How can we plan our towns and cities so that the people there have a fair, healthy, and sustainable future? Everywhere people live, there must be a discussion about how building design influences the natural environment and impacts people’s health and safety.
Urban planning careers lead this continuous discussion. They identify community needs and create both long-term and short-term solutions for enhancing and restoring our living environments. These urban planners help ensure that towns and cities support everyone’s right to a safe, inclusive future.
However, what precisely is the job of an urban planner, and what training or degrees are required? Continue reading for details on salaries and the different urban planning careers.
Urban Planning Roles and Responsibilities
The field of urban and regional planning is becoming increasingly important as the world’s cities and towns expand. Urban planners are responsible for building healthy cities that enhance the quality of life for their residents. Since cities are home to most of the world’s population, they frequently face infrastructure-related issues associated with high populations.
Urban planners are responsible for finding creative and long-lasting solutions to these problems. In essence, they determine the most effective ways for people to coexist, prosper, move throughout their cities, and ensure a healthy future. Although this work is commonly called urban planning, planners also work at the regional, small-town, rural, environmental, and community levels.
Specific Responsibilities in Urban Design jobs include:
- Collecting and evaluating information from local economic and environmental studies, censuses, and market research.
- Conducting field research to examine variables, such as present land usage, that influence community development and decline.
- Finding unused or abandoned land for possible redevelopment while considering the local population and the environment.
- Examining the site plans that developers have provided.
- Recommending the approval or rejection of projects.
- Communicating with many parties during the proposal, design, and development phases.
Urban and regional planners meet with stakeholders, developers, specialists, and members of the public regarding land use and development plans to determine the best option for improvement or revival. As they construct their plans, they consider all local needs, concerns, and limits while working with environmental engineers, lawyers, architects, sustainability specialists, lawmakers, and community advocates.
Urban Planning Career Requirements
Numerous academic departments and disciplines are incorporated into urban planning, including architecture, sociology, engineering, geography, and even politics. Therefore, those who want to work as urban planners need to have a bachelor’s degree in one of the following fields:
- Economics
- Geography
- Political Science
- Architecture
- Criminal Justice
- Civil Engineering
- Sociology
- Public Health
- Environmental Studies
A master’s degree in urban or regional planning from an authorized program is typically held by urban and regional planners. Candidates with 1-2 years of work experience in a similar sector, such as economic development, public policy, or design, may be required for some roles.
Skills and Experience Required for Urban Planning Positions
The field of urban planning is genuinely interconnected; therefore, a variety of personal and technical skills are needed. Urban planners must be able to use and interpret the following:
- Geographic Information System (G.I.S.) software.
- Statistical software.
- Environmental design software.
- Data visualization.
- Data presentation programs.
- Financial management spreadsheets.
- Database analysis and management (when studying population density and demographics).
- Municipal approval processes and procedures.
Given that city and regional planning requires interacting with stakeholders from various backgrounds, urban planners must have the following interpersonal abilities:
- Effective verbal and written communication.
- Negotiation.
- Mediation.
- Problem solving.
- Critical thinking.
- Organization.
- Managing teams.
- Time management.
- Public speaking and presentation abilities.
Urban Planning Certification/Licensure Requirements
Currently, most U.S. states do not require urban planners to be licensed in the field. However, there are opportunities to boost your professional credibility. The American Institute of Certified Planners (A.I.C.P.) offers the only nationwide, independent verification of planners’ qualifications.
Candidates must pass a test, fulfill education and job experience requirements, and get certified. Although certification and licensure show a commitment to the field, contacting your state’s board of licensure can help you find out if you need a particular certificate before you can start working.
Careers and Average Salary for Urban Planners
According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data from 2021, the average urban planner with a relevant master’s degree earns about $78,400 annually. The number of careers is projected to grow by about 4% over the next decade, which translates to 1,600 new urban planning jobs created between now and 2031 and 3,800 openings per year.
Urban planners are employed by government agencies, nonprofit organizations, educational and research institutes, design and development firms, and other types of employers and industries. They can also work as in-house consultants for different companies or be full-time employees.
With a degree in urban planning, what can you do then? Graduates with this degree or a similar one can qualify for any of the following roles:
1. Town Planner — $66,980
They suggest layouts and development strategies for suburban or smaller towns, considering the local community’s needs, available funds, and local laws. Typically, a town planner works for the local government and collaborates closely with various officials, such as the mayor, town council, and public works personnel.
2. Civil Service Administrator — Varies
This is a general title that can apply to positions in municipal government, such as department director, mayoral assistant, and city clerk. As a result, there is a significant compensation gap; a public works director may earn up to $136,000 annually, while a city clerk may make $62,500 annually.
3. Community Development Manager — $56,540
A person holding this position could oversee development initiatives, supervise community programs, and provide fresh possibilities for community members to grow and develop. An urban planner with experience in community development management could concentrate on growing and enhancing the actual community spaces and overseeing building projects or facility upgrades.
4. Environmental Health and Safety Officer — $97,850
They are responsible for maintaining the physical environment of a community and promoting the residents’ ongoing health and safety. An environmental health and safety officer with experience in urban planning may evaluate the air quality of public buildings and examine emissions from municipal vehicles and public transportation. Also, they can suggest structural changes that promote accessibility and public safety.
5. Surveyor — $77,500
Land surveyors establish property borders using field measurements, public documents, and land titles for the benefit of developers, investors, local governments, and the general public.
6. Sustainability Consultant — $81,355
Consultants assist businesses in achieving their environmental and social governance (E.S.G.) objectives by serving as advisors and implementation partners. They typically determine their own rates and work on a contract basis, frequently for themselves. They are responsible for creating and presenting a strategy plan to establish or enhance a business’s sustainability policies.
Urban Planning and the MESH Program
Urban planners are heavily involved in developing a fair, healthy, and more sustainable society. By collaborating closely with civil engineers, public health experts, community advocates, and legislators, they significantly impact fair environmental practices across the city. The transdisciplinary field of city and urban planning demands educational programs that assist students in acquiring various skill sets.
USD’s online M.S. in Engineering, Sustainability, and Health (MESH) program is a transdisciplinary degree program that can prepare students for communication with experts in related or adjacent fields. It also provides the perfect basis for any of the careers described in this post. With the growth of cities and the urgency of our environmental issues, committed sustainability advocates may better address complicated issues with innovation and technological know-how thanks to the MESH initiative.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. Which materials are helpful for planners in cities and regions?
Urban planning standards are set by several professional groups, both domestically and internationally. Two membership organizations that link planning professionals to one another for cooperation and educational opportunities are the U.S.A. Planning Association and the Canadian Institute of Planners. Next City is a nonprofit online newspaper that features creative city-planning ideas around the United States.
2. Are there any urban planning scholarships available?
International organizations, charities, and private contributors offer scholarships supporting sustainability education and professional development. The scholarship search tool provided by the U.S. Department of Labor is a great place to start researching your choices.
3. Do urban planners have any possibilities to volunteer?
It should come as no surprise that many urban planners begin their careers as volunteers. Nonprofits such as Habitat for Humanity offer fantastic chances to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives while receiving invaluable practical experience.
The American Planning Association constantly needs volunteers to serve on task forces and committees for a range of projects. The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (H.U.D.) compiles a list of volunteer opportunities linked to community development and growth.