Best cities for an urban planner
The best cities for urban planners are Oakland, CA, San Francisco, CA, and Sacramento, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for urban planners vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for urban planners in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as an urban planner or considering a move, this list of the best cities for urban planners to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for urban planners. We also consider how easy it is to find work as an urban planner. While the absolute best city for urban planners is Oakland, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for urban planners in 2024.
If you're looking for an urban planner job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for urban planners in 2025
1. Oakland, CA
Total urban planner jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $81,559 Lowest 10 percent warn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $119,000 Location quotient: 9.55 2. San Francisco, CA
Total urban planner jobs: 36 Average annual salary: $81,709 Lowest 10 percent warn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $119,000 Location quotient: 5.48 3. Sacramento, CA
Total urban planner jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $80,789 Lowest 10 percent warn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $117,000 Location quotient: 5.84 4. Washington, DC
Total urban planner jobs: 16 Average annual salary: $86,764 Lowest 10 percent warn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $123,000 Location quotient: 4.23 5. Los Angeles, CA
Total urban planner jobs: 41 Average annual salary: $75,463 Lowest 10 percent warn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $108,000 Location quotient: 7.28 6. Long Beach, CA
Total urban planner jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $75,050 Lowest 10 percent warn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $107,000 Location quotient: 9.97 7. Denver, CO
Total urban planner jobs: 24 Average annual salary: $70,752 Lowest 10 percent warn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Location quotient: 4.32 8. Anchorage, AK
Total urban planner jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $68,292 Lowest 10 percent warn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Location quotient: 6.01 9. Santa Ana, CA
Total urban planner jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $74,830 Lowest 10 percent warn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $107,000 Location quotient: 6.10 10. Cincinnati, OH
Total urban planner jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $61,160 Lowest 10 percent warn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Location quotient: 2.82
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Best cities for urban planners
- Oakland, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- Sacramento, CA
- Washington, DC
- Los Angeles, CA
- Long Beach, CA
- Denver, CO
- Anchorage, AK
- Santa Ana, CA
- Cincinnati, OH
- (6 urban planner jobs)
- (36 urban planner jobs)
- (8 urban planner jobs)
- (16 urban planner jobs)
- (41 urban planner jobs)
- (4 urban planner jobs)
- (24 urban planner jobs)
- (2 urban planner jobs)
- (2 urban planner jobs)
- (4 urban planner jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for an urban planner
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oakland, CA | $81,559 | $55,000 | 420,005 | 6 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $81,709 | $55,000 | 870,887 | 36 |
| 3 | Sacramento, CA | $80,789 | $55,000 | 495,234 | 8 |
| 4 | Washington, DC | $86,764 | $60,000 | 681,170 | 16 |
| 5 | Los Angeles, CA | $75,463 | $52,000 | 3,976,322 | 41 |
| 6 | Long Beach, CA | $75,050 | $52,000 | 470,130 | 4 |
| 7 | Denver, CO | $70,752 | $52,000 | 693,060 | 24 |
| 8 | Anchorage, AK | $68,292 | $58,000 | 298,192 | 2 |
| 9 | Santa Ana, CA | $74,830 | $52,000 | 334,217 | 2 |
| 10 | Cincinnati, OH | $61,160 | $43,000 | 298,800 | 4 |
| 11 | Detroit, MI | $60,118 | $43,000 | 672,795 | 7 |
| 12 | Portland, OR | $73,242 | $54,000 | 639,863 | 4 |
| 13 | Las Vegas, NV | $70,713 | $49,000 | 632,912 | 1 |
| 14 | Riverside, CA | $74,712 | $52,000 | 324,722 | 2 |
| 15 | Reno, NV | $73,998 | $51,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 16 | North Las Vegas, NV | $70,595 | $49,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 17 | Henderson, NV | $70,452 | $49,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 18 | Wichita, KS | $65,879 | $47,000 | 389,902 | - |
| 19 | Irvine, CA | $74,709 | $52,000 | 266,122 | 7 |
| 20 | Boston, MA | $72,536 | $51,000 | 673,184 | 10 |
| 21 | Cleveland, OH | $63,088 | $45,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 22 | Columbus, OH | $62,224 | $44,000 | 860,090 | 2 |
| 23 | Philadelphia, PA | $64,624 | $45,000 | 1,567,872 | 2 |
| 24 | Toledo, OH | $62,518 | $44,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 25 | Fremont, CA | $81,367 | $55,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 26 | Baltimore, MD | $71,199 | $50,000 | 614,664 | 11 |
| 27 | San Jose, CA | $81,274 | $55,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 28 | Seattle, WA | $71,124 | $53,000 | 704,352 | 8 |
| 29 | Stockton, CA | $80,867 | $55,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 30 | Virginia Beach, VA | $68,261 | $47,000 | 452,602 | 1 |
| 31 | Pittsburgh, PA | $63,450 | $44,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 32 | Nashville, TN | $55,153 | $38,000 | 660,388 | 5 |
| 33 | Colorado Springs, CO | $70,836 | $52,000 | 465,101 | - |
| 34 | Aurora, CO | $70,736 | $52,000 | 361,710 | - |
| 35 | Fresno, CA | $79,535 | $54,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 36 | New Orleans, LA | $63,285 | $41,000 | 391,495 | - |
| 37 | New York, NY | $68,049 | $48,000 | 8,537,673 | 76 |
| 38 | Lexington, KY | $57,803 | $40,000 | 318,449 | - |
| 39 | Bakersfield, CA | $77,658 | $53,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 40 | Louisville, KY | $57,502 | $40,000 | 597,337 | - |
| 41 | Anaheim, CA | $74,944 | $52,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 42 | Norfolk, VA | $68,196 | $47,000 | 245,115 | - |
| 43 | Austin, TX | $57,485 | $38,000 | 947,890 | 14 |
| 44 | Saint Paul, MN | $62,660 | $46,000 | 302,398 | 1 |
| 45 | Dallas, TX | $57,318 | $39,000 | 1,317,929 | 15 |
| 46 | Chesapeake, VA | $68,072 | $46,000 | 237,940 | - |
| 47 | Raleigh, NC | $56,277 | $38,000 | 458,880 | 6 |
| 48 | Oklahoma City, OK | $57,424 | $41,000 | 638,367 | 1 |
| 49 | Minneapolis, MN | $62,637 | $46,000 | 413,651 | - |
| 50 | San Diego, CA | $73,650 | $51,000 | 1,406,630 | - |
Highest paying cities for urban planners
| Rank | City | Avg. urban planner salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $86,764 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $81,709 |
| 3 | Portland, OR | $73,242 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $72,536 |
| 5 | Baltimore, MD | $71,199 |
| 6 | Seattle, WA | $71,124 |
| 7 | Denver, CO | $70,752 |
| 8 | Arlington, VA | $69,081 |
| 9 | New York, NY | $68,049 |
| 10 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $63,211 |
| 11 | Columbus, OH | $62,224 |
| 12 | Detroit, MI | $60,118 |
| 13 | Chicago, IL | $59,750 |
| 14 | Austin, TX | $57,485 |
| 15 | Saint Louis, MO | $56,238 |
| 16 | Salt Lake City, UT | $55,731 |
| 17 | Asheville, NC | $54,982 |
| 18 | Atlanta, GA | $54,524 |
| 19 | Orlando, FL | $53,733 |
| 20 | Albuquerque, NM | $43,412 |
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Updated January 8, 2025