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Urban and Regional Planners
Develop comprehensive plans and programs for use of land and physical facilities of jurisdictions, such as towns, cities, counties, and metropolitan areas.
Other titles employers use
City Planner · Community Development Planner · Community Planner · Development Technician · Housing Development Specialist · Neighborhood Planner · Planner · Planning Consultant
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- Design, promote, or administer government plans or policies affecting land use, zoning, public utilities, community facilities, housing, or transportation.
- Advise planning officials on project feasibility, cost-effectiveness, regulatory conformance, or possible alternatives.
- Create, prepare, or requisition graphic or narrative reports on land use data, including land area maps overlaid with geographic variables, such as population density.
- Hold public meetings with government officials, social scientists, lawyers, developers, the public, or special interest groups to formulate, develop, or address issues regarding land use or community plans.
- Mediate community disputes or assist in developing alternative plans or recommendations for programs or projects.
- Recommend approval, denial, or conditional approval of proposals.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to analytical, persuading and organizing work.
- Analytical
- Investigating questions, testing ideas, and solving problems
- Persuading
- Leading, selling, starting projects, or making a case
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Systems Analysis
Subjects to know
- Law and Government
- English Language
- Geography
- Transportation
- Communications and Media
Useful strengths
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Written Comprehension
- Written Expression
- Problem Sensitivity
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 2.8 | Largely your own space |
| On your feet | 2.0 | Mostly seated |
| Talking face to face | 4.9 | Continuous — the job is conversations |
| Working with your hands | 1.4 | Little of the day |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a master's degree. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- A master's degree 56%
- A four-year degree 40%
- A doctorate or professional degree 4%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Computer aided design CAD software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Graphics or photo imaging software
- Document management software
- Geographic information system
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software
- Electronic mail software
- Desktop publishing software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 7,900
- Job openings each year
- 640
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 3.9%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 7,900 | 640 | 3.9% |
| Washington | 3,180 | 300 | 12.0% |
| Florida | 3,140 | 260 | 10.6% |
| Texas | 2,240 | 190 | 12.6% |
| New York | 1,820 | 30 | 19.7% |
| North Carolina | 1,760 | 150 | 13.5% |
| Colorado | 1,750 | 150 | 18.2% |
| Virginia | 1,340 | 110 | 5.5% |
| Pennsylvania | 1,320 | 110 | 3.9% |
| Oregon | 1,290 | 110 | 14.2% |
| Michigan | 1,240 | 100 | — |
| Georgia | 1,190 | 100 | 10.2% |
| Minnesota | 1,140 | 90 | 4.6% |
| Illinois | 1,020 | 80 | 4.1% |
| Maryland | 870 | 70 | 8.8% |
| Oklahoma | 870 | 70 | 4.8% |
| Ohio | 860 | 70 | 2.4% |
| New Jersey | 760 | 60 | 1.3% |
| Arizona | 750 | 60 | 5.6% |
| Massachusetts | 680 | 60 | 6.3% |
| Utah | 600 | 50 | 20.0% |
| Wisconsin | 590 | 50 | 1.7% |
| Alabama | 490 | 40 | 4.3% |
| Indiana | 480 | 40 | 4.3% |
| Delaware | 460 | 40 | 2.2% |
| South Carolina | 460 | 40 | 9.5% |
| Louisiana | 450 | 40 | 7.1% |
| New Mexico | 450 | 40 | 12.5% |
| Missouri | 430 | 30 | 7.5% |
| Connecticut | 400 | 30 | 11.1% |
| Idaho | 360 | 30 | 5.9% |
| Tennessee | 350 | 30 | 12.9% |
| Iowa | 320 | 30 | 10.3% |
| New Hampshire | 320 | 30 | 6.7% |
| Kansas | 290 | 20 | 7.4% |
| Kentucky | 280 | 20 | 3.7% |
| Nebraska | 270 | 20 | 3.8% |
| District of Columbia | 250 | 20 | 4.2% |
| Rhode Island | 250 | 20 | 4.2% |
| Montana | 240 | 20 | 14.3% |
| Nevada | 240 | 20 | 9.1% |
| Vermont | 200 | 20 | 11.1% |
| Maine | 190 | 20 | — |
| Arkansas | 180 | 20 | 20.0% |
| South Dakota | 180 | 10 | 5.9% |
| Alaska | 170 | 10 | 6.3% |
| Mississippi | 160 | 10 | 14.3% |
| West Virginia | 160 | 10 | 6.7% |
| North Dakota | 130 | 10 | 8.3% |
| Wyoming | 120 | 10 | 9.1% |
| Puerto Rico | 90 | 10 | 12.5% |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
Indiana University-Bloomington
- Degrees each year
- 420
- Admit rate
- 80%
- Annual cost after aid
- $12,000
Ohio State University-Main Campus
- Degrees each year
- 154
- Admit rate
- 51%
- Annual cost after aid
- $10,000
Florida International University
- Degrees each year
- 144
- Admit rate
- 59%
- Annual cost after aid
- $11,000
University of Arizona
- Degrees each year
- 131
- Admit rate
- 86%
- Annual cost after aid
- $16,000
University of Colorado Boulder
- Degrees each year
- 129
- Admit rate
- 83%
- Annual cost after aid
- $19,000
Western Carolina University
- Degrees each year
- 120
- Admit rate
- 87%
- Annual cost after aid
- $13,000
University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Degrees each year
- 119
- Admit rate
- 43%
- Annual cost after aid
- $8,000
University of Florida
- Degrees each year
- 114
- Admit rate
- 24%
- Annual cost after aid
- $7,000
Compare every college offering city/urban, community, and regional planning