Urban and Regional Planners

Career summary

Urban and regional planners may also be called economic planners, land use planners, or community, city, or county planners.

Urban and regional planners identify community land needs and develop short-term and long-term proposals for meeting those needs. To gather information, planners:

• Meet with public officials
• Hold public hearings
• Consult with architects, developers, and lawyers
• Analyze environmental reports and market research data

After gathering information, planners assess the feasibility of proposals. They recommend whether proposals should be approved or denied.

Typically, planners decide whether parts of a city should be used for residential, commercial, or industrial use. They may propose land be set aside in its natural state to create parks or protect water quality.

Planners consider many factors such as cost and sustainability. Because laws and regulations are always changing, they need to stay up to date on changes to building and zoning codes. They also need to be aware of federal laws that concern public safety, environmental issues, and transportation budgets.

Planners may specialize in one of the following areas:

• Land use and code enforcement
• Transportation
• Environmental and natural resources
• Economic development
• Urban design

Related careers

This career is part of the Government and Public Administration cluster of careers.

Related careers include:

• Actuaries
• Architects
• Cartographers and Photogrammetrists
• Conservation Scientists
• Geographers
• Geographic Information Systems Specialists
• Geospatial Information Scientists and Technologists
• Social Science Research Assistants
• Sociologists
• Surveyors
• Traffic Technicians

Job duties

Task list

The following list of tasks is specific to urban and regional planners.

• Create and put into use plans and policies for land use, public utilities, community facilities, housing, and transportation.
• Hold public meetings so the community and others can discuss new policies and plans.
• Give advice on the approval or denial of proposals. Factors include cost and impact to the environment.
• Gather, sort, and test data on different land use factors.
• Test possible urban planning proposals to find areas to improve. Make necessary changes to plans.
• Gather data about economic, social, or other issues.
• Advise planning officials on projects and possible alternatives.
• Write reports on land use data.
• Meet with planning officials and talk about land use project issues such as cost, rules, and sustainability.
• Read and check environmental impact reports.
• Follow changes in building and zoning codes, regulations, and other legal issues.
• Resolve disputes over plans and projects. Help create solutions and recommendations.
• Write proposals for projects. Seek advice from architects and other experts if needed.
• Oversee urban planning staff.
• Study areas for urban planning. Find opportunities to create projects that have positive environmental impacts.
• Collect data related to land use.
• Promote sustainable urban planning and alternative transportation to different groups.

Common work activities

Urban and regional planners perform the following tasks. These tasks are common to many careers.

• Develop goals and strategies
• Communicate with people outside the organization
• Get information needed to do the job
• Perform for or work with the public
• Communicate with supervisors, peers, or subordinates
• Make decisions and solve problems
• Establish and maintain relationships
• Organize, plan, and prioritize work
• Update and use job-related knowledge
• Think creatively
• Analyze data or information
• Identify objects, actions, and events
• Develop and build teams
• Use computers
• Process information
• Explain the meaning of information to others
• Coordinate the work and activities of others
• Evaluate information against standards
• Schedule work and activities
• Resolve conflicts and negotiate with others
• Guide, direct, and motivate others
• Provide advice and consultation to others
• Judge the value of objects, services, or people
• Coach others
• Monitor events, materials, and surroundings
• Estimate sizes, quantities, time, cost, or materials needed
• Document and record information
• Recruit, interview, or hire others
• Monitor and control resources
• Teach others
• Perform administrative tasks
• Convince others to buy goods or change their minds or actions

Work requirements

Working conditions

In a typical work setting, urban and regional planners:

Interpersonal relationships

• Have a high level of social contact. They consult with others on proposals and make presentations.
• Deal with impolite or angry people on a daily basis. Conflicts often arise over proposals and budgets.
• Are substantially responsible for project outcomes and results.
• Communicate with coworkers, managers, and public officials daily by telephone, e-mail, or in person.
• Write letters and memos on a daily basis.
• Work in a group or as part of a team.
• Often speak at civic meetings.

Physical work conditions

• Almost always work indoors. They often work outdoors when looking at sites.
• Often work in a vehicle when traveling to sites.
• Work with other people, but usually in a separate office or many feet apart.

