Urban and Regional Planners salary in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Urban and Regional Planners in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn a median of $85,290 a year ($41.01 an hour), based on BLS data for 210 workers.
Pay ranges from $66,740 for the lowest-paid 10% to $103,060 for the top 10%. That is 5% lower than the national median of $89,320. Pay here is 5% higher than the North Carolina statewide median of $81,230. There are 0.60 urban and regional planners per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.1× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $85,300, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for urban and regional planners in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $66,740 | $32.09 |
| 25th percentile | $67,320 | $32.37 |
| Median | $85,290 | $41.01 |
| 75th percentile | $93,220 | $44.82 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $103,060 | $49.55 |
| Average (mean) | $85,300 | $41.01 |
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 | $7,107.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,553.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,280.38 |
| Weekly | $1,640.19 |
| Hourly | $41.01 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $85,290 salary, see how much house you can afford in North Carolina at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Urban and Regional Planners salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $84,810 | 340 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $83,880 | 90 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $83,170 | 360 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $82,760 | 340 |
| Asheville, NC | $77,950 | 80 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $77,400 | 50 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $75,350 | 40 |
| Wilmington, NC | $68,050 | 110 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $67,940 | 40 |
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 |
See Urban and Regional Planners pay in every state or the North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $81,420 | $39.15 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $93,420 | $44.91 |
| Psychologists, All Other | $64,650 | $31.08 |
| Economist | $152,130 | $73.14 |
| School Psychologist | $62,460 | $30.03 |
| Anthropologists and Archeologists | $80,270 | $38.59 |
| Sociologist | $126,760 | $60.94 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $96,430 | $46.36 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $98,700 | $47.45 |
| Chemist | $81,580 | $39.22 |
| Biological Technician | $58,400 | $28.08 |
| Life Scientists, All Other | $105,850 | $50.89 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $82,840 | $39.83 |
| Microbiologist | $85,860 | $41.28 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
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 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The median salary for urban and regional planners in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $85,290 a year, or $41.01 an hour. Pay ranges from $66,740 for the lowest-paid 10% to $103,060 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid urban and regional planners make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The top 10% of urban and regional planners in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn at least $103,060 a year. The top 25% earn $93,220 or more.
What is the starting pay for urban and regional planners in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $66,740 a year, and a quarter of urban and regional planners earn $67,320 or less.
How many urban and regional planners work in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
About 210 urban and regional planners are employed in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.