Urban and Regional Planners salary in Iowa
Urban and Regional Planners in Iowa earn a median of $79,100 a year ($38.03 an hour), based on BLS data for 300 workers.
Pay ranges from $55,550 for the lowest-paid 10% to $107,370 for the top 10%. That is 11% lower than the national median of $89,320. Iowa ranks 33rd of 51 states for urban and regional planners pay. There are 0.19 urban and regional planners per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.67). The average (mean) salary is $79,990, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for urban and regional planners in Iowa
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $55,550 | $26.71 |
| 25th percentile | $65,490 | $31.49 |
| Median | $79,100 | $38.03 |
| 75th percentile | $92,150 | $44.30 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $107,370 | $51.62 |
| Average (mean) | $79,990 | $38.46 |
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 | $6,591.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,295.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,042.31 |
| Weekly | $1,521.15 |
| Hourly | $38.03 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $79,100 salary, see how much house you can afford in Iowa at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Urban and Regional Planners salary in cities in Iowa
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $88,300 | 30 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $85,980 | 80 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $83,270 | 120 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $73,840 | 30 |
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 Iowa
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $91,690 | $44.08 |
| School Psychologist | $74,410 | $35.77 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $91,560 | $44.02 |
| Survey Researcher | $83,170 | $39.99 |
| Economist | $96,310 | $46.30 |
| Psychologists, All Other | $138,420 | $66.55 |
| Anthropologists and Archeologists | $67,270 | $32.34 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $87,830 | $42.23 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $83,850 | $40.31 |
| Soil and Plant Scientists | $96,310 | $46.30 |
| Biological Technician | $48,050 | $23.10 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $78,780 | $37.88 |
| Conservation Scientist | $69,240 | $33.29 |
| Chemist | $86,100 | $41.39 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Iowa
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 Iowa?
The median salary for urban and regional planners in Iowa is $79,100 a year, or $38.03 an hour. Pay ranges from $55,550 for the lowest-paid 10% to $107,370 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid urban and regional planners make in Iowa?
The top 10% of urban and regional planners in Iowa earn at least $107,370 a year. The top 25% earn $92,150 or more.
What is the starting pay for urban and regional planners in Iowa?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $55,550 a year, and a quarter of urban and regional planners earn $65,490 or less.
How many urban and regional planners work in Iowa?
About 300 urban and regional planners are employed in Iowa, not counting the self-employed.