Work performance

• Must be sure their work is exact.
• Make decisions on a daily basis that strongly impact the public. They consult supervisors for some decisions, but make most without talking to a supervisor.
• Are able to set most tasks and goals for the day without talking to a supervisor.
• Must meet strict deadlines on a weekly basis.

Hours/travel

• Generally have a set schedule each week.
• May work part time or full time, but most work more than 40 hours a week.
• Frequently attend evening or weekend meetings or public hearings.

Physical demands

Urban and regional planners frequently:

• Sit for long periods of time.

It is important for urban and regional planners to be able to:

• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Understand the speech of another person.
• See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.
• See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.

It is not as important, but still necessary, for urban and regional planners to be able to:

• See differences between colors, shades, and brightness.
• Determine the distance between objects.
• Focus on one source of sound and ignore others.
• Use fingers to grasp, move, or assemble very small objects.
• Make quick, precise adjustments to machine controls.
• Move two or more limbs together (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while remaining in place.
• Hear sounds and recognize the difference between them.

Skills and abilities

Urban and regional planners need to:

Communicate

• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Write clearly so other people can understand.
• Understand written information.
• Listen to others and ask questions.
• Read and understand work-related materials.
• Understand spoken information.

Reason and problem solve

• Use reasoning to discover answers to problems.
• Analyze ideas and use logic to determine their strengths and weaknesses.
• Judge the costs and benefits of a possible action.
• Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
• Combine several pieces of information and draw conclusions.
• Recognize when important changes happen or are likely to happen in a system.
• Follow guidelines to arrange objects or actions in a certain order.
• Think of new ideas about a topic.
• Identify what must be changed to reach goals.
• Understand new information or materials by studying and working with them.
• Recognize the nature of a problem.
• Think of original, unusual, or creative ways to solve problems.
• Develop rules that group items in various ways.

Use math and science

• Choose a mathematical method or formula to solve problems.
• Use math skills to solve problems.

Manage oneself, people, time, and things

• Manage the time of self and others.
• Check how well one is learning or doing something.
• Motivate, develop, and direct people as they work.

Work with people

• Be aware of others' reactions and understand the possible causes.
• Solve problems by bringing others together to discuss differences.
• Change behavior in relation to others' actions.
• Persuade others to approach things differently.
• Look for ways to help people.
• Use several methods to learn or teach new things.

Work with things

• Analyze needs and requirements when designing products.

Perceive and visualize

• Imagine how something will look if it is moved around or its parts are rearranged.

Education and training

Educational programs

The programs of study listed below will help you prepare for the occupation or career cluster you are exploring.

Programs of study directly related to this occupation

• Community and Regional Planning
• Urban Studies

Other programs of study to consider

• Architecture
• Cartography
• Engineering Technology, General
• Environmental Design
• Environmental Studies
• Geography
• Historic Preservation
• Information Science
• Landscape Architecture
• Public Policy Studies
• Urban Education

Training

To work as an urban and regional planner, you typically need to:

• have a high school diploma or equivalent;
• have a bachelor's degree; and
• have a master's degree in urban planning or a related field.

Education after high school

Most urban and regional planners have a master's degree. Several areas of study provide good training for this field. Most planners study urban and regional planning but others study urban design or geography. Some planners have a degree in architecture and a bachelor's degree in urban planning. Others have a master's degree in planning and many years of work in the field.

As a student in urban planning, you should take courses in law, land use, and economics. As a graduate student you can focus in areas such as historic preservation, housing, and economic development.

On-the-job training

Some students complete an internship while in school. This is important work experience for finding a job. Look for an internship position at a local government planning office.

As a new urban and regional planner, you often receive some training on the job. In general, training lasts up to three months. One thing you learn during training is your region's land-use laws.

Helpful high school courses

In high school, take classes that prepare you for college. A college preparatory curriculum may be different from your state's graduation requirements.

You should also consider taking some advanced courses in high school. This includes Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses if they are available in your school. If you do well in these courses, you may receive college credit for them. Advanced courses can also strengthen your college application.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this career include:

• Computer Applications
• Computer Science
• Economics
• Legal Studies
• Natural Resource Management
• Probability and Statistics

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career. Here are examples of activities and groups that may be available in your high school or community.

