocation of CDBG funds for community development and maintenance including demolition and asbestos abatement.
Assess compliance with NIST and DoD policies and procedures.
Prepare conceptual and design lot layouts and site plans using freehand and AutoCAD.
Coordinate with the FAA on all obstructions to airspace and for temporary crane waivers.

Program planner vs urban planner skills

Common program planner skills

Program Planning, 12%
Program Management, 10%
Master Schedule, 9%
Microsoft Project, 9%
Earned Value Management, 8%
Management System, 6%

Common urban planner skills

GIS, 11%
Infrastructure, 6%
Visualization, 5%
ArcGIS, 5%
Sketch, 5%
Community Development, 4%

Program Planner vs. similar jobs

Program Planner related careers

Program Planner related jobs

What similar roles do

Zippia Careers
Life, Physical, and Social Science Industry
Program Planner
Program Planner vs Urban Planner

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse life, physical, and social science jobs