How Much Does a City Planner Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$89,320
City planners in the U.S. earn a median of $89,320 a year, or $42.94 an hour. Half of city planners earn more than $89,320 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $134,490.
Pay percentiles for city planners
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $28.85 | $60,010 |
| 25th | $34.63 | $72,020 |
| 50th (median) | $42.94 | $89,320 |
| 75th | $52.90 | $110,030 |
| 90th | $64.66 | $134,490 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Urban and Regional Planners (SOC 19-3051). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for city planners
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $137,000 | $65.87 | +53% |
| California | $109,610 | $52.70 | +23% |
| Oregon | $103,070 | $49.55 | +15% |
| Arizona | $102,400 | $49.23 | +15% |
| Colorado | $101,340 | $48.72 | +13% |
| Washington | $100,990 | $48.56 | +13% |
| Nevada | $100,040 | $48.10 | +12% |
| Connecticut | $99,880 | $48.02 | +12% |
| Massachusetts | $99,780 | $47.97 | +12% |
| Minnesota | $97,060 | $46.67 | +9% |
| United States | $89,320 | $42.94 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many city planners are there?
BLS counts about 44,230 city planners employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). These figures cover the BLS occupation “Urban and Regional Planners”. The most jobs are in California (7,460), Washington (3,180) and Florida (2,620).
The mean (average) annual wage is $94,750, higher than the median of $89,320.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $7,443
- Biweekly
- $3,435
- Weekly
- $1,718
- Daily (8 hours)
- $344
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do city planners make an hour?
The median hourly wage for city planners is $42.94. The middle 50% earn between $34.63 and $52.90 an hour.
Which state pays city planners the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median wage for city planners at $137,000, +53% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for city planners?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of city planners earn less than $60,010 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.