Transportation Planners
Prepare studies for proposed transportation projects. Gather, compile, and analyze data. Study the use and operation of transportation systems. Develop transportation models or simulations.
Transportation Planners prepare studies for proposed transportation projects. Gather, compile, and analyze data. Study the use and operation of transportation systems. Develop transportation models or simulations. The role reports a median annual salary of $100,340 in the US and is showing modest growth of -2% over the next decade. Entry typically requires a Bachelor's degree, and shows moderate AI exposure (0.55 on a 0-1 scale) — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. The most in-demand skills for the role include Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Complex Problem Solving, Speaking.
Pay in the UK
UK: median £39,899 a year for Social and humanities scientists (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)
UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 2115). ONS rates this estimate acceptable: it rests on a small sample, so treat it as a rough guide. 2025 provisional figures; ONS revises them a year later. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Open Government Licence)
Pay in India (occupation group)
Average monthly earnings of salaried employees in the occupation group “Professionals” in India, from the Government of India's Periodic Labour Force Survey (January–December 2025). It covers everyone in this group, not only Transportation Planners, and it is not US pay converted to rupees.
Source: MoSPI (Government of India), Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2025, Table 51 — average wage/salary earnings of regular wage/salaried employees, NCO-2015 division 2. Official India data gives one average per occupation group: there are no official India figures for single careers, experience levels or cities. Read the report
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Transportation
- English Language
- Mathematics
- Geography
- Law and Government
- Computers and Electronics
- Administration and Management
- Engineering and Technology
What you'd actually do
- Define regional or local transportation planning problems or priorities.
- Participate in public meetings or hearings to explain planning proposals, to gather feedback from those affected by projects, or to achieve consensus on project designs.
- Prepare reports or recommendations on transportation planning.
- Collaborate with engineers to research, analyze, or resolve complex transportation design issues.
- Recommend transportation system improvements or projects, based on economic, population, land-use, or traffic projections.
- Develop computer models to address transportation planning issues.
Tools & technology you'd use
Frequently asked questions
What does Transportation Planners do?
Prepare studies for proposed transportation projects. Gather, compile, and analyze data. Study the use and operation of transportation systems. Develop transportation models or simulations.
How much does Transportation Planners earn?
The median annual salary for Transportation Planners in the US is $100,340.
What is the job outlook for Transportation Planners?
The role is showing modest growth of -2% over the next decade. Current US employment is approximately 40,800 workers.
How do I become transportation planners?
The typical entry education is a Bachelor's degree. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.
What skills does Transportation Planners need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Complex Problem Solving, Speaking, Writing. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace Transportation Planners?
Our AI-durability model gives Transportation Planners a score of 0.55 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at moderate AI exposure — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. Learning to work with AI tools rather than against them is the path forward.
How hard is it to enter this field?
Transportation Planners has moderate barrier to entry — moderately gated — a bachelor's degree or equivalent training is typically required.