Urban and Regional Planners salary in North Carolina
Urban and Regional Planners in North Carolina earn a median of $81,230 a year ($39.06 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,630 workers.
Pay ranges from $58,830 for the lowest-paid 10% to $112,110 for the top 10%. That is 9% lower than the national median of $89,320. North Carolina ranks 25th of 51 states for urban and regional planners pay. There are 0.33 urban and regional planners per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $83,610, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for urban and regional planners in North Carolina
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $58,830 | $28.28 |
| 25th percentile | $66,740 | $32.09 |
| Median | $81,230 | $39.06 |
| 75th percentile | $97,120 | $46.69 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $112,110 | $53.90 |
| Average (mean) | $83,610 | $40.20 |
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 | $6,769.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,384.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,124.23 |
| Weekly | $1,562.12 |
| Hourly | $39.06 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $81,230 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 cities in North Carolina
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $85,290 | 210 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in North Carolina
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $92,130 | $44.29 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $81,420 | $39.15 |
| School Psychologist | $73,220 | $35.20 |
| Psychologists, All Other | $126,440 | $60.79 |
| Survey Researcher | $96,560 | $46.43 |
| Economist | $136,150 | $65.46 |
| Anthropologists and Archeologists | $73,130 | $35.16 |
| Sociologist | $126,760 | $60.94 |
| Historian | $73,440 | $35.31 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $102,980 | $49.51 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $86,650 | $41.66 |
| Chemist | $82,620 | $39.72 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $74,130 | $35.64 |
| Social Science Research Assistant | $63,710 | $30.63 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in North Carolina
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 North Carolina?
The median salary for urban and regional planners in North Carolina is $81,230 a year, or $39.06 an hour. Pay ranges from $58,830 for the lowest-paid 10% to $112,110 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid urban and regional planners make in North Carolina?
The top 10% of urban and regional planners in North Carolina earn at least $112,110 a year. The top 25% earn $97,120 or more.
What is the starting pay for urban and regional planners in North Carolina?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $58,830 a year, and a quarter of urban and regional planners earn $66,740 or less.
How many urban and regional planners work in North Carolina?
About 1,630 urban and regional planners are employed in North Carolina, not counting the self-employed.