How To Become An Urban Design Consultant: What It Is and Career Path

What is an urban design consultant and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted expert

Alec Brownlow Ph.D.

An urban design consultant is an individual that organizations employ to offer insights on urban design processes. They collaborate with landscapers, architects, and civil engineers to create impressive designs. Also, they liaise with senior staff members and clients to ensure projects are delivered on time and within budget. Urban design consultants earn $60,861 a year on average, which is about $29.26 per hour. Generally, their salary is between $50,000 and $72,000 annually. This means that those on the top of the ladder earn about $72,000 while those below earn $50,000.

When searching for a job as an urban design consultant, you must have a degree or certification in urban design. You must also have practical experience in a consultancy role. Essential in architecture or landscape architecture might prove beneficial. Urban design consultant must possess communication, leadership, analytical, creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills. They must also pay attention to details.

What general advice would you give to an urban design consultant?

Alec Brownlow Ph.D.

Associate Professor and Director, Graduate Program in Sustainable Urban Development, De Paul College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences

My advice is, first, do not despair ... cities are going nowhere; nor are the professions associated with them (planning, governance, etc.). Cities still offer what other residential geographies (suburban, exurban, rural) do not and cannot - density, proximity, community, diversity, etc. These are still desirable elements in our assessment of the quality of life. However, as the COVID pandemic has demonstrated, some of these very qualities are now being looked at through a new lens; density, for example, is now a source of concern and vulnerability. Public transportation is being eyed as potential 'hot spots' of disease spread. There will be a 'new normal' in the entertainment landscape of restaurants, bars, clubs, museums, etc. Indoor venues are being eyed with suspicion, while outdoor venues are a potential growth pole. With all of this to consider - along with the fact that the old entrenched injustices and inequalities that have been part and parcel to the American city since its beginning 250 years ago are now, in the wake of George Floyd killing, spilling into the streets and garnering the unprecedented attention and participation of white people and communities - this is arguably a tipping point moment in the field of Urban Studies. Cities are going to change; cities must change; they are being demanded by people who live in cities where they change. The combined disciplines that constitute Urban Studies will be at the fore of reconsidering, reformulating, reenvisioning what cities will look like, what city planners, institutions, and political leaders must do, to ensure the viability of a safe, secure, and just urban landscape.

ScoreUrban Design ConsultantUS Average

Salary

5.0

Avg. Salary $63,960

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.1

Growth rate 4%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

5.0

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.94%

Asian 9.33%

Black or African American 4.69%

Hispanic or Latino 12.42%

Unknown 5.43%

White 67.20%

Gender

female 43.87%

male 56.13%

Age - 42

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 42

Stress level

7.1

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

10.0

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

5.3

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become an urban design consultant

Explore urban design consultant education requirements

Most common urban design consultant degrees

Bachelor's

55.9 %

Master's

41.3 %

Certificate

0.7 %

Start to develop specific urban design consultant skills

Skills	Percentages
GIS	20.08%
Urban Design	18.11%
Sketch	10.28%
Landscape Architecture	9.84%
CAD	6.73%

Research urban design consultant duties and responsibilities

Manage the website and twitter page, write the blog posts and attend numerous fashion shows and sample sale rooms.
Research previous transportation studies and offer recommendations to improve roadway and corridor design as well as ways to mitigate regulatory delays.
Research previous transportation studies and offer recommendations to improve roadway and corridor design as well as ways to mitigate regulatory delays.

Prepare your urban design consultant resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your urban design consultant resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an urban design consultant resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable urban design consultant resume templates

Build a professional urban design consultant resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your urban design consultant resume.