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Urban design consultant vs planner

The differences between urban design consultants and planners can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both an urban design consultant and a planner. Additionally, an urban design consultant has an average salary of $63,960, which is higher than the $63,161 average annual salary of a planner.

The top three skills for an urban design consultant include GIS, urban design and sketch. The most important skills for a planner are customer service, exceptional client, and logistics.

Urban design consultant vs planner overview

Urban Design ConsultantPlanner
Yearly salary$63,960$63,161
Hourly rate$30.75$30.37
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs41,91815,269
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 56%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Average age4242
Years of experience22

What does an urban design consultant do?

An urban design consultant is in charge of many projects, and so they have to oversee tasks and plan assignments. They are skilled in creating interior design solutions, space planning, sketching, and product selection. They have to analyze information and data gotten from market research studies and censuses. They also have to do presentations and prepare reports.

What does a planner do?

As the name entails, planners assist in creating a broad vision for a community. They conduct research, design, and advanced programs. Some of them focus on a few roles, such as planning transportation, while some will most likely work at different planning types throughout their profession. They develop a plan through data analysis, determine the project's goals or the community, and form a specific vision. They also identify the strategies to help the city realized its goals and vision.

Urban design consultant vs planner salary

Urban design consultants and planners have different pay scales, as shown below.

Urban Design ConsultantPlanner
Average salary$63,960$63,161
Salary rangeBetween $51,000 And $79,000Between $45,000 And $88,000
Highest paying CityWashington, DCSan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateMassachusettsCalifornia
Best paying companyPerkins&WillMeta
Best paying industryTelecommunicationTechnology

Differences between urban design consultant and planner education

There are a few differences between an urban design consultant and a planner in terms of educational background:

Urban Design ConsultantPlanner
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 56%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Most common majorUrban PlanningBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Urban design consultant vs planner demographics

Here are the differences between urban design consultants' and planners' demographics:

Urban Design ConsultantPlanner
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 56.1% Female, 43.9%Male, 54.4% Female, 45.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 4.7% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.4% Asian, 9.3% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%Black or African American, 4.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.7% Asian, 9.6% White, 67.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage13%13%

Differences between urban design consultant and planner duties and responsibilities

Urban design consultant example 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.

Planner example responsibilities.

  • Develop and managing the database for CDBG applicants.
  • Key role in managing and planning projects from sketch to approve plans.
  • Manage creation of replenishment loads (purchase or DRP) that are optimize to minimize logistical costs.
  • Assist with forecasting machines, accessories, and coffee with various departments in order to achieve monthly KPI's.
  • Develop and manage all types of inventory from finish goods, WIP (work in process) to raw material.
  • Manage RFQ process - gather quotations, examine bids with engineering and management, negotiate prices with suppliers and make awards.
  • Show more

Urban design consultant vs planner skills

Common urban design consultant skills
  • GIS, 20%
  • Urban Design, 18%
  • Sketch, 10%
  • Landscape Architecture, 10%
  • CAD, 7%
  • Adobe Photoshop, 5%
Common planner skills
  • Customer Service, 13%
  • Exceptional Client, 8%
  • Logistics, 8%
  • Project Management, 6%
  • Excellent Interpersonal, 4%
  • Strong Analytical, 4%

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