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Planning assistant salary
Average planning assistant salary
$43,826
Average Planning Assistant Salary
The average salary for a Planning Assistant is around $43,826 per year. This figure can shift based on several factors including geographic location, years of experience, and the specific industry in which one is employed. For instance, planning assistants in urban areas often earn more than those in rural settings due to higher living costs.
Salary Breakdown by State
The salary for planning assistants varies widely across the United States. States like California and New York typically offer higher salaries due to their cost of living and demand for planning professionals. Conversely, states with lower living costs may see salaries decrease.
Opportunities for Growth
As you progress in your career, opportunities may arise to specialize in areas such as urban planning or environmental planning, which can lead to increased earnings. Additionally, obtaining certifications can further enhance your job prospects and salary potential.
Top Paying Cities
Cities such as San Francisco and New York City rank among the highest for planning assistant salaries, reflecting the competitive nature of the job market in these regions. Researching these opportunities can significantly impact your career trajectory.
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Where can a Planning Assistant earn more?
Average planning assistant salary by state
The highest-paying states for planning assistants are Virginia, Delaware, and Hawaii. The lowest average planning assistant salary states are Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Idaho.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for planning assistants
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyoming | $46,059 | $22.14 |
| 2 | Ohio | $46,368 | $22.29 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $47,942 | $23.05 |
| 4 | West Virginia | $46,499 | $22.36 |
| 5 | Alaska | $47,647 | $22.91 |
| 6 | Virginia | $51,175 | $24.60 |
| 7 | Nevada | $45,567 | $21.91 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $45,928 | $22.08 |
| 9 | North Carolina | $47,377 | $22.78 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $46,870 | $22.53 |
| 11 | Hawaii | $49,398 | $23.75 |
| 12 | South Dakota | $44,513 | $21.40 |
| 13 | District of Columbia | $49,082 | $23.60 |
| 14 | Delaware | $49,618 | $23.85 |
| 15 | Montana | $45,290 | $21.77 |
| 16 | Maryland | $49,227 | $23.67 |
| 17 | New Hampshire | $44,890 | $21.58 |
| 18 | New York | $42,987 | $20.67 |
| 19 | Vermont | $43,759 | $21.04 |
| 20 | North Dakota | $41,111 | $19.76 |
| 21 | Kentucky | $43,665 | $20.99 |
| 22 | California | $44,170 | $21.24 |
| 23 | Utah | $38,552 | $18.53 |
| 24 | New Jersey | $43,079 | $20.71 |
| 25 | Pennsylvania | $39,655 | $19.06 |
| 26 | Michigan | $39,296 | $18.89 |
| 27 | Illinois | $39,337 | $18.91 |
| 28 | Louisiana | $43,040 | $20.69 |
| 29 | South Carolina | $42,774 | $20.56 |
| 30 | Minnesota | $41,407 | $19.91 |
| 31 | Colorado | $37,881 | $18.21 |
| 32 | Nebraska | $38,702 | $18.61 |
| 33 | Florida | $37,907 | $18.22 |
| 34 | Iowa | $38,576 | $18.55 |
| 35 | Wisconsin | $36,163 | $17.39 |
| 36 | Mississippi | $38,122 | $18.33 |
| 37 | Missouri | $38,249 | $18.39 |
| 38 | Arizona | $35,548 | $17.09 |
| 39 | Kansas | $37,015 | $17.80 |
| 40 | Idaho | $34,930 | $16.79 |
| 41 | Georgia | $35,452 | $17.04 |
| 42 | Oregon | $36,862 | $17.72 |
| 43 | Tennessee | $35,683 | $17.16 |
| 44 | Washington | $36,361 | $17.48 |
| 45 | Indiana | $35,384 | $17.01 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $35,311 | $16.98 |
| 47 | New Mexico | $36,670 | $17.63 |
| 48 | Maine | $34,248 | $16.47 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $35,272 | $16.96 |
| 50 | Alabama | $34,172 | $16.43 |
| 51 | Texas | $32,143 | $15.45 |
Highest paying cities for planning assistants
The highest-paying cities for planning assistants are Silver Spring, MD, Fairfield, CT, and Reno, NV.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Silver Spring, MD | $49,117 | $23.61 |
| 2 | Fairfield, CT | $48,373 | $23.26 |
| 3 | Reno, NV | $46,317 | $22.27 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $45,818 | $22.03 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $45,497 | $21.87 |
| 6 | Cherry Hill, NJ | $43,478 | $20.90 |
| 7 | Florence, SC | $43,334 | $20.83 |
| 8 | New York, NY | $43,225 | $20.78 |
| 9 | Saint Paul, MN | $41,423 | $19.91 |
| 10 | Saint George, UT | $40,012 | $19.24 |
| 11 | Philadelphia, PA | $39,982 | $19.22 |
| 12 | Chicago, IL | $39,508 | $18.99 |
| 13 | Midland, MI | $39,171 | $18.83 |
| 14 | Miami, FL | $38,022 | $18.28 |
| 15 | Parker, CO | $37,859 | $18.20 |
| 16 | Albuquerque, NM | $36,558 | $17.58 |
| 17 | Auburn, WA | $36,403 | $17.50 |
| 18 | Franklin, WI | $36,127 | $17.37 |
| 19 | Atlanta, GA | $35,447 | $17.04 |
| 20 | Memphis, TN | $35,378 | $17.01 |
Planning assistant salary details
A planning assistant's salary ranges from $32,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $59,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a planning assistant's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $59,000 | $4,917 | $28 |
| 75th Percentile | $51,000 | $4,250 | $25 |
| Average | $43,826 | $3,652 | $21 |
| 25th Percentile | $37,000 | $3,083 | $18 |
| 10th Percentile | $32,000 | $2,667 | $15 |
Highest paying planning assistant jobs
The highest paying types of planning assistants are planning coordinator, planning technician, and city planning aide.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Planning Coordinator | $49,235 | $4,103 | $23.67 | 29,973 |
| Planning Internship | $33,695 | $2,808 | $16.20 | 57,335 |
| Planning Technician | $45,502 | $3,792 | $21.88 | 19,118 |
Top companies hiring planning assistants now:
Which companies pay planning assistants the most?
