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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
The gap between the highest and lowest-paying cities is striking. The national median salary for Urban/Regional Planners in 2026 is $94,275, with entry-level positions averaging $67,878 and senior roles reaching $133,871. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Sunnyvale pays a median of $171,720, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
Positioned in Science within the broader Science & Research industry, Urban/Regional Planners typically hold Master's in planning. The employment landscape is shaped by growing, and the day-to-day is hybrid. Those factors — education investment, demand trajectory, and work structure — all feed into the salary numbers below.
$104,490 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Urban/Regional Planner in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $171,720 — $104,490 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($67,230). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. For early-career professionals, the geographic pay premium is worth the math.
The three-tier salary picture for Urban/Regional Planners in 2026: $67,878 at entry (P10), $94,275 at midpoint, and $133,871 at the senior end (P90). The demand picture adds context to these salary numbers. The $65,993 range from bottom to top isn't just experience — it's geography, specialization, and industry mixed together. The median itself lands $13,908 above the national median household income of $80,367.
The pay gap between the top and bottom markets is dramatic: $160,380 (average of the top 3 cities) versus $67,770 (average of the bottom 3). That $92,610 delta is real money — $7,718/month before taxes. But the highest-paying cities tend to be the most expensive. The cost-adjusted comparison below tells the more important story.
A Urban/Regional Planner in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $171,720 — $104,490 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($67,230). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Urban/Regional Planner is $67,878, while senior-level (P90) earners average $133,871. That $65,993 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
At the 90th percentile, Urban/Regional Planners pull in an average of $133,871. In the top-paying markets, that figure climbs even higher — making this one of the more lucrative career trajectories in its field.
Even at the 10th percentile, Urban/Regional Planners average $67,878 nationally. That's a higher starting floor than many careers' median — a signal of strong baseline demand and compensation.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $67,878 | $94,275 | $133,871 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £36,630 | £50,875 | £72,243 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$52,137 | CA$72,413 | CA$102,826 |
| Australia | 13 | A$59,822 | A$83,087 | A$117,983 |
| Sweden | 24 | 372,771 kr | 517,738 kr | 735,188 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $81,925 | $113,785 | $161,575 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $79,170 | $109,958 | $156,140 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $78,732 | $109,350 | $155,277 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $72,900 | $101,250 | $143,775 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $72,025 | $100,035 | $142,050 |
| Washington | 8 | $70,640 | $98,111 | $139,318 |
| New York | 5 | $66,485 | $92,340 | $131,123 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $66,485 | $92,340 | $131,123 |
| Florida | 22 | $65,981 | $91,640 | $130,129 |
| Colorado | 11 | $64,841 | $90,057 | $127,881 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $64,735 | $89,910 | $127,672 |
| Nevada | 5 | $64,619 | $89,748 | $127,442 |
| Arizona | 12 | $64,298 | $89,303 | $126,810 |
| Oregon | 5 | $64,152 | $89,100 | $126,522 |
| Idaho | 3 | $63,958 | $88,830 | $126,139 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $63,452 | $88,128 | $125,142 |
| Utah | 4 | $63,277 | $87,885 | $124,797 |
| Virginia | 7 | $62,236 | $86,439 | $122,743 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $61,430 | $85,320 | $121,154 |
| Alaska | 1 | $61,236 | $85,050 | $120,771 |
| Illinois | 5 | $60,536 | $84,078 | $119,391 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $59,033 | $81,990 | $116,426 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $58,320 | $81,000 | $115,020 |
| Montana | 1 | $58,320 | $81,000 | $115,020 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $58,126 | $80,730 | $114,637 |
| Texas | 40 | $57,839 | $80,332 | $114,071 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $57,737 | $80,190 | $113,870 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $57,445 | $79,785 | $113,295 |
| Georgia | 6 | $57,251 | $79,515 | $112,911 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $57,154 | $79,380 | $112,720 |
| Kansas | 4 | $56,862 | $78,975 | $112,145 |
| Michigan | 6 | $56,668 | $78,705 | $111,761 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $55,988 | $77,760 | $110,420 |
| Maryland | 1 | $55,987 | $77,760 | $110,419 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $55,404 | $76,950 | $109,269 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $55,404 | $76,950 | $109,269 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $53,946 | $74,925 | $106,394 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $53,654 | $74,520 | $105,818 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $52,925 | $73,508 | $104,381 |
| Missouri | 4 | $52,926 | $73,508 | $104,381 |
| Alabama | 5 | $52,721 | $73,224 | $103,978 |
| Indiana | 3 | $51,905 | $72,090 | $102,368 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $51,905 | $72,090 | $102,368 |
| Iowa | 2 | $51,322 | $71,280 | $101,218 |
| Ohio | 6 | $51,225 | $71,145 | $101,026 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $48,989 | $68,040 | $96,617 |
Geography shapes Urban/Regional Planner pay in predictable and not-so-predictable ways. California tops the state leaderboard at $113,785 median, with 61 cities providing data. Massachusetts and Hawaii follow. On the flip side, Mississippi and Ohio anchor the bottom — reflecting lower local cost structures and smaller metro premiums.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($171,720 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $81,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $171,720 | 212 | $81,000 | $101,489 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $160,380 | 198 | $81,000 | $95,247 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $149,040 | 184 | $81,000 | $89,004 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $146,610 | 181 | $81,000 | $87,666 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $144,180 | 178 | $81,000 | $86,329 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $143,370 | 177 | $81,000 | $85,883 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $143,370 | 177 | $81,000 | $85,883 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $140,130 | 173 | $81,000 | $84,099 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $140,130 | 173 | $81,000 | $84,099 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $136,890 | 169 | $81,000 | $82,315 |
The $65,993 gap between P10 and P90 represents the earning trajectory of a Urban/Regional Planner career. Senior-level earners make 2.0× what entry-level professionals do — a solid progression that justifies the upfront investment. In the Science & Research sector, growing, which shapes both starting salaries and long-term ceiling.
The weighted national median salary for Urban/Regional Planners is $94,275 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $67,878, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $133,871.
The highest-paying city for Urban/Regional Planners is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $171,720. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($171,720), Santa Clara ($160,380), Irvine ($149,040). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Urban/Regional Planner salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $67,230. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Urban/Regional Planners (10th percentile) average $67,878 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $123,638. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Urban/Regional Planners average $133,871 nationally — $65,993 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Urban/Regional Planners can earn up to $243,842.
The top-paying states for Urban/Regional Planners are California ($113,785 median), Massachusetts ($109,958 median), Hawaii ($109,350 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Urban/Regional Planner involves Master's in planning. The field is in the Science & Research sector (Science), and the career outlook is growing. Work style is typically hybrid.
With a national median of $94,275 and representation across 288 metro areas, Urban/Regional Planner offers above-average earning potential compared to national household income. The $65,993 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: growing.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.