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Best states for a senior planner
Quoted expert
Robert von Mahs
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Do you want to become a senior planner at United States Army Corps of Engineers, and you wonder what that means or entails? We have the full list of best states for senior planners that you can check out, before you begin your journey. In fact, our research shows that California is the best state for senior planners in America. The best city in America for senior planners with the highest pay is San Francisco, CA.
The median salary for senior planners in California is $107,788. Compare that to the median salary in Arkansas of $45,538, which ranked worst for senior planners, and you can see how your location is important for your career.We found that California is the best state for senior planner jobs, whereas Arkansas is the worst.
10 best states for senior planners in 2026
1. California
Total senior planner jobs: 1,181 Average annual salary: $107,788 Lowest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $169,000 Location Quotient: 1.4
2. New York
Total senior planner jobs: 461 Average annual salary: $88,376 Lowest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $141,000 Location Quotient: 1.25
3. Connecticut
Total senior planner jobs: 133 Average annual salary: $84,041 Lowest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $133,000 Location Quotient: 1.39
4. District of Columbia
Total senior planner jobs: 58 Average annual salary: $88,633 Lowest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $147,000 Location Quotient: 1.2
5. Oregon
Total senior planner jobs: 115 Average annual salary: $97,677 Lowest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $148,000 Location Quotient: 0.96
6. Nevada
Total senior planner jobs: 70 Average annual salary: $78,846 Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $126,000 Location Quotient: 1.16
7. Utah
Total senior planner jobs: 90 Average annual salary: $90,680 Lowest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $142,000 Location Quotient: 0.98
8. Arizona
Total senior planner jobs: 208 Average annual salary: $74,377 Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $117,000 Location Quotient: 1.23
9. Washington
Total senior planner jobs: 167 Average annual salary: $97,413 Lowest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $147,000 Location Quotient: 0.79
10. New Jersey
Total senior planner jobs: 183 Average annual salary: $89,811 Lowest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $144,000 Location Quotient: 0.8
Senior planner jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a senior planner
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a senior planner
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $107,788 | $68,000 | 39,536,653 | 1,181 |
| 2 | New York | $88,376 | $55,000 | 19,849,399 | 461 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $84,041 | $52,000 | 3,588,184 | 133 |
| 4 | District of Columbia | $88,633 | $53,000 | 693,972 | 58 |
| 5 | Oregon | $97,677 | $64,000 | 4,142,776 | 115 |
| 6 | Nevada | $78,846 | $49,000 | 2,998,039 | 70 |
| 7 | Utah | $90,680 | $57,000 | 3,101,833 | 90 |
| 8 | Arizona | $74,377 | $46,000 | 7,016,270 | 208 |
| 9 | Washington | $97,413 | $64,000 | 7,405,743 | 167 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $89,811 | $55,000 | 9,005,644 | 183 |
| 11 | Colorado | $70,339 | $46,000 | 5,607,154 | 229 |
| 12 | Virginia | $73,247 | $43,000 | 8,470,020 | 315 |
| 13 | Massachusetts | $74,090 | $46,000 | 6,859,819 | 265 |
| 14 | Illinois | $68,119 | $44,000 | 12,802,023 | 351 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | $62,707 | $38,000 | 12,805,537 | 365 |
| 16 | Tennessee | $64,767 | $39,000 | 6,715,984 | 150 |
| 17 | Wisconsin | $64,096 | $42,000 | 5,795,483 | 160 |
| 18 | Alabama | $63,562 | $37,000 | 4,874,747 | 106 |
| 19 | Alaska | $66,778 | $52,000 | 739,795 | 26 |
| 20 | West Virginia | $68,784 | $41,000 | 1,815,857 | 14 |
| 21 | Idaho | $67,831 | $44,000 | 1,716,943 | 24 |
| 22 | Maryland | $61,701 | $37,000 | 6,052,177 | 249 |
| 23 | Indiana | $60,349 | $38,000 | 6,666,818 | 173 |