Planning assistant salaries at Earthjustice and Quest Global are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average planning assistant salary at companies like City of Los Angeles and Gainesville Regional Utilities are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Earthjustice | $82,756 | $39.79 |
| 2 | Quest Global | $66,117 | $31.79 |
| 3 | City of Los Angeles | $64,825 | $31.17 |
| 4 | Gainesville Regional Utilities | $57,898 | $27.84 |
| 5 | The Culinary Institute of America | $55,640 | $26.75 |
| 6 | Alcon | $53,139 | $25.55 |
| 7 | Texas Roadhouse | $51,829 | $24.92 |
| 8 | West Suburban Medical Center | $51,449 | $24.74 |
| 9 | Ramsey County | $48,757 | $23.44 |
| 10 | ALDI USA | $48,203 | $23.17 |
| 11 | Ameriprise Financial | $46,826 | $22.51 |
| 12 | Rent the Runway | $45,505 | $21.88 |
| 13 | Save the Children US | $44,943 | $21.61 |
| 14 | Medical Facilities of America | $44,929 | $21.60 |
| 15 | HM Electronics | $43,516 | $20.92 |
| 16 | Ultradent Products | $43,405 | $20.87 |
| 17 | Virginia's Community Colleges | $43,206 | $20.77 |
| 18 | City of Pacific | $43,024 | $20.68 |
| 19 | Boston Planning & Development Agency | $42,644 | $20.50 |
| 20 | Hantz Group | $42,543 | $20.45 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Planning Assistant salary by industry
The average planning assistant salary varies across industries:
- The average planning assistant salary in the finance industry is $51,005, the highest of any industry.
- The average planning assistant salary in the finance industry is $44,996.
- Planning assistants in the retail industry earn an average salary of $41,329, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for planning assistants
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Finance | $51,005 | $24.52 |
| 2 | Manufacturing | $44,996 | $21.63 |
| 3 | Government | $41,665 | $20.03 |
| 4 | Retail | $41,329 | $19.87 |
High paying planning assistant jobs
Planning assistant salary trends
The average planning assistant salary has risen by $9,271 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average planning assistant earned $34,555 annually, but today, they earn $43,826 a year. That works out to a 14% change in pay for planning assistants over the last decade.
Compare planning assistant salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average planning assistant salary over time
Compare planning assistant salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Planning assistant salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $43,800 | $21.07 | +3.5% |
| 2024 | $42,300 | $20.34 | +1.8% |
| 2023 | $41,500 | $19.97 | +1.4% |
| 2022 | $41,000 | $19.70 | +6.1% |
| 2021 | $38,500 | $18.49 | +1.6% |
Recently added planning assistant salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career Group | Space Planning Assistant | El Segundo, CA | 06/27/2025 | $68,871 |
| City of Franklin | Planning Assistant | Franklin, TN | 06/20/2025 | $61,942 |
| Accommodations Plus International | Planning Assistant | Dallas, TX | 06/19/2025 | $45,914 |
| DKS Associates | Transportation Engineering/Planning Assistant | Sacramento, CA | 06/14/2025 | $87,100 |
| UJA Careers | Planning Assistant, Network | New York, NY | 06/14/2025 | $50,000 |
| Trinity Health Corporation | Discharge Planning Assistant | Syracuse, NY | 06/13/2025 | $37,253 |
| Cedar Fair | WFM Planning Assistant | Enon, VA | 06/07/2025 | $29,218 |
| Six Flags, Corp | Workforce Planning Assistant | Enon, VA | 06/06/2025 | $29,218 |
| State of Virginia | State Parks Planning Assistant | Richmond, VA | 05/27/2025 | $41,740 |
| DHRM | State Parks Planning Assistant | Richmond, VA | 05/25/2025 | $41,740 |
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