To become an urban planner, you must first earn a bachelor’s degree in urban planning or a related field. You can then proceed to pursue an advanced degree in urban planning if you wish to work on more complex projects and become eligible for higher-paying jobs.
Urban planners are responsible for planning and design of cities, towns, and communities. They develop plans for land use, transportation, housing and environmental protection; implement those plans; and monitor the results.
Urban planners usually work for government agencies such as city or county planning departments or state highway departments. They may also work for private companies that provide services related to land use planning such as real estate development companies or architectural firms.
Urban planners may specialize in one aspect of the field such as transportation or land use management while others take on a broader role focusing on all aspects of urban development.
A bachelor’s degree is generally required to enter this field with some positions requiring an advanced degree such as a master’s degree or doctorate in urban planning from an accredited university program.
How To Become Urban Planner
Creating a neighborhood or park requires someone with a knowledge of engineering, civil policy and many other fields. Understanding what urban planning involves is important for deciding whether this is the career for you. In this article, we explain what an urban planner does, identify which skills they need and list helpful steps to become one.
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What is an urban planner?
An urban planner designs and plans neighborhoods, communities and other areas within cities or towns. They specialize in the efficient use of land to create these areas. They factor in community features such as transportation, libraries and recreational areas. As planners, they also take into consideration the future needs of the neighborhood, such as population growth and physical facility revitalization
Urban planners also improve neighborhoods in need of rebuilding. They often research to gather information from residents to discover what improvements they need and anything else that could enhance daily life within that area.
Read more: How To Become an Urban Planner
What does an urban planner do?
The primary role of an urban planner is creating plans on how to best use the land their project aims to develop. Other duties include:
- Gathering and analyzing economic and environmental studies, censuses and market research data
- Researching and assessing the land to understand its dimensions and potential functionality
- Conducting field investigations to analyze factors affecting land use
- Developing usable areas to meet either their own vision or that of the organization for whom they work
- Reviewing site plans submitted by developers
- Working with teams to visualize and build roads, buildings and other features to put together constructions or a preserved piece of natural land, such as a state park
- Presenting projects to planning officials and planning commissions
- Meeting with public officials, developers and the public regarding development plans and land use
- Understanding local, state and federal laws regarding each project they develop
Skills of an urban planner
Urban planners frequently use skills such as:
- Mathematics and engineering: Urban planners understand the math and engineering principles required to design, build and improve buildings, roads and land.
- Creative vision: Converting an urban area from what it is into what it could be requires the ability to visualize the area’s potential and the drive to ensure that they fulfill that potential.
- Communication: Designing a new space requires urban planners to communicate specific instructions for the individual tasks necessary for project completion.
- Leadership: Urban planners oversee massive projects and often lead large teams to accomplish them. As project managers, they understand the principles of leadership to ensure they accomplish each task successfully and safely.
- Decision making: An urban planner must understand all options available to them and decide which is safest for their workers and future residents, what works best for their budget and what makes the best use of the land.
- Computer literacy: Urban planning requires the use of several computer programs to plan and design buildings and other landscaping features.
How to become an urban planner
Urban planning is a highly skilled profession that requires both education and experience. If you want to become an urban planner, consider these steps:
1. Get a bachelor’s degree
Many colleges offer a degree in urban planning. Those who choose urban planning as a career find it helpful to seek a degree that offers knowledge about site planning, urban development, budgeting and land analysis. Related degrees and specializations helpful to becoming an urban planner include:
Related: 41 Urban Planning Degree Jobs
2. Earn a master’s degree
Most employers prefer urban planner candidates with an advanced degree that furthers their education on such topics as building codes, transportation and legal regulations.
If your bachelor’s degree is in a related field, you might consider a master’s degree in urban planning as it helps focus your education on your chosen career path.
3. Get a certification
Certification is not a requirement for getting a job as an urban planner, but it helps find more opportunities as some employers prefer certified planners. There are many certification programs available from universities and other services such as the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP). Many of these are available online. Each certification requires different education and experience backgrounds, but all require passing an exam.
4. Gain experience
Some employers require urban planners to have up to two years of experience in related positions. This can include architecture, public policy or transportation planning. Temporary jobs or internships are the most common way prospective urban planners gain experience. Often, students accomplish this as part of their master’s degree, but some employers may want additional experience outside of school.
5. Join a professional organization
There are several professional organizations for urban planners. Joining one is helpful for networking, meeting other urban planners, learning more about the profession and finding job opportunities. Professional organizations for urban planners include:
- American Planning Association
- American Public Works Association
- Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations
- Community Development Society
- Environmental Design Research Association
Related: What Is a Professional Organization?
Frequently asked questions
Here are answers to common questions about urban planners:
Are urban planners known by other titles?
Yes, they frequently are referred to as “city planners,” “metropolitan planners,” “communal developers,” “urban developers,” “city engineers,” “urban renovators” or “land use planners.”
How much do urban planners earn?
Urban planners earn an average salary of $71,103 per year. The Bureau of Labor and Statistics expects urban planning job opportunities to grow by 11% by 2029, which is higher than average for all occupations.
Related: 10 Careers in Planning That Pay Well
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What is their work environment?
Most planners work for various levels of government, real estate developers, nonprofits and planning consulting firms usually in large metropolitan areas. Most planners spend much of their time working with others. They often collaborate with public officials, engineers, architects and developers and must give presentations, attend meetings and manage projects.
An urban planner splits their work between the office and the field. They do much of their day-to-day planning and designing in the office. However, to complete the research and assessment necessary to plan the area and check the accuracy and practicality of their plans, they spend a lot of time on-site and may frequently travel between different projects.
What is a typical workday?
A typical day for an urban planner comprises at least a day’s work in the office. Most urban planners work a five-day, 40-hour workweek. Depending on the needs of the current project, many urban planners conduct additional work outside of their scheduled work hours.
Much of the time, this involves working into the night to complete tasks and conduct site research. The position also involves evenings and weekends spent meeting with local officials, lawyers and other local figures involved in the project. They also meet with architects, developers and contractors to ensure the successful completion of projects.
What skills are necessary to be a successful urban planner?
City planners rely on a variety of hard and soft skills. Many of the hard skills city planners use in their day-to-day activities focus on technology use, including geographic information systems (GIS) for organizing and analyzing statistical information, database applications, spreadsheet software and programs for creating presentations.
City planners must also have soft skills, such as strong communication skills, both written and verbal, for sharing information, speaking with the public and navigating their interactions with public officials, their colleagues and other individuals.
