Urban and Regional Planners salary in Illinois
Urban and Regional Planners in Illinois earn a median of $91,360 a year ($43.92 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,140 workers.
Pay ranges from $56,190 for the lowest-paid 10% to $145,660 for the top 10%. That is 2% higher than the national median of $89,320. Illinois ranks 12th 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 0.66). The average (mean) salary is $97,270, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for urban and regional planners in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $56,190 | $27.01 |
| 25th percentile | $74,230 | $35.69 |
| Median | $91,360 | $43.92 |
| 75th percentile | $113,530 | $54.58 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $145,660 | $70.03 |
| Average (mean) | $97,270 | $46.77 |
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 | $7,613.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,806.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,513.85 |
| Weekly | $1,756.92 |
| Hourly | $43.92 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Urban and Regional Planners salary in cities in Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $98,840 | 800 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $88,300 | 30 |
| Rockford, IL | $88,160 | 50 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $81,840 | 50 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $80,270 | 240 |
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 Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $83,750 | $40.27 |
| School Psychologist | $84,690 | $40.72 |
| Psychologists, All Other | $69,810 | $33.56 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $99,050 | $47.62 |
| Survey Researcher | $54,080 | $26.00 |
| Anthropologists and Archeologists | $59,560 | $28.63 |
| Political Scientist | $103,780 | $49.89 |
| Geographer | $92,640 | $44.54 |
| Historian | $89,670 | $43.11 |
| Sociologist | $140,770 | $67.68 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $82,330 | $39.58 |
| Chemist | $85,230 | $40.98 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $98,270 | $47.25 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Technicians | $65,960 | $31.71 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Illinois
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 Illinois?
The median salary for urban and regional planners in Illinois is $91,360 a year, or $43.92 an hour. Pay ranges from $56,190 for the lowest-paid 10% to $145,660 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid urban and regional planners make in Illinois?
The top 10% of urban and regional planners in Illinois earn at least $145,660 a year. The top 25% earn $113,530 or more.
What is the starting pay for urban and regional planners in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $56,190 a year, and a quarter of urban and regional planners earn $74,230 or less.
How many urban and regional planners work in Illinois?
About 1,140 urban and regional planners are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.