Urban and Regional Planners salary in Washington
Urban and Regional Planners in Washington earn a median of $100,990 a year ($48.56 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,180 workers.
Pay ranges from $77,190 for the lowest-paid 10% to $126,340 for the top 10%. That is 13% higher than the national median of $89,320. Washington ranks 6th of 51 states for urban and regional planners pay. There are 0.90 urban and regional planners per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 3.1× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $101,590, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for urban and regional planners in Washington
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $77,190 | $37.11 |
| 25th percentile | $87,990 | $42.30 |
| Median | $100,990 | $48.56 |
| 75th percentile | $112,650 | $54.16 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $126,340 | $60.74 |
| Average (mean) | $101,590 | $48.84 |
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 | $8,415.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,207.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,884.23 |
| Weekly | $1,942.12 |
| Hourly | $48.56 |
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 Washington
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $108,040 | 1,430 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $105,440 | 100 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $103,070 | 620 |
| Bellingham, WA | $100,050 | 110 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $95,640 | 70 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $95,640 | 750 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $95,640 | 150 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $95,640 | 50 |
| Yakima, WA | $88,790 | 80 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $85,140 | 60 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | $82,620 | 30 |
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 Washington
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| School Psychologist | $108,780 | $52.30 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $115,240 | $55.40 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $102,920 | $49.48 |
| Economist | $109,300 | $52.55 |
| Psychologists, All Other | $128,230 | $61.65 |
| Anthropologists and Archeologists | $74,790 | $35.96 |
| Sociologist | $97,170 | $46.72 |
| Survey Researcher | $69,590 | $33.46 |
| Political Scientist | $147,060 | $70.70 |
| Geographer | $112,260 | $53.97 |
| Historian | $99,720 | $47.94 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $105,680 | $50.81 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $98,300 | $47.26 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $102,920 | $49.48 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Washington
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 Washington?
The median salary for urban and regional planners in Washington is $100,990 a year, or $48.56 an hour. Pay ranges from $77,190 for the lowest-paid 10% to $126,340 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid urban and regional planners make in Washington?
The top 10% of urban and regional planners in Washington earn at least $126,340 a year. The top 25% earn $112,650 or more.
What is the starting pay for urban and regional planners in Washington?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $77,190 a year, and a quarter of urban and regional planners earn $87,990 or less.
How many urban and regional planners work in Washington?
About 3,180 urban and regional planners are employed in Washington, not counting the self-employed.