Urban and Regional Planners
Life, Physical, and Social Science
The work covers how a town or region uses land for zoning, housing, roads, utilities, and community buildings. Field surveys and impact studies feed maps and written reports, along with advice on whether a proposal is feasible, legal, and worth the cost. Public meetings bring officials, lawyers, developers, and residents into the same room; disputes over competing plans often need mediation. After that review, the recommendation is to approve, deny, or approve with conditions, including a check on the environmental effects of infrastructure. A match for people who like weighing competing uses of space, speaking in public, and turning data into maps and policy.
Typical education: Master’s Degree
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$89'320
Median Wage Market Position
$89'320
What you might do
- Design land-use plans for towns and cities
- Advise officials on costs, rules, and alternatives
- Prepare maps and reports on land-use data
- Hold public meetings on community plans
- Recommend approval or denial of proposals
- Evaluate new projects for environmental impact
Skills that matter
- Advising officials on land use and zoning
- Preparing maps overlaid with population data
- Holding public meetings on community plans
- Mediating disputes over development proposals
- Recommending approval or denial of projects
- Evaluating environmental impact of infrastructure
AI & the future of this role
Scenario modeling, map drafting, and zoning research may get faster with AI, trimming desk time. Negotiating with communities, navigating law and politics, and accountable plan decisions still need people on site, so prospects look mixed rather than bleak.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details