Urban Planner Salary Overview
The Urban Planner is a sought-after profession in the United States with a median annual salary of $81,800. Compensation typically ranges from $48,200 for entry-level positions to $128,400 for experienced professionals in high-demand markets.Salary Range: The typical Urban Planner in the US earns between $48,200 and $128,400 per year, with a median of $81,800.
Urban Planner Salary by Experience
Entry-level urban planners earn around $53,170, while those with 10+ years of experience can earn $110,430 or more.
| Level | Salary | Hourly | Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry | $54,806 | $26/hr | $44,496 |
| Mid | $81,800 | $39/hr | $62,187 |
| Senior | $107,158 | $52/hr | $77,668 |
| Lead | $119,428 | $57/hr | $85,138 |
Urban Planner Salary by State (After Tax)
Gross salary, federal tax, state tax, and estimated take-home pay for a Urban Planner in each US state.
Pay for urban planners varies significantly by state, with coastal and high-cost-of-living areas generally offering higher salaries to offset expenses.
| State | Gross | Federal | State Tax | FICA | Take-Home | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $81,800 | $9,610 | $3,925 | $6,258 | $62,007 | 24.2% |
| Alaska | $81,800 | $9,610 | $0 | $6,258 | $65,932 | 19.4% |
| Arizona | $81,800 | $9,610 | $1,680 | $6,258 | $64,252 | 21.5% |
| Arkansas | $81,800 | $9,610 | $3,373 | $6,258 | $62,559 | 23.5% |
| California | $81,800 | $9,610 | $3,745 | $6,258 | $62,187 | 24.0% |
| Colorado | $81,800 | $9,610 | $2,939 | $6,258 | $62,993 | 23.0% |
| Connecticut | $81,800 | $9,610 | $3,749 | $6,258 | $62,183 | 24.0% |
| Delaware | $81,800 | $9,610 | $4,168 | $6,258 | $61,764 | 24.5% |
| District of Columbia | $81,800 | $9,610 | $4,112 | $6,258 | $61,820 | 24.4% |
| Florida | $81,800 | $9,610 | $0 | $6,258 | $65,932 | 19.4% |
| Georgia | $81,800 | $9,610 | $3,832 | $6,258 | $62,100 | 24.1% |
| Hawaii | $81,800 | $9,610 | $5,821 | $6,258 | $60,112 | 26.5% |
| Idaho | $81,800 | $9,610 | $3,898 | $6,258 | $62,035 | 24.2% |
| Illinois | $81,800 | $9,610 | $3,912 | $6,258 | $62,021 | 24.2% |
| Indiana | $81,800 | $9,610 | $2,495 | $6,258 | $63,437 | 22.4% |
| Iowa | $81,800 | $9,610 | $3,108 | $6,258 | $62,824 | 23.2% |
| Kansas | $81,800 | $9,610 | $4,006 | $6,258 | $61,927 | 24.3% |
| Kentucky | $81,800 | $9,610 | $3,146 | $6,258 | $62,787 | 23.2% |
| Louisiana | $81,800 | $9,610 | $2,895 | $6,258 | $63,037 | 22.9% |
| Maine | $81,800 | $9,610 | $4,311 | $6,258 | $61,621 | 24.7% |
| Maryland | $81,800 | $9,610 | $3,712 | $6,258 | $62,220 | 23.9% |
| Massachusetts | $81,800 | $9,610 | $3,870 | $6,258 | $62,062 | 24.1% |
| Michigan | $81,800 | $9,610 | $3,238 | $6,258 | $62,694 | 23.4% |
| Minnesota | $81,800 | $9,610 | $4,112 | $6,258 | $61,820 | 24.4% |
| Mississippi | $81,800 | $9,610 | $3,266 | $6,258 | $62,666 | 23.4% |
| Missouri | $81,800 | $9,610 | $3,055 | $6,258 | $62,877 | 23.1% |
| Montana | $81,800 | $9,610 | $3,719 | $6,258 | $62,214 | 23.9% |
| Nebraska | $81,800 | $9,610 | $3,257 | $6,258 | $62,676 | 23.4% |
| Nevada | $81,800 | $9,610 | $0 | $6,258 | $65,932 | 19.4% |
| New Hampshire | $81,800 | $9,610 | $0 | $6,258 | $65,932 | 19.4% |
| New Jersey | $81,800 | $9,610 | $3,084 | $6,258 | $62,848 | 23.2% |
