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.
Salary distribution (US)
Real salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The p10–p90 spread tells you more than the median alone.
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Law and Government
- Geography
- English Language
- Design
- Sociology and Anthropology
- Transportation
- Building and Construction
- Administration and Management
A day in the life
You start the day reviewing zoning applications and GIS maps, analyzing how a proposed housing development would affect traffic, green space, and neighborhood character. Mid-morning you attend a planning commission hearing where residents voice passionate opinions about a new bike lane, and you present data and recommendations to help elected officials make informed decisions. Afternoons involve site visits to parcels slated for redevelopment, drafting comprehensive plans for future land use, or researching best practices from other cities. The work shapes the physical world people live in, and the reward is driving through a neighborhood you helped redesign and seeing it thrive.
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