How to hire an urban planner

How to hire an urban planner, step by step

Here's a step-by-step urban planner hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an urban planner job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new urban planner
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does an urban planner do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring an urban planner, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   An urban planner's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, urban planners from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of urban planners and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Urban Planner	Description	Hourly rate
   Urban Planner	Urban and regional planners develop land use plans and programs that help create communities, accommodate population growth, and revitalize physical facilities in towns, cities, counties, and metropolitan areas.	$22-42
   Planning Internship	When it comes to planning an internship, an intern's duties will depend on the directives of supervising staff or a manager. Typically, an intern's responsibilities will revolve around performing clerical tasks such as processing documents, producing reports and presentations, responding to calls and correspondence, and managing schedules... Show more	$12-20
   Urban Design Consultant	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... Show more	$24-37

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • GIS
   • Infrastructure
   • Visualization
   • ArcGIS
   • Sketch
   • Community Development
   • Regional Planning
   • Government Agencies
   • Technical Reports
   • CAD
   • Photoshop
   • Community Planning
   • Development Applications
   • Data Collection

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage all aspects of production plan in direct compliance with MRP and master schedule.
   • Guide production planning activities ranging from developing and revising production schedules, forecasting trends and customer demand, and managing logistics.
   • Coordinate allocation of CDBG funds for community development and maintenance including demolition and asbestos abatement.
   • Assess compliance with NIST and DoD policies and procedures.
   • Prepare conceptual and design lot layouts and site plans using freehand and AutoCAD.
   • Coordinate with the FAA on all obstructions to airspace and for temporary crane waivers.

   More urban planner duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the urban planner job description is a good way to get more applicants. An urban planner salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for an urban planner in South Carolina may be lower than in California, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level urban planner. Additionally, an urban planner with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average urban planner salary

   $65,316yearly

   $31.40 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level urban planner salary

   $47,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 5, 2025

   Average urban planner salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	District of Columbia	$86,764	$42
   2	California	$81,709	$39
   3	Oregon	$73,242	$35
   4	Massachusetts	$72,536	$35
   5	Maryland	$71,199	$34
   6	Washington	$71,124	$34
   7	Colorado	$70,752	$34
   8	Virginia	$69,081	$33
   9	New York	$68,049	$33
   10	Hawaii	$63,211	$30
   11	Ohio	$62,224	$30
   12	Michigan	$60,118	$29
   13	Illinois	$59,750	$29
   14	Texas	$57,485	$28
   15	Missouri	$56,238	$27
   16	Utah	$55,731	$27
   17	North Carolina	$54,982	$26
   18	Georgia	$54,524	$26
   19	Florida	$53,733	$26
   20	New Mexico	$43,412	$21

   Average urban planner salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Mapbox	$95,225	$45.78
   2	City of Detroit	$84,349	$40.55
   3	Jacobs Engineering Group	$78,466	$37.72
   4	Wight & Company	$71,731	$34.49
   5	Harvard University	$70,863	$34.07
   6	Kittelson & Associates	$70,641	$33.96
   7	Elkus Manfredi Arch	$70,324	$33.81
   8	AHBL	$69,997	$33.65	1
   9	Michael Baker	$68,757	$33.06	8
   10	Garver, LLC	$68,387	$32.88	2
   11	NBBJ Design	$68,346	$32.86	18
   12	Perkins Eastman	$68,031	$32.71
   13	Stantec	$67,661	$32.53	62
   14	Skidmore, Owings & Merrill	$67,330	$32.37	1
   15	The Landrum Company, Inc.	$67,302	$32.36
   16	AECOM	$67,123	$32.27	40
   17	Wsp USA Buildings Inc.	$66,987	$32.21	37
   18	IBI Group	$66,919	$32.17
   19	Olsson	$66,857	$32.14	3
   20	Tetra Tech	$66,479	$31.96	4

4. Writing an urban planner job description

   An urban planner job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of an urban planner job description:

   Urban planner job description example

   (2 Vacancies)
   
   The City of Alexandria is located in Northern Virginia and is bordered by the District of Columbia (Potomac River), Arlington and Fairfax counties. With a population of approximately 160,000 and a land area of 15.75 square miles, Alexandria is the seventh largest city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Alexandria has a charming waterfront and is a unique and historic place to live and work. About one-quarter square miles in the City have been designated as a national or local historic district. We proudly embrace our rich history and seize the endless opportunities that lie ahead. If you are interested in working for the vibrant City of Alexandria, we invite qualified candidates to apply for our Urban Planner IIposition.
   