| New Mexico | $81,800 | $9,610 | $3,013 | $6,258 | $62,919 | 23.1% |
| New York | $81,800 | $9,610 | $4,104 | $6,258 | $61,829 | 24.4% |
| North Carolina | $81,800 | $9,610 | $3,107 | $6,258 | $62,825 | 23.2% |
| North Dakota | $81,800 | $9,610 | $1,310 | $6,258 | $64,622 | 21.0% |
| Ohio | $81,800 | $9,610 | $1,530 | $6,258 | $64,402 | 21.3% |
| Oklahoma | $81,800 | $9,610 | $3,395 | $6,258 | $62,537 | 23.5% |
| Oregon | $81,800 | $9,610 | $6,632 | $6,258 | $59,300 | 27.5% |
| Pennsylvania | $81,800 | $9,610 | $2,511 | $6,258 | $63,421 | 22.5% |
| Rhode Island | $81,800 | $9,610 | $2,672 | $6,258 | $63,260 | 22.7% |
| South Carolina | $81,800 | $9,610 | $3,608 | $6,258 | $62,325 | 23.8% |
| South Dakota | $81,800 | $9,610 | $0 | $6,258 | $65,932 | 19.4% |
| Tennessee | $81,800 | $9,610 | $0 | $6,258 | $65,932 | 19.4% |
| Texas | $81,800 | $9,610 | $0 | $6,258 | $65,932 | 19.4% |
| Utah | $81,800 | $9,610 | $3,804 | $6,258 | $62,129 | 24.0% |
| Vermont | $81,800 | $9,610 | $3,458 | $6,258 | $62,474 | 23.6% |
| Virginia | $81,800 | $9,610 | $4,187 | $6,258 | $61,745 | 24.5% |
| Washington | $81,800 | $9,610 | $0 | $6,258 | $65,932 | 19.4% |
| West Virginia | $81,800 | $9,610 | $3,300 | $6,258 | $62,633 | 23.4% |
| Wisconsin | $81,800 | $9,610 | $3,248 | $6,258 | $62,685 | 23.4% |
| Wyoming | $81,800 | $9,610 | $0 | $6,258 | $65,932 | 19.4% |
Top Cities for Urban Planner Pay
The highest-paying metro areas for urban planners tend to be major metropolitan centers with strong industry demand and higher costs of living.
| City | Avg Salary |
|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $89,980 |
| Washington, DC | $89,980 |
| New York, NY | $89,980 |
| Seattle, WA | $89,980 |
| San Francisco, CA | $89,980 |
Calculate Urban Planner Take-Home Pay
Adjust the state and filing status to see your estimated after-tax income.
Estimated Take-Home Pay
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Tax Breakdown
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Pay Frequency Breakdown
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How to Become a Urban Planner
Becoming a urban planner typically requires relevant education, training, or certification in the field. Many employers also value practical experience, professional development, and industry-specific credentials.Urban Planner Career Outlook
Employment of urban planners is projected to grow steadily over the next decade, driven by continued demand across industries. Professionals who stay current with evolving requirements and build specialized expertise will find the strongest job prospects.Urban Planner Salary FAQ
The median annual salary for urban planners in the US is $81,800, with a typical range from $48,200 to $128,400 depending on experience and location.
The highest-paying states for urban planners include CA, DC, NY. These states typically have strong demand and higher costs of living.
Entry-level urban planners can expect to earn around $53,170 per year, with salary increasing as they gain experience and expertise.
Being a urban planner can be a rewarding career with solid compensation and growth potential. Job outlook is generally positive across most regions.
The median hourly rate for urban planners is approximately $39.33, though this varies based on experience, location, and employer.