Urban and Regional Planners salary in Madison, WI
Urban and Regional Planners in the Madison, WI metro area earn a median of $103,940 a year ($49.97 an hour), based on BLS data for 140 workers.
Pay ranges from $62,380 for the lowest-paid 10% to $131,450 for the top 10%. That is 16% higher than the national median of $89,320. Pay here is 23% higher than the Wisconsin statewide median of $84,290. There are 0.34 urban and regional planners per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $96,540, close to the median.
Pay range for urban and regional planners in Madison, WI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $62,380 | $29.99 |
| 25th percentile | $81,000 | $38.94 |
| Median | $103,940 | $49.97 |
| 75th percentile | $107,620 | $51.74 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $131,450 | $63.20 |
| Average (mean) | $96,540 | $46.42 |
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 | $8,661.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,330.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,997.69 |
| Weekly | $1,998.85 |
| Hourly | $49.97 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $103,940 salary, see how much house you can afford in Wisconsin at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Urban and Regional Planners salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $103,970 | 580 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $101,230 | 200 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $84,280 | 70 |
| Appleton, WI | $81,770 | 30 |
| Wausau, WI | $78,100 | 30 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $77,090 | 30 |
| Green Bay, WI | $76,370 | 70 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $67,350 | 50 |
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 |
See Urban and Regional Planners pay in every state or the Wisconsin statewide figures.
Related jobs in Madison, WI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $107,480 | $51.67 |
| Psychologists, All Other | $85,100 | $40.92 |
| School Psychologist | $83,550 | $40.17 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $88,830 | $42.71 |
| Economist | $88,770 | $42.68 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $85,570 | $41.14 |
| Biological Technician | $51,750 | $24.88 |
| Chemist | $78,730 | $37.85 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $77,550 | $37.28 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $86,650 | $41.66 |
| Chemical Technician | $60,720 | $29.19 |
| Microbiologist | $67,940 | $32.66 |
| Conservation Scientist | $85,110 | $40.92 |
| Agricultural Technician | $47,030 | $22.61 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Madison, WI
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 Madison, WI?
The median salary for urban and regional planners in the Madison, WI metro area is $103,940 a year, or $49.97 an hour. Pay ranges from $62,380 for the lowest-paid 10% to $131,450 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid urban and regional planners make in Madison, WI?
The top 10% of urban and regional planners in the Madison, WI metro area earn at least $131,450 a year. The top 25% earn $107,620 or more.
What is the starting pay for urban and regional planners in Madison, WI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $62,380 a year, and a quarter of urban and regional planners earn $81,000 or less.
How many urban and regional planners work in Madison, WI?
About 140 urban and regional planners are employed in the Madison, WI metro area, not counting the self-employed.