Urban and Regional Planners salary in Virginia
Urban and Regional Planners in Virginia earn a median of $86,030 a year ($41.36 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,740 workers.
Pay ranges from $61,790 for the lowest-paid 10% to $133,520 for the top 10%. That is 4% lower than the national median of $89,320. Virginia ranks 17th of 51 states for urban and regional planners pay. There are 0.42 urban and regional planners per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $93,700, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for urban and regional planners in Virginia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $61,790 | $29.71 |
| 25th percentile | $70,530 | $33.91 |
| Median | $86,030 | $41.36 |
| 75th percentile | $107,110 | $51.50 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $133,520 | $64.19 |
| Average (mean) | $93,700 | $45.05 |
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 | $7,169.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,584.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,308.85 |
| Weekly | $1,654.42 |
| Hourly | $41.36 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $86,030 salary, see how much house you can afford in Virginia at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Urban and Regional Planners salary in cities in Virginia
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $104,770 | 1,250 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $82,760 | 340 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $78,780 | 60 |
| Richmond, VA | $77,340 | 260 |
| Roanoke, VA | $64,440 | 60 |
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 Virginia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $140,670 | $67.63 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $86,520 | $41.60 |
| School Psychologist | $85,670 | $41.19 |
| Economist | $137,590 | $66.15 |
| Psychologists, All Other | $140,640 | $67.61 |
| Anthropologists and Archeologists | $80,230 | $38.57 |
| Historian | $101,920 | $49.00 |
| Geographer | $108,020 | $51.93 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $93,620 | $45.01 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $90,800 | $43.66 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $82,230 | $39.53 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $67,240 | $32.33 |
| Biological Technician | $53,360 | $25.65 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $96,030 | $46.17 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Virginia
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 Virginia?
The median salary for urban and regional planners in Virginia is $86,030 a year, or $41.36 an hour. Pay ranges from $61,790 for the lowest-paid 10% to $133,520 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid urban and regional planners make in Virginia?
The top 10% of urban and regional planners in Virginia earn at least $133,520 a year. The top 25% earn $107,110 or more.
What is the starting pay for urban and regional planners in Virginia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $61,790 a year, and a quarter of urban and regional planners earn $70,530 or less.
How many urban and regional planners work in Virginia?
About 1,740 urban and regional planners are employed in Virginia, not counting the self-employed.