City Planner Salary in 2026
Develop land use plans and programs to manage growth in communities.
Median Salary
$78,000
$6,500/mo
Entry Level
$55,000
starting pay
Senior Level
$105,000
experienced
Job Growth
+7%
10-yr outlook
City Planner Overview
Develop land use plans and programs to manage growth in communities.
Education
Master's Degree
Experience
2-5 years
Industry
Government
Total Jobs (US)
40K
5-Year Growth
+5%
Category
Government
Hourly Rate
$37.50/hr
Monthly Pay
$6,500
City Planner Salary Calculator
Adjust your state and experience level to see the estimated City Planner salary in your area.
Mid Career (5-9 yrs)
Estimated City Planner Salary
$88,000
$7,333/month · $3,385/biweekly · $42.31/hr
City Planner Salary Range
Salary distribution from entry-level to top earners in the City Planner field.
Entry-level City Planners earn around $55,000, while the top 10% earn $116,500 or more.
Top Paying States for City Planners
| State | Est. Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|
| California | $92,000 | +$14,000 |
| New York | $90,000 | +$12,000 |
| Washington | $87,000 | +$9,000 |
| Massachusetts | $87,000 | +$9,000 |
| Oregon | $80,000 | +$2,000 |
Top Paying Cities for City Planners
| City | Est. Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $98,000 | +$20,000 |
| New York | $92,000 | +$14,000 |
| Seattle | $89,000 | +$11,000 |
| Boston | $87,000 | +$9,000 |
| Portland | $83,000 | +$5,000 |
Required Skills & Certifications
Key Skills
Certifications
City Planner Career Progression
Typical salary growth path for a City Planner from entry level to expert.
$55,000
0-2 years
$80,000
3-7 years
$105,000
8-14 years
$128,000
15+ years
Related Government Jobs
City Planner Salary FAQ
Methodology & Data Sources — City Planner Salary
How we calculate City Planner salary data: Our figures combine BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for the national salary baseline, adjusted by cost-of-living multipliers from the C2ER Cost of Living Index. State-level estimates use BLS regional wage survey data weighted by occupation employment counts. We calibrate entry/senior/top-level tiers against BLS percentile distributions (P10, P25, P75, P90) for this occupation.
- National median salary: $78,000 — sourced from BLS OEWS for SOC code corresponding to City Planner in the Government sector.
- Entry-level ($55,000) and senior-level ($105,000) figures reflect BLS P25 and P75 percentile wage estimates adjusted for experience.
- Job outlook: +7% projected growth through 2034, from BLS Employment Projections program. Approximately 40K total positions nationwide.
- 5-year salary growth: 5% over the past 5 years, derived from BLS Employment Cost Index for Government sector wages.
- Education requirement: Master's Degree, per BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook entry for this occupation.
- State-level estimates use BLS regional CPI-U data and OEWS metropolitan area wage surveys, normalized to the national median of $78,000.
Authoritative US data sources for City Planner compensation:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — national and metro-area salary data
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook — City Planner job projections, education, and career outlook
- BLS Employment Projections — 10-year occupation growth and decline data
- BLS Employment Cost Index — quarterly compensation trend data for Government
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) — regional inflation for cost-of-living wage adjustments
- IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 summary — 2026 federal tax brackets and standard deductions
Disclaimer: City Planner salary figures are statistical estimates for general guidance. Actual compensation depends on employer, location, negotiation, specific skills (Zoning, GIS, Urban Design), certifications, and industry conditions. Always verify with multiple sources including current job listings, recruiter data, and direct employer offers before making career decisions.
Reviewed by Brazora Monk · Last updated 2026 · BLS data current as of latest OEWS annual release
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