Urban and Regional Planners pay range in Boston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $78,330 a year or less, while the top 10% make $136,760 or more. The middle half of urban and regional planners in Boston earn between $84,380 and $123,350.
- $78K10th
- $84K25th
- $103KMedian
- $123K75th
- $137K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $105,250 | $8,771 | $50.60 |
| Median | $103,460 | $8,622 | $49.74 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $84,380 | $7,032 | $40.57 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $123,350 | $10,279 | $59.30 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Urban and Regional Planners pay in Boston vs. Massachusetts and the U.S.
Urban and regional planners in Boston earn 5% more than the Massachusetts average ($100,590) and 11% more than the U.S. average ($94,750). At the median the gap is +16% against the U.S. median of $89,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | $105,250 | $103,460 | $78,330 | $136,760 | 1,100 |
| Massachusetts | $100,590 | $99,780 | $69,150 | $134,310 | 1,540 |
| United States | $94,750 | $89,320 | $60,010 | $134,490 | 44,230 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Urban and Regional Planners salary after taxes in Boston
On the average salary of $105,250, a single filer in Boston takes home about $77,931 a year, or $6,494 a month and $2,997 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% of gross pay.
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in NH | $82,873 | $6,906 |
| Working in MA | $77,931 | $6,494 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Is Boston a good place for urban and regional planners? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Boston area are 8% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.3), so the average $105,250 buys what about $97,214 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Boston ($66,620). A typical home costs $741,868, or 7.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Urban and Regional Planners salary in other Massachusetts cities
Boston ranks 1st of 6 Massachusetts metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Boston$105,250
- Barnstable$101,570
- Amherst$92,680
- Worcester$90,650
- Springfield$87,200
- Pittsfield$80,310
Highest-paying cities for urban and regional planners
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($141,020).
- San Jose, CA$141,020
- San Francisco, CA$136,150
- Napa, CA$131,710
- Santa Rosa, CA$123,620
- Vallejo, CA$122,960
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Urban and Regional Planners salary in Boston: questions
How much do urban and regional planners make an hour in Boston?
$50.60 an hour on average, and $49.74 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level urban and regional planners salary in Boston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $78,330 a year and the 25th percentile is $84,380, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the urban and regional planners take-home pay in Boston?
About $77,931 a year ($6,494 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $105,250. Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Do urban and regional planners earn more in Boston than elsewhere?
The average here is 11% more than the U.S. average for this job ($94,750).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 19-3051; area Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH (14460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.3%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.43, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.