Career Overview
Develop comprehensive plans and programs for use of land and physical facilities of jurisdictions, such as towns, cities, counties, and metropolitan areas.
Also Known As
- Community Development Planner
- Planner
- Planning Consultant
- Planning Technician
Alternate Job Titles
- Campus Planner
- City Designer
- City Planner
- City Planning Engineer
- Community Development Planner
- Community Development Technician
- Community Planner
- Community Planning Technician
- Developer Advocate
- Development Technician
- Economic Developer
- Economic Development Coordinator
- Housing Development Specialist
- Housing Grant Analyst
- Housing Liaison
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- 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.
- Hold public meetings with government officials, social scientists, lawyers, developers, the public, or special interest groups to formulate, develop, or address issues regarding land use or community plans.
- 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.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Law and Government
- English Language
- Geography
- Transportation
- Communications and Media
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Systems Analysis
- Writing
- Complex Problem Solving
- Systems Evaluation
- Social Perceptiveness
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Problem Sensitivity
- Written Comprehension
- Speech Clarity
- Written Expression
- Near Vision
- Speech Recognition
- Deductive Reasoning
- Inductive Reasoning
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Dependability
- Cooperation
- Integrity
- Intellectual Curiosity
- Attention to Detail
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Relationships
- Achievement
- Working Conditions
- Recognition
- Independence
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Master's Degree
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
On-the-Job Training: None or short demonstration
Education Details: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Experience Required: Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Adobe Acrobat
- Adobe Creative Cloud software
- Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe InDesign
- Adobe Photoshop
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Bentley MicroStation
- Dassault Systemes SolidWorks
- ESRI ArcGIS software
- Extensible markup language XML
Tools & Equipment
- 10-key calculators
- 35 millimeter cameras
- Desktop computers
- Digital camcorders
- Digital cameras
- Digitizers
- Drafting scales
- Global positioning system GPS receivers
- Laptop computers
- Laser printers
- Microfiche readers
- Multi-line telephone systems
- Notebook computers
- Overhead projectors
- Personal computers
Work Environment
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Telephone Conversations
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $55,590 |
| Median | $83,720 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $128,550 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 43,040
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Transportation Planners
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $100,340
Project Management Specialists
Education: Not specified
Median Salary: $100,750
Chief Sustainability Officers
Education: Master's Degree
Median Salary: $206,420
Sustainability Specialists
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $81,270
Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $136,550
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.