Urban and Regional Planners Salary in Chicago, IL-IN

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN

Median annual salary $93,290 +11.4% vs national
Median hourly $44.85
10th percentile $61,540
90th percentile $126,980
Employed locally 730
National median $83,720

Compare Urban and Regional Planners salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Chicago, IL-IN stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Urban and Regional Planners
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Chicago, IL-IN
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $61,540
    25th
    $74,940
    50th (median)
    $93,290
    75th
    $107,120
    90th
    $126,980

    Chicago economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $88,850 2023 • Census ACS
    Urban and Regional Planners salary vs area income 105% Median Urban and Regional Planners salary is 5% above the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Urban and Regional Planners

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $133,380
    District of Columbia $129,750
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $129,400
    Vallejo, CA $122,550
    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $121,940
    Napa, CA $121,750

    Nearby metros — Urban and Regional Planners salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA $109,000
    Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA $99,520
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $99,480
    Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL $95,170
    Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT $94,910
    Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC $94,670

    Related occupations in Chicago, IL-IN

    OccupationMedian salary
    Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists $78,560
    Clinical and Counseling Psychologists $98,240
    Chemists $100,720
    School Psychologists $80,600
    Occupational Health and Safety Specialists $98,780
    Physicists $131,260

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Urban and Regional Planners make per hour in Chicago?

    The median hourly wage for Urban and Regional Planners in Chicago, IL-IN is $44.85, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $78.58 or more per hour.

    Is Chicago above or below average for Urban and Regional Planners salaries?

    The median Urban and Regional Planners salary in Chicago, IL-IN is 11.4% above the national median of $83,720. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Urban and Regional Planners in Chicago?

    Entry-level Urban and Regional Planners (10th percentile) earn around $61,540 per year in Chicago, IL-IN. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $74,940.