Urban and Regional Planners pay range in Washington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $78,470 a year or less, while the top 10% make $140,980 or more. The middle half of urban and regional planners in Washington earn between $85,270 and $133,380.
- $78K10th
- $85K25th
- $105KMedian
- $133K75th
- $141K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $110,410 | $9,201 | $53.08 |
| Median | $104,770 | $8,731 | $50.37 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $85,270 | $7,106 | $41.00 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $133,380 | $11,115 | $64.12 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Urban and Regional Planners pay in Washington vs. Washington, D.C. and the U.S.
Urban and regional planners in Washington earn 18% less than the Washington, D.C. average ($135,050) and 17% more than the U.S. average ($94,750). At the median the gap is +17% against the U.S. median of $89,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $110,410 | $104,770 | $78,470 | $140,980 | 1,250 |
| Washington, D.C. | $135,050 | $137,000 | $98,410 | $170,980 | 120 |
| 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 Washington
On the average salary of $110,410, a single filer in Washington takes home about $80,087 a year, or $6,674 a month and $3,080 every two weeks. Taxes take 27% of gross pay.
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WV | $82,336 | $6,861 |
| Working in MD | $81,453 | $6,788 |
| Working in VA | $80,969 | $6,747 |
| Working in DC | $80,087 | $6,674 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Washington a good place for urban and regional planners? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Washington area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.9), so the average $110,410 buys what about $101,401 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Washington ($71,060). A typical home costs $583,013, or 5.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Urban and Regional Planners salary in nearby metro areas
- Baltimore, MD$90,240
- Lexington Park, MD$93,870
- Charlottesville, VA$83,110
- Richmond, VA$81,770
- Harrisburg, PA$92,310
- Lancaster, PA$73,810
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
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Urban and Regional Planners salary in Washington: questions
How much do urban and regional planners make an hour in Washington?
$53.08 an hour on average, and $50.37 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level urban and regional planners salary in Washington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $78,470 a year and the 25th percentile is $85,270, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the urban and regional planners take-home pay in Washington?
About $80,087 a year ($6,674 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $110,410.
Do urban and regional planners earn more in Washington than elsewhere?
The average here is 17% 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (47900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.1%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.40, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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