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As of October 2025, the average salary for an Associate Planner stands at $63,863 annually. This figure reflects the starting point for many in the field, with salaries varying based on factors such as location, experience, and the specific sector of employment. For instance, those in metropolitan areas often earn more compared to their counterparts in rural settings.
When examining Associate Planner salaries by state, it’s clear that some regions offer more competitive pay. States like California and New York frequently report higher average salaries due to the demand for urban planning professionals in densely populated areas. Additionally, experience plays a significant role in salary growth; professionals with several years in the field can command salaries significantly above the average.
Associate Planners work in diverse environments, including municipal planning departments, environmental firms, and consulting agencies. These positions not only provide competitive wages but also offer substantial benefits, including health insurance and retirement plans. As urban areas continue to expand, the demand for skilled planners is expected to grow, presenting ample opportunities for those entering the profession.
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The highest-paying states for associate planners are California, Oregon, and New York. The lowest average associate planner salary states are South Carolina, Michigan, and South Dakota.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $83,333 | $40.06 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $84,937 | $40.84 |
| 3 | Nevada | $70,300 | $33.80 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $69,695 | $33.51 |
| 5 | New York | $72,090 | $34.66 |
| 6 | Oregon | $72,462 | $34.84 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | $66,745 | $32.09 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $69,910 | $33.61 |
| 9 | Washington | $71,544 | $34.40 |
| 10 | Maryland | $67,829 | $32.61 |
| 11 | New Jersey | $69,373 | $33.35 |
| 12 | Delaware | $68,991 | $33.17 |
| 13 | Rhode Island | $68,120 | $32.75 |
| 14 | Arizona | $61,389 | $29.51 |
| 15 | Kentucky | $63,328 | $30.45 |
| 16 | Vermont | $67,336 | $32.37 |
| 17 | Alaska | $66,909 | $32.17 |
| 18 | Colorado | $61,017 | $29.34 |
| 19 | Kansas | $63,900 | $30.72 |
| 20 | Minnesota | $61,593 | $29.61 |
| 21 | Virginia | $60,377 | $29.03 |
| 22 | Hawaii | $62,119 | $29.86 |
| 23 | Florida | $60,695 | $29.18 |
| 24 | Louisiana | $62,866 | $30.22 |
| 25 | New Hampshire | $55,777 | $26.82 |
| 26 | North Carolina | $56,382 | $27.11 |
| 27 | Wyoming | $61,435 | $29.54 |
| 28 | Texas | $56,846 | $27.33 |
| 29 | Illinois | $56,639 | $27.23 |
| 30 | Wisconsin | $53,558 | $25.75 |
| 31 | Nebraska | $54,603 | $26.25 |
| 32 | Ohio | $54,309 | $26.11 |
| 33 | Alabama | $52,566 | $25.27 |
| 34 | North Dakota | $55,539 | $26.70 |
| 35 | Maine | $56,767 | $27.29 |
| 36 | Iowa | $53,831 | $25.88 |
| 37 | Utah | $53,535 | $25.74 |
| 38 | Oklahoma | $55,662 | $26.76 |
| 39 | Tennessee | $53,131 | $25.54 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $50,935 | $24.49 |
| 41 | Mississippi | $52,713 | $25.34 |
| 42 | Georgia | $51,809 | $24.91 |
| 43 | Missouri | $54,482 | $26.19 |
| 44 | Indiana | $51,670 | $24.84 |
| 45 | Idaho | $53,793 | $25.86 |
| 46 | Michigan | $50,865 | $24.45 |
| 47 | Montana | $51,321 | $24.67 |
| 48 | South Dakota | $49,938 | $24.01 |
| 49 | New Mexico | $47,950 | $23.05 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $45,028 | $21.65 |
| 51 | West Virginia | $47,558 | $22.86 |
The highest-paying cities for associate planners are San Rafael, CA, Eugene, OR, and New York, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Rafael, CA | $88,411 | $42.51 |
| 2 | Eugene, OR | $73,241 | $35.21 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $72,396 | $34.81 |
| 4 | SeaTac, WA | $71,959 | $34.60 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $69,843 | $33.58 |
| 6 | New Brunswick, NJ | $69,444 | $33.39 |