   An Overview
   
   The selected candidate will administer the City of Alexandria's Zoning Ordinance to a wide variety of projects within the Land Use Regulatory Services (LUS) Division, provide technical and administrative support to the Board of Zoning Appeals, and assist with coverage at the Department of Planning & Zoning (P&Z) counter located in the City's Multi-Agency Permit Center to provide customer services to the public. The work is performed under the supervision of the P&Z Zoning Manager and the LUS Division Chief.
   
   As an Urban Planner II, the incumbent will perform journey level professional planning work involving research, analysis, development, presentation or interpretation of concepts and data pertaining to city and urban planning and plan implementation. Also, this Urban Planner II may serve as staff to the Board of Zoning Appeals (Board) providing professional expertise in advising the Board of the fields zoning and land use. Incumbents in this Urban Planner II class, as project leaders, may plan, coordinate, and review the work of other planners and will serve as the Planner of the Day on a rotational basis.
   
   The Ideal Candidate
   
   You should be highly motivated and able to provide analytical assistance on simple-to-moderately complex development review applications by applying knowledge of planning and zoning regulations and policies to actual construction and business projects. The ability to manage competing priorities is critical. You should have extensive experience using strong organizing, communicating and multi-tasking skills and the ability to apply complex regulations and interpret architectural and construction site plans. Experience working with the public and other staff to resolve complex issues is imperative. This Urban Planner II must have a desire to work as part of a team environment and be willing to provide efficient and consistent service to the public. The incumbent will also have knowledge of the plan review process for projects falling within and outside Historic Preservation areas.
   
   The ideal candidate must have good knowledge of current literature and recent developments in the field of public sector planning, knowledge of the principles and practices of public administration, engineering and physical design as applied to city planning. Must be able to analyze and systematically compile technical and statistical information, but not limited to approving and denying project applications when necessary. Must be able to efficiently use scales in the review and analysis of surveys/plats and have experience with Geographic Information System and design software.
   
   The Opportunity
   
   * Administer and interpret applicable state and local codes, ordinances, plans and regulations in the review of various development applications including plats, site plans, building permits, applications for business licenses, special use permits, variance requests, re-zonings, applications for outdoor dining, signs, and certificates of occupancy;
   * Provide customer service to the public daily as Planner of the Day for customers seeking zoning/historic district/planning approval as part of their permit application process;
   * Provide information to the public regarding development regulations;
   * Assist in resolving resident and customer issues;
   * Prepare and present detailed formal and technical working papers, correspondence, and reports on development proposals to government bodies;
   * Write, or assist in writing, a variety of ordinances and regulations relating to development controls;
   * Work with other City staff and professional planners on zoning policy, neighborhood planning, demographics, and development studies and projects;
   * Collaborate with staff to create and document P&Z policies and procedures;
   * Conduct field evaluations and assessments;
   * Review Board of Architectural Review (BAR) cases for zoning compliance;
   * Track P&Z's review and approval of building and trade permits;
   * Attend evening and weekend meetings if necessary; and
   * Other duties as assigned.
   
   About the Department
   
   The Department of Planning and Zoning works closely with communities to carry out the City's Strategic Plan, fostering amenity-rich, service-oriented and equity-balanced neighborhoods; protecting historic and cultural resources; and supporting diverse and creative businesses. In developing neighborhood plans, reviewing development proposals, and promoting economic vitality, we continue our commitment to collaborate with all stakeholder groups to honor the character of each neighborhood and to strengthen and sustain them, and Alexandria as a whole, for now and in the future.
   
   Minimum & Additional Requirements
   
   Four-Year College Degree from an accredited college or university in Regional, or Urban Planning, or a closely related field such as Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Geography, Urban Studies, Public Administration, Physical Sciences, Historic Preservation, or Environmental Studies; three years of experience or Master's degree with 1 year experience; or any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.
   
   Preferred Qualifications
   
   Four-Year College Degree plus four years' experience in planning or Masters' Degree in planning or closely related field plus two years' experience in public sector planning; at least two years' experience working successfully with customers and/or members of the public; worked at least two years in local government; the ability to use scales; the ability to review surveys/plats; demonstrated strong analytical, written and communication skills; and knowledge of the principles and practices of planning at the local level. Certification as a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) or related certification preferred.
   
   Notes
   
   This position requires the successful completion of a pre-employment criminal background check.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find urban planners for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your urban planner job on Zippia to find and recruit urban planner candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with urban planner candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new urban planner

   Once you've found the urban planner candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new urban planner. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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