Urban and Regional Planners Salary
Urban and Regional Planners in Alaska make a median of $93,860 a year, or about $45.13 an hour. The range runs from $60K at the entry level to $113K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 104.31), that's roughly $89,982 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,643/month, or 26.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Alaska. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $94K get you in Alaska?
About urban and regional planners
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What this looks like in Alaska
Urban and regional planners pay in Alaska tracks closely to the national median, $94K locally vs. $89K nationwide, a 5% difference. Rent runs $1,643/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.5% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 104.31) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Alaska
Entry-level urban and regional planners (10th percentile) start around $60K. Mid-career wages sit at $94K. Top earners bring in $113K or more, a $53K spread from bottom to top.
Urban and Regional Planners salary by metro in Alaska
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage | $102K | +9% | 110 |
| Fairbanks-College | $100K | +6% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track urban and regional planners salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Alaska numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a urban and regional planner afford a 2BR apartment alone in Alaska?
Yes — at the median salary of $94K, rent takes 26.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,643/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for urban and regional planners in Alaska?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new urban and regional planners typically earn — is $60K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,625/month. At HUD’s $1,643/month FMR, rent would take 45% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is urban and regional planner a high-paying job in Alaska?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $94K locally vs. $89K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Alaska compare to the national average for urban and regional planners?
Alaska pays $94K median vs. the U.S. average of $89K — that’s +5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 104.31), the purchasing-power equivalent is $90K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do urban and regional planners make in Alaska?
The median is $93,860 a year, that works out to about $45 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $60,420, and experienced urban and regional planners can clear $112,930. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $94K enough to live in Alaska?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,201/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,643/month, which eats 26.5% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a urban and regional planners salary go in Alaska?
Alaska has a Regional Price Parity of 104.31 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median urban and regional planners salary is worth about $89,982 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do urban and regional planners get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.