Urban Planner job description: duties, skills and qualifications.

Core duties

16

O*NET task statements

Preparation

Job Zone 5 of 5

extensive preparation

Typical entry education

Master's degree

BLS 2025–35

Median pay

$89,320

BLS May 2025

Data Government data groups this job as Urban and Regional Planners (O*NET-SOC 19-3051.00). Figures on this page are for that occupation.

1. Design, promote, or administer government plans or policies affecting land use, zoning, public utilities, community facilities, housing, or transportation. importance 4.7 of 5
2. Advise planning officials on project feasibility, cost-effectiveness, regulatory conformance, or possible alternatives. importance 4.6 of 5
3. Create, prepare, or requisition graphic or narrative reports on land use data, including land area maps overlaid with geographic variables, such as population density. importance 4.6 of 5
4. Mediate community disputes or assist in developing alternative plans or recommendations for programs or projects. importance 4.4 of 5
5. Recommend approval, denial, or conditional approval of proposals. importance 4.3 of 5
6. Conduct field investigations, surveys, impact studies, or other research to compile and analyze data on economic, social, regulatory, or physical factors affecting land use. importance 4.3 of 5
7. Evaluate proposals for infrastructure projects or other development for environmental impact or sustainability. importance 4.3 of 5
8. Discuss with planning officials the purpose of land use projects, such as transportation, conservation, residential, commercial, industrial, or community use. importance 4.2 of 5
9. Keep informed about economic or legal issues involved in zoning codes, building codes, or environmental regulations. importance 4.2 of 5
10. Assess the feasibility of land use proposals and identify necessary changes. importance 4.1 of 5
11. Determine the effects of regulatory limitations on land use projects. importance 3.9 of 5
12. Review and evaluate environmental impact reports pertaining to private or public planning projects or programs. importance 3.9 of 5
13. Supervise or coordinate the work of urban planning technicians or technologists. importance 3.8 of 5
14. Develop plans for public or alternative transportation systems for urban or regional locations to reduce carbon output associated with transportation. importance 3.8 of 5
15. Identify opportunities or develop plans for sustainability projects or programs to improve energy efficiency, minimize pollution or waste, or restore natural systems. importance 3.8 of 5
16. Coordinate work with economic consultants or architects during the formulation of plans or the design of large pieces of infrastructure. importance 3.7 of 5

Work activities O*NET rates most important here: Getting Information, Making Decisions and Solving Problems, Communicating with People Outside the Organization, Developing Objectives and Strategies and Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates.

Also part of the job

Supplemental tasks O*NET lists for this occupation: less central than the core duties above, and not done in every job.

• Conduct interviews, surveys and site inspections concerning factors that affect land usage, such as zoning, traffic flow and housing.
• Prepare reports, using statistics, charts, and graphs, to illustrate planning studies in areas such as population, land use, or zoning.
• Prepare, develop and maintain maps and databases.
• Prepare, maintain and update files and records, including land use data and statistics.
• Research, compile, analyze and organize information from maps, reports, investigations, and books for use in reports and special projects.
• Respond to public inquiries and complaints.

Knowledge areas: Law and Government, English Language, Geography, Transportation and Communications and Media.

Software O*NET lists for this occupation: Autodesk AutoCAD, ESRI ArcGIS software, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint. These are examples O*NET records for the job, not a list of tools every employer uses or a checklist of what you must know.

• Education: BLS lists a master's degree as the typical entry-level education.
• Experience: BLS lists no work experience in a related occupation as typical to enter.
• Training on the job: BLS lists no typical on-the-job training once hired.
• Preparation: O*NET places the job in Job Zone 5 of 5 (extensive preparation). Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations.
• Licenses and certifications: not listed here. A license is a legal requirement set by a state; a certification is a credential from a private or professional body. Rules vary by state and employer, and a missing entry on this page does not mean none is required: check with your state's licensing board and see how to become an urban planner.

Most O*NET's occupation experts for this occupation (56%) name a master's degree as the education the job requires.

Job title: Urban Planner
[Company] · [City, State] · [Full-time or part-time] · [Pay range, where your state requires one]

About the role
[Company] is hiring an Urban Planner to develop comprehensive plans and programs for use of land and physical facilities of jurisdictions, such as towns, cities, counties, and metropolitan areas.
[One sentence on your team and why this role matters.]

What you will do
- 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.
- Mediate community disputes or assist in developing alternative plans or recommendations for programs or projects.
- Recommend approval, denial, or conditional approval of proposals.
- Conduct field investigations, surveys, impact studies, or other research to compile and analyze data on economic, social, regulatory, or physical factors affecting land use.
- Evaluate proposals for infrastructure projects or other development for environmental impact or sustainability.
- Discuss with planning officials the purpose of land use projects, such as transportation, conservation, residential, commercial, industrial, or community use.

What we are looking for
- [Education: BLS lists a master's degree as typical for this occupation; set the level this role truly needs]
- [Experience: BLS lists no related work experience as typical to enter; set what this role needs]
- Strength in judgment and decision making, active listening and speaking
- Working knowledge of Law and Government and English Language
- [Software your team uses, e.g. Autodesk AutoCAD or ESRI ArcGIS software]
- [Any license or certification your state or company requires]

[Schedule, benefits and how to apply]

Illustrative: every name, employer, school, date and number in these samples is fictional or a bracketed placeholder. Replace each bracket with your own true details; never copy a result you did not achieve.

Not a real job posting. This template is TryHired's illustration built from government occupational data. It is not an opening at any employer, and no employer wrote it.

The median annual wage was $89,320 in May 2025. The median hourly wage was $42.94. BLS estimates about 44,230 jobs in this occupation in the U.S.

BLS projects employment of Urban and Regional Planners to grow 3.9% from 2025 to 2035, with about 3,200 openings a year over that period, including openings to replace workers who leave.

See the full urban planner salary breakdown by percentile, state and metro.

• Read a real urban planner posting next to the core duties above. Duties it repeats, such as “Design, promote, or administer government plans or policies affecting…”, tell you what that employer weighs most; anything it adds is specific to that team.
• Tailor your resume to the posting, not to this page: describe only urban planner work you have actually done, with your own results.
• Prepare a story for each of the top-rated skills (judgment and decision making and active listening); urban planner interview questions turns them into practice questions.