Things to know

Most employers consider a master's degree in planning the most desirable background for urban and regional planners. However, a bachelor's degree and two years of experience in city planning, architecture, landscape architecture, or engineering may qualify for some beginning positions. In small agencies, employers may prefer those with a broad background. In larger agencies, employers may look for planners who specialize in a particular area, such as transportation or economic development. Government urban and regional planners are hired from a register of qualified applicants. A competitive examination may be required to be placed on the register. Employers look for applicants who can work as part of a team.

Experienced workers who seek jobs in other communities may have to compete for entry-level positions. Certification of workers by the American Institute of Certified Planners  (AICP) is helpful. The AICP, part of the American Planning Association, certifies individuals who meet experience and education requirements and pass an examination. Contact the AICP for details through the American Planning Association.

Tips

Cartographic skills are helpful. An understanding of real estate rules and regulations can be beneficial. Attend public meetings related to land-use planning issues or volunteer at your local zoning board. Learn how to settle planning related problems by general agreement. Completing an internship or apprenticeship can often be critical to finding an entry-level position.

#Checked HP section 1/28/10 lh & 5/6/11, 5/8/13, 4/15/15, 2/22/17 cj.

Cost to workers

Costs can include union or professional association dues and continuing education classes.

Job listings

Listed below are links to job categories from the National Labor Exchange that relate to this career. Once you get a list of jobs, you can view information about individual jobs and find out how to apply. If your job search finds too many openings, or if you wish to search for jobs outside of Washington, you will need to refine your search.

• Urban and Regional Planners 

To get a listing of current jobs from the WorkSource system, go to the WorkSource website .

Wages

Salaries of planners vary by education, type of employer, experience, size of community, and area of the country.

Urban and regional planners who work full time usually receive benefits. Common benefits are health insurance, sick leave, paid vacation, and a retirement plan. Those who work part time are less likely to receive benefits.

Employment and outlook

Washington outlook

In Washington, the aging of the population is expected to have a major impact on the social structure. Planners will have to address these changes. They will also be needed to develop strategies for replacement of aging roads, sewer systems, and other infrastructures. The need to manage limited resources and address such issues as climate change, economic development, energy use and transportation, and contingency planning for events like floods and heat waves, should increase the demand for planners. More emphasis will be placed on water quality, habitat conservation, and how natural systems interact with the planning process.

The table below provides information about the number of workers in this career in various regions. It also provides information about the expected growth rate and future job openings.

National employment

About seven out of ten urban and regional planners work for local government agencies.

Major employers:

• Local, state, and federal government agencies
• Engineering firms
• Architectural firms

National outlook

Demand for this occupation will be strong. Job growth will be due to government regulation of commercial development, the environment, transportation, housing, and land use. Planners will be needed to help the public comply with these regulations. Most new jobs will be in wealthy, rapidly growing communities. New housing requires roads, sewer systems, fire stations, schools, libraries, and recreation facilities, all of which will be planned by urban and regional planners.

Some job openings will come from the need to replace experienced planners who transfer to other occupations, retire, or leave the labor force. Opportunities will be best for those with a master’s degree, and strong computer skills and GIS experience.

Other resources

American Planning Association 
205 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 1200
Chicago, IL 60601
312.431.9100

American Planning Association, Washington Chapter 
2150 North 107th Street, Suite 205
Seattle, WA 98133
206.682.7436

Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning 
6311 Mallard Trace Drive
Tallahassee, FL 32312
850.385.2054

Engineer Girl! 
National Academy of Engineering

Find out what it means to be a planner 

Green Building Certification Institute 

Institute of Transportation Engineers 
1627 Eye Street NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20006
202.785.0060

Urban and Regional Planning Career Information 
(from the American Planning Association)

Urban Land Institute 
2001 L Street NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20036
202.624.7000

References

Career cluster

• Government and Public Administration

Career path

• Investigative (Science)

O*Net  occupation

• Urban and Regional Planners (19-3051.00) 

O*Net job zone 

• Job Zone 5 - Extensive preparation needed. Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience.

DOT occupations

• Planner, Program Services (188.167-110) 
• Urban Planner (199.167-014) 

Strong Interest Inventory

• Urban and Regional Planner

Holland occupational cluster

• Investigative/Enterprising/Artistic

COPSystem

• Business Professional