Urban and Regional Planners salary in California
Urban and Regional Planners in California earn a median of $109,610 a year ($52.70 an hour), based on BLS data for 7,460 workers.
Pay ranges from $77,430 for the lowest-paid 10% to $166,950 for the top 10%. That is 23% higher than the national median of $89,320. California ranks 2nd of 51 states for urban and regional planners pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.41 urban and regional planners per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $116,480, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for urban and regional planners in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $77,430 | $37.22 |
| 25th percentile | $90,330 | $43.43 |
| Median | $109,610 | $52.70 |
| 75th percentile | $136,070 | $65.42 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $166,950 | $80.26 |
| Average (mean) | $116,480 | $56.00 |
Half of urban and regional planners earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $9,134.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,567.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,215.77 |
| Weekly | $2,107.88 |
| Hourly | $52.70 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $109,610 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Urban and Regional Planners salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $139,360 | 320 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $136,250 | 1,250 |
| Vallejo, CA | $129,790 | 70 |
| Napa, CA | $128,530 | 30 |
| Salinas, CA | $125,300 | 100 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $123,090 | 110 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $112,270 | 100 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $111,380 | 1,920 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $110,520 | 110 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $109,920 | 100 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $108,760 | 490 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $107,710 | 760 |
| Redding, CA | $106,920 | 50 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $106,920 | 70 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $105,500 | 150 |
| Fresno, CA | $105,330 | 170 |
| Visalia, CA | $102,200 | 70 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $96,580 | 1,020 |
| Yuba City, CA | $95,160 | 40 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $83,410 | 110 |
Highest-paying states for urban and regional planners
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $137,000 |
| California | $109,610 |
| Oregon | $103,070 |
| Arizona | $102,400 |
| Colorado | $101,340 |
| Washington | $100,990 |
| Nevada | $100,040 |
| Connecticut | $99,880 |
| Massachusetts | $99,780 |
| Minnesota | $97,060 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $116,000 | $55.77 |
| School Psychologist | $127,780 | $61.43 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $97,900 | $47.07 |
| Anthropologists and Archeologists | $72,240 | $34.73 |
| Psychologists, All Other | $157,540 | $75.74 |
| Survey Researcher | $83,520 | $40.16 |
| Economist | $119,410 | $57.41 |
| Sociologist | $125,770 | $60.47 |
| Historian | $97,420 | $46.84 |
| Geographer | $114,460 | $55.03 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $136,990 | $65.86 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $102,840 | $49.44 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $106,510 | $51.21 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $113,530 | $54.58 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 19-3051. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a urban and regional planners make in California?
The median salary for urban and regional planners in California is $109,610 a year, or $52.70 an hour. Pay ranges from $77,430 for the lowest-paid 10% to $166,950 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid urban and regional planners make in California?
The top 10% of urban and regional planners in California earn at least $166,950 a year. The top 25% earn $136,070 or more.
What is the starting pay for urban and regional planners in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $77,430 a year, and a quarter of urban and regional planners earn $90,330 or less.
How many urban and regional planners work in California?
About 7,460 urban and regional planners are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.