Urban and Regional Planners
SOC 19-3051 • View wages by state
The median annual wage for Urban and Regional Planners is $81,800, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. The mean annual wage is $85,940, and an estimated 42,690 workers are employed in this occupation nationally. Between 2020 and 2023, pay rose +7.7% while consumer prices rose 17.7% — a real change of -8.5% (pay did not keep up with inflation). BLS projects employment will grow 3.4% between 2024 and 2034.
Wage Trend & Inflation Adjustment
How the national median wage for Urban and Regional Planners has moved across BLS OEWS release years, and what each year's wage is worth in 2023 dollars after adjusting for CPI inflation. "Real" change strips out inflation — the truest measure of whether pay is actually rising.
| Year | Median (nominal) | In 2023 $ (real) | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $81,800 | $81,800 | 42,690 |
| 2022 | $79,540 | $82,814 | 39,880 |
| 2021 | $78,500 | $88,272 | 38,940 |
| 2020 | $75,950 | $89,417 | 38,190 |
Nominal change
+7.7%
Inflation (CPI)
+17.7%
Real change
-8.5%
Job Outlook (2024–2034 BLS projection)
The BLS Employment Projections program estimates how each occupation's employment will change over the coming decade, and how many job openings to expect each year (from both growth and the need to replace workers who leave).
Projected Growth
+3.4%
Faster than average
Employment 2024
44,700
Projected 2034
46,200
Annual Openings
3,400
Typical entry-level education: Master's degree.
Highest-Paying Areas (2023)
Where Urban and Regional Planners earn the most, and how each area's median compares to the national median of $81,800. A positive premium means the area pays above the national rate.
| Area | Median Annual | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $123,200 | +50.6% | 200 |
| California | $104,910 | +28.3% | 7,330 |
| Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $97,450 | +19.1% | 80 |
| Nevada | $96,850 | +18.4% | 270 |
| Oregon | $95,160 | +16.3% | 1,330 |
| Washington | $94,510 | +15.5% | 2,590 |
| Connecticut | $94,300 | +15.3% | 390 |
| Kansas nonmetropolitan area | $88,960 | +8.8% | — |
| Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $87,070 | +6.4% | 50 |
| Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area | $87,030 | +6.4% | — |
Wage Distribution (National, 2023)
10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages from BLS OEWS — the full spread, not just an average.
10th Pct
$51,470
25th Pct
$63,830
Median
$81,800
75th Pct
$102,930
90th Pct
$126,120
H-1B Employer Filings
Employer-certified wages from DOL H-1B LCA filings — competitive market benchmark, not approved visas.
| Employer | State | Filings | Median Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| THA Consulting, Inc. | NJ | 2 | $68,000 |
| NAIK CONSULTING GROUP, P.C. | NY | 1 | $80,000 |
| Van Meter Williams Pollack, LLP | CA | 1 | $121,493 |
| ICF Incorporated, LLC | MA | 1 | $72,000 |
| Chinatown Community Land Trust, Inc. | MA | 1 | $63,440 |
| City of New York, Department of City Planning | NY | 1 | $81,943 |
| SAIISHAA MANAGEMENT, LLC | TX | 1 | $54,018 |
| Sarasota Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization | FL | 1 | $55,000 |
| NYCEDC (New York City Economic Development Corporation) | NY | 1 | $102,600 |
| Albuquerque Public Schools | NM | 1 | $72,000 |
| George Washington Regional Commission | VA | 1 | $124,030 |
| HUNGRYPANDA US INC. | CA | 1 | $70,283 |
| SASAKI ASSOCIATES | MA | 1 | $86,890 |
| Hord Coplan Macht, Inc. | MD | 1 | $60,403 |
| Eden Housing Inc. | CA | 1 | $129,302 |
| City of Memphis | TN | 1 | $62,994 |
| Perkins & Will, Inc. | TX | 1 | $56,971 |
| WS International, LLC | TX | 1 | $88,338 |
| RDG Planning & Design, Inc. | NE | 1 | $70,928 |
| The Works Incorporated | TN | 1 | $45,000 |
Source: DOL Office of Foreign Labor Certification, H-1B LCA data.
Related Occupations in Life, Physical & Social Science
Other occupations in the same SOC major group, ranked by national median wage.
All Life, Physical & Social Science occupations →