Urban and regional planners
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
Urban and regional planners in the United States earn a median salary of $89,320 per year — about $43 per hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Roughly 45K people work in this occupation nationwide, with projected employment growth of +3%.
AI & Automation Risk
Urban planners perform heavy knowledge work including data analysis, GIS mapping, and report writing, all of which are highly susceptible to AI enhancement and automation. However, the role requires significant physical site inspections and high-stakes interpersonal negotiation with government officials and the public, which provides a buffer against total automation.
Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home
Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.
| City | Local Salary | Cost of Living | Real Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CABEST VALUE | $139,360 | Above avg (110.4) | $126,206 |
| Vallejo, CA | $129,790 | Above avg (108.5) | $119,645 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $136,250 | Above avg (115.6) | $117,850 |
| Salinas, CA | $125,300 | Above avg (109.0) | $114,910 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $123,090 | Above avg (107.8) | $114,201 |
| Napa, CA | $128,530 | Above avg (112.6) | $114,194 |
| Huntsville, AL | $101,500 | Below avg (93.1) | $109,055 |
| Madison, WI | $103,940 | Average (97.3) | $106,839 |
| Redding, CA | $106,920 | Average (100.7) | $106,194 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $109,150 | Above avg (103.2) | $105,786 |
| Greeley, CO | $105,200 | Average (100.2) | $105,015 |
| Reno, NV | $105,900 | Average (101.0) | $104,837 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $101,230 | Below avg (96.9) | $104,429 |
| Rochester, MN | $94,680 | Below avg (90.8) | $104,249 |
| Salem, OR | $107,960 | Above avg (103.6) | $104,159 |