| 7 | Philadelphia, PA | $67,073 | $32.25 |
| 8 | Minneapolis, MN | $61,611 | $29.62 |
| 9 | Peoria, AZ | $61,593 | $29.61 |
| 10 | Boulder, CO | $61,050 | $29.35 |
| 11 | Orlando, FL | $60,709 | $29.19 |
| 12 | Richmond, VA | $60,260 | $28.97 |
| 13 | Austin, TX | $57,075 | $27.44 |
| 14 | Chicago, IL | $56,808 | $27.31 |
| 15 | Oklahoma City, OK | $55,742 | $26.80 |
| 16 | Reynoldsburg, OH | $54,308 | $26.11 |
| 17 | Salt Lake City, UT | $53,479 | $25.71 |
| 18 | Jackson, MS | $52,628 | $25.30 |
| 19 | Indianapolis, IN | $51,522 | $24.77 |
| 20 | Farmington, NM | $48,164 | $23.16 |
An associate planner's salary ranges from $45,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $88,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $88,000 | $7,333 | $42 |
| 75th Percentile | $75,000 | $6,250 | $36 |
| Average | $63,863 | $5,322 | $31 |
| 25th Percentile | $53,000 | $4,417 | $25 |
| 10th Percentile | $45,000 | $3,750 | $22 |
The highest paying types of associate 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 |
| Urban Renewal Manager | $80,064 | $6,672 | $38.49 | 2,808 |
| Planning Internship | $33,695 | $2,808 | $16.20 | 57,335 |
| Planner | $63,161 | $5,263 | $30.37 | 15,269 |
| Urban Planner | $65,316 | $5,443 | $31.40 | 13,883 |
| Business Planner | $119,250 | $9,937 | $57.33 | 60,241 |
Top companies hiring associate planners now:
Associate planner salaries at PVH and Belk are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average associate planner salary at companies like Ralph Lauren and Michael Kors are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PVH | $116,050 | $55.79 |
| 2 | Belk | $105,927 | $50.93 |
| 3 | Ralph Lauren | $105,448 | $50.70 |
| 4 | Michael Kors | $95,739 | $46.03 |
| 5 | Vicor | $95,359 | $45.85 |
| 6 | Nordstrom | $93,630 | $45.01 |
| 7 | Tory Burch | $92,779 | $44.61 |
| 8 | Vineyard Vines | $89,349 | $42.96 |
| 9 | TBWA Worldwide | $88,669 | $42.63 |
| 10 | Bath & Body Works | $88,653 | $42.62 |
| 11 | VF | $88,271 | $42.44 |
| 12 | Regeneron | $85,543 | $41.13 |
| 13 | City of Spartanburg | $79,781 | $38.36 |
| 14 | Digitas | $78,622 | $37.80 |
| 15 | NBCUniversal | $76,860 | $36.95 |
| 16 | National Grid plc | $76,296 | $36.68 |
| 17 | Macy's | $73,649 | $35.41 |
| 18 | Ball | $71,808 | $34.52 |
| 19 | BBDO Detroit | $71,491 | $34.37 |
| 20 | City of Tukwila | $71,357 | $34.31 |
The average associate planner salary has risen by $9,964 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average associate planner earned $53,899 annually, but today, they earn $63,863 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for associate planners over the last decade.
Compare associate planner salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare associate planner salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $63,900 | $30.70 | +2.1% |
| 2024 | $62,500 | $30.06 | +1.7% |
| 2023 | $61,400 | $29.53 | +2.1% |
| 2022 | $60,100 | $28.90 | +2.1% |
| 2021 | $58,900 | $28.31 | +2.6% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walt Disney Imagineering | Associate Geospatial Planner | Glendale, CA | 06/30/2025 | $71,000 |
| Charlottenc | Associate Planner/Urban Designer-Urban Design Center | South End, MN | 06/30/2025 | $57,691 |
| Nintendo | Associate Localization Planner (Bilingual Japanese) | Redmond, WA | 06/29/2025 | $79,869 |
| Hot Topic & Boxlunch | Associate Merch Planner | Ione, CA | 06/27/2025 | $65,000 |
| City of San Mateo, Ca | Assistant/Associate Planner (20638080) | San Mateo, CA | 06/26/2025 | $110,652 |
| Publicis Groupe | Associate Planner, Media Investment | New York, NY | 06/26/2025 | $49,305 |
| Ulta Beauty, Inc. | Associate Planner, Brand Building | Bolingbrook, IL | 06/25/2025 | $66,200 |
| Greene County Board of Commissioners | Associate Planner (Temporary) | Dayton, OH | 06/21/2025 | $52,175 |
| Nordstrom Inc. | Associate Assortment Planner-Nordstrom Product Group (NPG) | Seattle, WA | 06/20/2025 | $92,000 |
| Markem-Imaje | Associate Planner Buyer | Keene, NH | 06/18/2025 | $44,724 |
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