Urban Planner

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Work Tasks

• Make plans for the growth of a community
• Predict how many people will live in the community in the future and plan roads, health clinics, businesses, and schools
• Write reports on their plans
• Make sure that developers follow building code regulations
• Work in offices and outdoors for planning and housing agencies, transportation companies, environmental protection agencies, architectural and surveying firms, schools, management and public relations firms, banks, land developers, and law firms specializing in land use
• Work with housing and building codes, government laws and regulations, land use studies, budgets, maps, charts, graphs, and computers

Salary, Size & Growth

• $65,500 average per year ($31.50 per hour)
• A medium occupation (38,800 workers in 2010)
• Expected to grow moderately (1.9% per year)

Education/Training

• Minimum for Entry: A 4-year degree in urban planning for entry-level assistant or trainee jobs
• Employers Prefer: A master's degree for specialized jobs in regional planning, urban design, or geography
• Skills/Courses: College courses include studies in related subjects such as architecture, law, economics, historic preservation, housing, geographic information systems, statistics, and computer science.
• Certification/Licensing: Certification is available.