Best cities for a transportation planner
The best cities for transportation planners are Oakland, CA, Henderson, NV, and Lexington, KY, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for transportation planners vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for transportation planners in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a transportation planner or considering a move, this list of the best cities for transportation planners to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for transportation planners. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a transportation planner. While the absolute best city for transportation planners is Oakland, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for transportation planners in 2024.
If you're looking for a transportation planner job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for transportation planners in 2026
1. Oakland, CA
Total transportation planner jobs: 27 Average annual salary: $88,686 Lowest 10 percent warn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $123,000 Location quotient: 18.97 2. Henderson, NV
Total transportation planner jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $74,632 Lowest 10 percent warn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $102,000 Location quotient: 4.84 3. Lexington, KY
Total transportation planner jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $71,766 Lowest 10 percent warn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Location quotient: 3.24 4. Seattle, WA
Total transportation planner jobs: 49 Average annual salary: $80,597 Lowest 10 percent warn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $107,000 Location quotient: 3.90 5. San Francisco, CA
Total transportation planner jobs: 48 Average annual salary: $88,882 Lowest 10 percent warn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $123,000 Location quotient: 3.22 6. Sacramento, CA
Total transportation planner jobs: 13 Average annual salary: $87,653 Lowest 10 percent warn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $121,000 Location quotient: 4.19 7. Las Vegas, NV
Total transportation planner jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $74,866 Lowest 10 percent warn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $102,000 Location quotient: 2.00 8. Reno, NV
Total transportation planner jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $78,604 Lowest 10 percent warn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $108,000 Location quotient: 1.78 9. Anchorage, AK
Total transportation planner jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $73,298 Lowest 10 percent warn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $88,000 Location quotient: 5.30 10. Saint Paul, MN
Total transportation planner jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $74,242 Lowest 10 percent warn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location quotient: 2.80
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Best cities for transportation planners
- Oakland, CA
- Henderson, NV
- Lexington, KY
- Seattle, WA
- San Francisco, CA
- Sacramento, CA
- Las Vegas, NV
- Reno, NV
- Anchorage, AK
- Saint Paul, MN
- (27 transportation planner jobs)
- (2 transportation planner jobs)
- (3 transportation planner jobs)
- (49 transportation planner jobs)
- (48 transportation planner jobs)
- (13 transportation planner jobs)
- (7 transportation planner jobs)
- (2 transportation planner jobs)
- (4 transportation planner jobs)
- (8 transportation planner jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a transportation planner
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oakland, CA | $88,686 | $63,000 | 420,005 | 27 |
| 2 | Henderson, NV | $74,632 | $54,000 | 292,969 | 2 |
| 3 | Lexington, KY | $71,766 | $52,000 | 318,449 | 3 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $80,597 | $60,000 | 704,352 | 49 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $88,882 | $63,000 | 870,887 | 48 |
| 6 | Sacramento, CA | $87,653 | $63,000 | 495,234 | 13 |
| 7 | Las Vegas, NV | $74,866 | $54,000 | 632,912 | 7 |
| 8 | Reno, NV | $78,604 | $57,000 | 245,255 | 2 |
| 9 | Anchorage, AK | $73,298 | $60,000 | 298,192 | 4 |
| 10 | Saint Paul, MN | $74,242 | $56,000 | 302,398 | 8 |
| 11 | Minneapolis, MN | $74,221 | $56,000 | 413,651 | 16 |
| 12 | Riverside, CA | $81,126 | $58,000 | 324,722 | 17 |
| 13 | Newark, NJ | $75,998 | $55,000 | 281,764 | 11 |
| 14 | Santa Ana, CA | $81,233 | $58,000 | 334,217 | 7 |
| 15 | Los Angeles, CA | $81,867 | $59,000 | 3,976,322 | 55 |
| 16 | Madison, WI | $69,444 | $51,000 | 252,551 | 4 |
| 17 | San Jose, CA | $88,285 | $63,000 | 1,025,350 | 18 |
| 18 | Stockton, CA | $87,734 | $63,000 | 307,072 | 1 |
| 19 | Long Beach, CA | $81,446 | $59,000 | 470,130 | 3 |
| 20 | Irvine, CA | $81,117 | $58,000 | 266,122 | 15 |
| 21 | Washington, DC | $92,341 | $67,000 | 681,170 | 12 |
| 22 | Arlington, TX | $64,075 | $46,000 | 392,772 | 9 |
| 23 | Detroit, MI | $62,849 | $46,000 | 672,795 | 8 |
| 24 | New Orleans, LA | $68,756 | $47,000 | 391,495 | 2 |
| 25 | Boston, MA | $79,108 | $57,000 | 673,184 | 14 |
| 26 | Wichita, KS | $72,052 | $53,000 | 389,902 | 1 |
| 27 | Memphis, TN | $60,104 | $44,000 | 652,717 | 8 |
| 28 | Louisville, KY | $71,475 | $52,000 | 597,337 | 1 |
| 29 | Phoenix, AZ | $66,976 | $48,000 | 1,615,017 | 18 |
| 30 | New York, NY | $77,163 | $56,000 | 8,537,673 | 62 |
| 31 | Portland, OR | $73,879 | $55,000 | 639,863 | 6 |
| 32 | Milwaukee, WI | $69,713 | $51,000 | 595,047 | 1 |
| 33 | North Las Vegas, NV | $74,759 | $54,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 34 | Raleigh, NC | $62,971 | $45,000 | 458,880 | 19 |
| 35 | Lincoln, NE | $61,808 | $46,000 | 280,364 | 9 |
| 36 | Fremont, CA | $88,427 | $63,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 37 | Austin, TX | $63,241 | $44,000 | 947,890 | 31 |
| 38 | Durham, NC | $63,022 | $45,000 | 263,016 | 5 |
| 39 | San Diego, CA | $80,140 | $58,000 | 1,406,630 | 13 |
| 40 | El Paso, TX | $65,038 | $46,000 | 683,080 | 1 |
| 41 | Brookhaven, NY | $77,354 | $56,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 42 | Buffalo, NY | $75,723 | $55,000 | 256,902 | 2 |
| 43 | Fresno, CA | $86,007 | $61,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 44 | Bakersfield, CA | $84,041 | $60,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 45 | Islip, NY | $77,301 | $56,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 46 | Nashville, TN | $60,542 | $44,000 | 660,388 | 2 |
| 47 | Oyster Bay, NY | $77,243 | $56,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 48 | Hempstead, NY | $77,221 | $56,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 49 | Jersey City, NJ | $76,017 | $55,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 50 | Dallas, TX | $64,051 | $46,000 | 1,317,929 | 11 |
Highest paying cities for transportation planners
| Rank | City | Avg. transportation planner salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $92,341 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $88,882 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $80,597 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $79,108 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $77,163 |
| 6 | Wethersfield, CT | $77,029 |
| 7 | Newark, NJ | $75,998 |
| 8 | Newark, DE | $75,030 |
| 9 | Las Vegas, NV | $74,866 |
| 10 | Saint Paul, MN | $74,242 |
| 11 | Baltimore, MD | $73,887 |
| 12 | Arlington, VA | $71,183 |
| 13 | Denver, CO | $69,673 |
| 14 | Baton Rouge, LA | $69,119 |
| 15 | Phoenix, AZ | $66,976 |
| 16 | Arlington, TX | $64,075 |
| 17 | Chicago, IL | $63,833 |
| 18 | Raleigh, NC | $62,971 |
| 19 | Ames, IA | $62,572 |
| 20 | Lansing, MI | $62,530 |
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Updated January 8, 2025