We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Finance

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Factors Affect an Urban Planner's Salary?

By Susan Abe
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 7,879
Share

Urban planners — also known as city planners, community planners or regional planners — are responsible for planning, designing and implementing the infrastructure necessary to support a population within a given location. Problem solving is also a significant part of their job descriptions. Among their many responsibilities, city planners design roads, alternative transportation methods and public areas, such as parks, libraries and schools. Unsurprisingly, two-thirds of urban planners are employed by local governmental entities. An urban planner's salary is based upon her education, certifications, experience, employer and specializations she might hold, such as urban design or environmental planning.

In the US, less than 20 colleges offer a bachelor's degree in urban planning. There are more than three times as many universities in the US that offer a master's degree in urban planning, which is the minimum amount of educational preparation required by the vast majority of governmental employers. In most instances, an undergraduate student first obtains her bachelor's degree in a related field such as political science, economics or geography and then enters a master's degree program to study urban planning. A graduate student may pursue a general program or a specialized urban planning education. An urban planner's salary is directly proportional to her amount of education and degree of specialization.

Another factor that influences an urban planner's salary is that of certification. Certification by the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) requires an active membership in the profession's primary organization — the American Planning Association® (APA®) — in addition to a combination of minimums in work experience and education. Certification is thus an indication of professional recognition, experience in the field and educational preparation. As such, it usually has a very positive influence on an urban planner's salary. As emphasized by the AICP prerequisites, an urban planner's salary is also strongly correlated with the experience she has in the field.

An urban planner's salary is also influenced by her employer and whether the organization is public or private in nature. As indicated earlier, local governments employ most urban planners. Local governments, despite being named "local," can vary considerably in geographic and population sizes, and range from a New York City borough to a three-county regional association in Tennessee. An urban planner's salary is positively associated with higher populations of citizens. Most private firms pay higher planner salaries, although the number of positions they offer is much smaller than those of public institutions.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-factors-affect-an-urban-planners-salary.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.