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Job outlook for transportation planners in the United States
Are transportation planner jobs in demand?
Transportation planner job and salary trends over time
Transportation planner jobs over time
Transportation planner job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,570 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 1,540 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 1,555 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 1,526 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 1,424 | 0.00% |
Average transportation planner salary over time
Transportation planner salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $68,983 | $33.16 | +2.2% |
| 2024 | $67,530 | $32.47 | +1.8% |
| 2023 | $66,349 | $31.90 | +2.2% |
| 2022 | $64,932 | $31.22 | +2.1% |
| 2021 | $63,597 | $30.58 | +2.6% |
Transportation planner jobs by state
Most common states for transportation planners
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 54 | 8% |
| 2 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 47 | 6% |
| 3 | Alaska | 739,795 | 44 | 6% |
| 4 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 259 | 5% |
| 5 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 52 | 5% |
| 6 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 347 | 4% |
| 7 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 298 | 4% |
| 8 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 244 | 4% |
| 9 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 215 | 4% |
| 10 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 137 | 4% |
| 11 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 131 | 4% |
| 12 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 54 | 4% |
| 13 | California | 39,536,653 | 1,099 | 3% |
| 14 | New York | 19,849,399 | 499 | 3% |
| 15 | Michigan | 9,962,311 | 324 | 3% |
| 16 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 203 | 3% |
| 17 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 184 | 3% |
| 18 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 168 | 3% |
| 19 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 130 | 3% |
| 20 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 17 | 3% |
Most common cities for transportation planners
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | State College | 2 | 5% | $60,573 |
| 2 | Rancho Cordova | 2 | 3% | $87,447 |
| 3 | Orlando | 6 | 2% | $60,021 |
| 4 | Cambridge | 2 | 2% | $79,073 |
| 5 | Lakeland | 2 | 2% | $59,959 |
| 6 | Stamford | 2 | 2% | $76,869 |
| 7 | Atlanta | 7 | 1% | $59,091 |
| 8 | Boston | 5 | 1% | $79,108 |
| 9 | Oakland | 3 | 1% | $88,686 |
| 10 | Irvine | 2 | 1% | $81,117 |
| 11 | Tallahassee | 2 | 1% | $61,253 |
| 12 | Los Angeles | 6 | 0% | $81,867 |
| 13 | Denver | 3 | 0% | $69,673 |
| 14 | San Diego | 3 | 0% | $80,140 |
| 15 | Austin | 2 | 0% | $63,241 |
| 16 | Baltimore | 2 | 0% | $73,887 |
| 17 | Dallas | 2 | 0% | $64,051 |
| 18 | Sacramento | 2 | 0% | $87,653 |
| 19 | Seattle | 2 | 0% | $80,597 |
| 20 | Anchorage | 1 | 0% | $73,298 |
Transportation Planner job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of transportation planner experts
What will help Transportation Planners increase their earning potential?
Erica Johnson PhD: As you begin your career, you need to be flexible and intentional when seeking opportunities. You may not get your “dream job” right after graduation, but you should be intentional in what positions you seek to work toward that ultimate goal. Building your resume is crucial. If you cannot find a job in the field, try to get one that is at least tangentially related. For instance, if you want to work in a museum but cannot secure employment at one, see if local historic sites (via the parks service), tourism boards, libraries, or even a bookstore are hiring. You may have entry level positions at first - answering phones or working in a gift shop - but you will still be in the appropriate environment and will likely know about openings at these locations before they are posted. Overall, these positions will provide valuable work experience, and your supervisors will serve as solid references.
What will help Transportation Planners increase their earning potential?
Nancy Fischer: My general advice for people beginning careers in urban studies is to approach your first position in the field as a learning opportunity. Learn the norms of that particular urban sector and how things are done, and also learn about yourself and what you like to do, what you're good at doing, and where you need to build skills in order to get a sense of mastery. Talk with people all over the organization and learn about the different directions you can take your career over the long term.
Dr. Stephen Hartley
Associate Professor of the PracticeUniversity of Notre Dame
Historic Preservation And Conservation
What will help Transportation Planners increase their earning potential?
Dr. Stephen Hartley: The best advice I can offer graduates entering the field is to not be picky about where in the country you want to live. Jobs in certain regions, such as the southeast and around the major metropolitan areas are highly desired, but they are also the most competitive. Other areas of the country can offer tremendous opportunities for recent graduates to build their skills and experience before entering the larger markets.