| 24 | Mississippi | $60,504 | $35,000 | 2,984,100 | 60 |
| 25 | Michigan | $60,488 | $38,000 | 9,962,311 | 206 |
| 26 | Texas | $61,391 | $37,000 | 28,304,596 | 502 |
| 27 | Ohio | $60,065 | $37,000 | 11,658,609 | 230 |
| 28 | Montana | $66,057 | $43,000 | 1,050,493 | 6 |
| 29 | Minnesota | $60,052 | $41,000 | 5,576,606 | 197 |
| 30 | Hawaii | $58,167 | $45,000 | 1,427,538 | 43 |
| 31 | New Hampshire | $56,681 | $36,000 | 1,342,795 | 58 |
| 32 | Vermont | $62,989 | $40,000 | 623,657 | 12 |
| 33 | Missouri | $59,820 | $38,000 | 6,113,532 | 124 |
| 34 | North Dakota | $58,021 | $40,000 | 755,393 | 20 |
| 35 | North Carolina | $52,931 | $31,000 | 10,273,419 | 293 |
| 36 | Wyoming | $58,163 | $38,000 | 579,315 | 5 |
| 37 | Delaware | $58,212 | $35,000 | 961,939 | 27 |
| 38 | Georgia | $52,589 | $31,000 | 10,429,379 | 326 |
| 39 | Iowa | $52,815 | $35,000 | 3,145,711 | 105 |
| 40 | Louisiana | $57,927 | $34,000 | 4,684,333 | 36 |
| 41 | Rhode Island | $57,342 | $36,000 | 1,059,639 | 23 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $57,208 | $35,000 | 3,930,864 | 20 |
| 43 | Florida | $54,396 | $33,000 | 20,984,400 | 404 |
| 44 | New Mexico | $55,989 | $34,000 | 2,088,070 | 34 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $50,329 | $29,000 | 5,024,369 | 130 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $49,980 | $30,000 | 4,454,189 | 103 |
| 47 | South Dakota | $54,902 | $37,000 | 869,666 | 6 |
| 48 | Nebraska | $51,204 | $34,000 | 1,920,076 | 48 |
| 49 | Kansas | $52,187 | $34,000 | 2,913,123 | 49 |
| 50 | Maine | $46,587 | $29,000 | 1,335,907 | 26 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $45,538 | $27,000 | 3,004,279 | 50 |
Highest paying states for senior planners
| Rank | State | Avg. Senior Planner Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $107,788 |
| 2 | New York | $88,376 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $84,041 |
| 4 | District of Columbia | $88,633 |
| 5 | Oregon | $97,677 |
| 6 | Nevada | $78,846 |
| 7 | Utah | $90,680 |
| 8 | Arizona | $74,377 |
| 9 | Washington | $97,413 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $89,811 |
| 11 | Colorado | $70,339 |
| 12 | Virginia | $73,247 |
| 13 | Massachusetts | $74,090 |
| 14 | Illinois | $68,119 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | $62,707 |
| 16 | Tennessee | $64,767 |
| 17 | Wisconsin | $64,096 |
| 18 | Alabama | $63,562 |
| 19 | Alaska | $66,778 |
| 20 | West Virginia | $68,784 |
| 21 | Idaho | $67,831 |
| 22 | Maryland | $61,701 |
| 23 | Indiana | $60,349 |
| 24 | Mississippi | $60,504 |
| 25 | Michigan | $60,488 |
| 26 | Texas | $61,391 |
| 27 | Ohio | $60,065 |
| 28 | Montana | $66,057 |
| 29 | Minnesota | $60,052 |
| 30 | Hawaii | $58,167 |
| 31 | New Hampshire | $56,681 |
| 32 | Vermont | $62,989 |
| 33 | Missouri | $59,820 |
| 34 | North Dakota | $58,021 |
| 35 | North Carolina | $52,931 |
| 36 | Wyoming | $58,163 |
| 37 | Delaware | $58,212 |
| 38 | Georgia | $52,589 |
| 39 | Iowa | $52,815 |
| 40 | Louisiana | $57,927 |
| 41 | Rhode Island | $57,342 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $57,208 |
| 43 | Florida | $54,396 |
| 44 | New Mexico | $55,989 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $50,329 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $49,980 |
| 47 | South Dakota | $54,902 |
| 48 | Nebraska | $51,204 |
| 49 | Kansas | $52,187 |
| 50 | Maine | $46,587 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $45,538 |
Expert opinions on the best states for senior planners
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for senior planners to find work opportunities?
Robert von Mahs
Associate Professor and Chair, The New School
The true value of an interdisciplinary course of study is that our graduates are not pigeonholed into very specific, prescribed, professional pathways. Our alumni have gone on to pursue successful careers in urban planning, government, law, non-profit management, social and community activism, historic preservation, environmental advocacy, real estate, journalism, publishing, education, and a range of private sector activities.
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Updated January 8, 2025